Manchester’s iconic music festival Parklife is back for another year this weekend, taking over Heaton Park over Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June. With a bigger line-up than ever, some of the most iconic musicians in the world will be heading to North Manchester, alongside over 82,000 festival-goers, meaning transport, roads and safety will be heavily affected.
From the incredible line-up and top tips, to travel advice and food and drink available, we’ve created a guide to help both those heading to Parklife this weekend and those going about their business nearby during this chaotic time.
Parklife 2026 line-up
Calvin Harris headlines Parklife 2026, alongside the likes of Skepta and Zara Larsson. Sammy Virji also occupies a huge spot on the line-up, with Josh Baker, Chris Stussy, Kettama and Nia Archives all making appearances across the weekend.
Full Parklife 2026 line-up
- Calvin Harris
- Sammy Virji
- Skepta
- Zara Larsson
- Chris Stussy
- Josh Baker
- Nia Archives
- Kettama
- Rudim3ntal
- Marlon Hoffstadt
- Yousuke Yukimatsu
- Ewan McVicar
- Rossi.
- Prospa
- East End Dubs
- BLK.
- AYR
- Bou
- Andy C
- Hedex
- Wilkinson
- Dimension
- Armand Van Helden
- Shy FX
- Mall Grab
- Clementine Douglas
- Morgan Seatree
- Chloé Caillet
- Cloonee
- 4AM Kru
- Silva Bumpa
- K Motionz
- Mozey
- Kanine
- Alisha
- Malugi b2b Sam Alfred
- Sosa
- Obskür
- Luuk van Dijk
- Oppidan
- Diferent
- Faster Horses b2b Benwual
- Marsolo
- L.P. Rhythm
- Omar+
- Riordan
- Bakey
- Effy
- Window Kid
- Julian Fjima
- MPH
- Jamback
- Lockleed
- Kepler
- Bullet Tooth
- Locky
- Dnbby
- Daria Kolosova
- Arth
- Born On Road
- Lens
- Catching Cairo
- Atrip
- Olive F.
- Gumi
- The Trip
- Bushbaby
- Oshuns Jones
- Ryota
- Dismantle
- Douvelle19
- Saidah
- Minna
- 4000Hz
- Delilah
- North Base
- Phill de Janeiro & Benji King
- A For Alpha
- Blue 247
- Bread
- Eksman
- Strategy
- C3B
- Shadev
- Cam Stockman
- Tonn Piper
- AD‑APT
- Carasel
- Zshy
- Alexandria
- Krsyko
- Sparkz
- Mya
- Rich Reason
- Mattik b2b Karishka
- T‑Man
- Trouts Mufasa
- Fox
- Mix‑Stress
- Niamh
- Nicola Bear
Will there be food and drink available at Parklife?
No food or drink of any description is permitted into the festival, but there will be a great variety of food stalls onsite offering a wide range of food including organic, vegetarian and vegan options. There will also be a large number of bars selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Can I bring a bottle of water into Parklife?
Attendees can bring their own reusable water bottles into the festival, as long as they are empty on entry. These must be no larger than 500ml and must not be metal.
There are multiple free water points located across the Parklife site to refill bottles – look for signage, check a festival map or ask a member of staff if you need help finding these.
What is the entry policy for Parklife?
Conditions of entry, further to the terms and conditions:
- Please obey the law. Drugs are no more legal at a festival than in the outside world. Drug dealing and consumption will not be tolerated. Parklife has zero tolerance for legal highs.
- No alcohol or liquids of any kind
- No drugs including ‘legal highs’ or Nitrous Oxide.
- No knives or weapons
- No EPOS machines
- No aerosols, sprays or pressurised containers permitted
- No flag poles
- No balloons
- No camp chairs/stools
- No clothing, garments or items which promote cultural appropriation
- No glass
- Compact umbrellas permitted, no golf umbrellas
- Admission is subject to search
- No under 17’s – 17 year olds must be accompanied by a responsible guardian aged 18 or over. (Maximum of 4 under 18’s per responsible guardian).
- No food
- No perfumes or aftershaves
- No dogs
- No flares or fireworks
- No bikes
- No re-entry
- No drink of any kind [empty plastic refillable bottle are allowed – up to 500ml, no metal bottles, free water points are located across the festival. Water bags/rucksacks are not permitted]
- Sun cream or lotion sized at 200ml or less in original containers, vape liquid, and eye drops in standard plastic 10ml containers will be allowed but contents may be tested on arrival
- No laser pens or pointers
- No professional cameras, including professional camera equipment (e.g. camera stand, lenses, and selfie sticks)
- No audio recording equipment, noise-making devices
- No skateboards and rollerblades, hover-boards, scooters, bicycles, and other personal motorized and non-motorized vehicles
- No unauthorised solicitation or marketing materials (e.g., handbills, flyers, stickers)
- No drones or unmanned aerial systems
- No unofficial tabards and reflective hi vis jackets
- No rucksacks or large bags. Small bags, that are not rucksacks, are allowed into the festival with the dimensions W21cm x H30CM x D8cm. This is A4 Size.
- No Selfie-Sticks
- Filming and photography in the gate areas is not allowed.
Please note Nitrous Oxide possession is illegal. Do not risk it.
If you arrive with any of the above items you will usually be able to dispose of it/them at the gate.
No items left at the gate will be able to be collected once the customer has left the gate area.
Items surrendered at the gate can be disposed of immediately.
Management reserve the right to refuse admission.
The event has the right to evict a customer if they engage in behavior that could jeopardise the safety or experience of a member of staff. This includes the use of threatening, abusive, harassing or insulting language or actions
If a wristband is removed, it can be replaced on-site with a valid ticket. If this happens while the customer is off-site, it can not be replaced.
Please note valid ID is required upon entry.
Accepted forms of ID are:
- in date passport
- in date driving licence (provisional accepted)
- in date citizen card
Festival/gate opening times & last entry
Gate times
Saturday 20th June : 12.00 – 23.00
Sunday 21st June : 13.00 – 23.00
Last entry into the festival is 17.00.
No re-admittance allowed after leaving the festival site.
There are two public entry and exit gates at Parklife this year: West Gate located on Bury Old Road and East Gate which is on Sheepfoot Lane. VIP can use both gates. Accessibility, guests and staff should use Bridge Gate at M25 2SW.
What’s the weather going to be like?
The all important question. Usually, Parklife ends up being a bit of a wash out, but we’re OK, we’re Northern.
This year, however, things are looking tentatively… glorious! According to the Met Office, temperatures could get up to around 21°C on Saturday, and a frankly tropical 25°C on Sunday, with a mixture of sunshine and cloud across the weekend – perfect festival weather if you ask us.
The chance of rain doesn’t seem to get above the 20% mark, which for us is pretty solid, and winds are slack – just a little light breeze to help cool down from all that dancing. If we’re lucky, we could see a majorly sunny Parklife this year…
What is the best way to travel to Parklife?
For travel to and from Parklife, the specific Parklife travel ticket, available on the Bee Network app , is valid on trams and buses across Greater Manchester. This includes the shuttle bus which will operate every ten minutes from Aytoun Street, close to Piccadilly Station, and then from outside the park to Shudehill Interchange after the event.
The Bee Network has issued the following advice for those travelling to Parklife:
- Pre-event, please use the Bury line from Victoria to travel to Heaton Park.
- In order to safely manage queueing and crowds, Heaton Park tram stop will be closed after the event. Instead, please use the nearby Bowker Vale stop – which will be clearly signposted – to travel back to the city centre.
- The Parklife Express Shuttle Bus operates from the city centre to Heaton Park and then back again post-event. Buses to the park will depart from Aytoun Street, near Piccadilly Station, and then from Bury Old Road on return.
- Parklife travel tickets are available on the Bee Network app, allowing you to travel on any bus, any tram and any Parklife Shuttle Bus to/from Heaton Park.
Extra staff and TravelSafe Support Officers will be out and about across the transport network to help passengers throughout the weekend. TfGM will be monitoring the transport network as usual, working closely with police and other partners to manage roads and the transport network around the clock.
Travel advice in Greater Manchester during Parklife
Journey times on the roads around the city centre are expected to increase, especially on the northern part of the Inner Ring Road and the likes of Cheetham Hill Road, Oldham Road and Ashton Old Road. Where possible, consider using public transport or avoid the busiest times; from 4pm to 7pm and then from 10pm to midnight on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Bee Network has issued the following advice for those traveling in Greater Manchester across the weekend:
- Please plan your journey before you leave to ensure your route is not impacted by delays or disruption.
- Tram service patterns have been tweaked to ensure there is sufficient capacity and resilience for the events. This may mean there’s a change to your usual service and you may have to change trams.
- Trams are expected to be very busy, especially in the city centre, so consider setting off earlier in case you need to queue to board a tram.
- The busiest times to travel will be between midday and 7pm – as people make their way to events – and then after 10pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
- If driving, please try to avoid driving across the city centre. The northern part of the Inner Ring Road will be busy due to the AO Arena, Co-op Live and Etihad Stadium events. You may find that travelling via the Outer Ring Road will be quicker.
- Journey times on roads such as Great Ancoats Street, Cheetham Hill Road, Oldham Road and Ashton Old Road are expected to increase significantly, especially between 4pm and 7pm.
- Complete short journeys by walking or cycling via bike hire – there is a dedicated webpage which will help you plan your route.
Tram service pattern
The following service pattern will be in place across the weekend:
- Bury – Victoria
- Bury – Altrincham (via Market Street) (peak-time Saturday only) then Bury – Victoria (off-peak and Sunday)
- Altrincham – Etihad Campus
- Ashton-under-Lyne – Eccles via MediaCityUK
- Rochdale Town Centre – East Didsbury via Exchange Square
- East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton via Exchange Square (peak-time Saturday only)
- Manchester Airport – Piccadilly
- The Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
Tram stop closures
The following tram stops will be closed across the weekend to help safely manage crowds:
- Heaton Park from 9pm on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June. Please use Bowker Vale to board a service.
- Market Street and Shudehill from 12pm until 5pm on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June.
- Velopark, Holt Town and Clayton Hall (heading to Manchester) from 10.30pm on Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June.
Bus diversions
Over the course of the weekend, there will be a number of bus services on diversion. You can keep up to date with the latest disruption information on the travel alerts page or on the Bee Network app
- Due to road closures for the Parklife festival, the following bus services will be on diversion at various times over the weekend: 41, 59, 66, 90, 94, 135 and 156. View the full bus diversion information.
Can I drive to Parklife?
Although public transport or active travel is the best way to get to Parklife, there are a limited number of car parking spaces bookable online. Official Parklife car parking at Heaton Park is available through the official app.
Car Park address:
Sheepfoot Lane
Manchester
M25 0BP
What Three Words: ///caged.from.pad
In order to facilitate this year’s Parklife event there are a number of roads closed at the end of the event & roads with traffic orders in place around Heaton Park. Expect delays in leaving the car park.
If you are being picked up or are picking up a relative or friend, please be aware that the area around the park is closed to public traffic. Sainsbury’s is no longer used as the pick up + drop off point, so the festival suggests organising an area at least 1km away from the park.
There is absolutely no on-street parking around the event site, and there will be a number of roads closed around Heaton Park. Traffic wardens will be patrolling the area around the site and your car will be towed and impounded by the wardens. If you are driving to Parklife, please use the official event car park.
Are tickets still available for Parklife?
A limited number of final tickets are still available here.
What address does Parklife take place at?
📍 Heaton Park, Manchester M25 0EG.
