Manchester is set to fall silent this weekend as the city “remembers the fallen” during the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Manchester City Council has revealed the details of how the city will commemorate Remembrance Sunday, which will feature a ceremony and parade on Sunday 9th November.
Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, said: “Remembrance Day is a time for Manchester to come together in reflection and unity, in remembrance of our fallen comrades and service personnel who have died throughout the years in defence of our freedoms and beliefs.
“Whether at the Cenotaph or in our local communities, we honour those who served and continue to serve. These events are not only about remembrance; they are about connection, pride, and ensuring future generations understand the importance of service and sacrifice.”
In addition to Remembrance commemorations, Manchester City Council will host an annual Armed Forces Day event and lead the Armed Forces Covenant, ensuring that service personnel, veterans, and their families are not disadvantaged when accessing public services such as employment, health, and housing. A full list of events to honour the Armed Forces is available on the Council’s dedicated Armistice Day page.
When and where will the Parade start from?
The Remembrance Sunday Parade on November 9 will set off at 10.30am from John Dalton Street, following the road to the Cenotaph in St Peter’s Square led by the Greater Manchester Police Band. The Civic procession will depart from Mount Street at 10.45 am for the Cenotaph, led by the Scots Guards Association Pipe Band.
What will happen at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony?
Upon the band and procession’s arrival, civic dignitaries, members of the armed forces past and present, service organisations, faith leaders, emergency services, and other uniformed groups will gather alongside members of the public to pay their respects.
The commemorative service will begin at 11am, marked by the firing of a maroon to signal the start of the two-minute silence. A second maroon will sound to conclude the silence.
Across the city, numerous community-led Remembrance activities will also take place in cemeteries, Parks, Peace Gardens, and at War Memorials. All of these back up Manchester City Council’s recently announced three-year partnership with Royal British Legion (RBL), which has also included installing poppies on lampposts in key areas in Manchester.
For those who cannot attend the commemoration event in person will have the opportunity to view the livestream of The Exhortation, The Last Post and the two-minute silence on the day here.
Free travel on Greater Manchester trams and buses for members of the Armed Forces
On Sunday 9th November and Tuesday 11th November (Armistice Day), the Bee Network will be supporting veterans and members of the regular and reserve services by offering free travel on both days on Bee Network bus and tram services.
To be eligible for free travel, the following will be accepted over both days:
- Veterans who carry their veterans badge or members of the Regular and Reserve Services carrying their MOD90 card can travel for free on Metrolink and Bee Network bus services.
- Veteran Rail Cards will also be accepted, along with Defence Discount Service cards if they display the wording ‘HM Armed Forces Veteran’.
- Cadets travelling in uniform can travel for free on Metrolink and Bee Network bus services.
Will trams run in Manchester on Remembrance Sunday?
Tram services through St Peter’s Square will be suspended between 10am and 1pm on November 9. The following service patterns will be in operation:
From start of service until 10am
From start of service until 10am, no trams will operate via Exchange Square.
- Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
- Altrincham – Etihad Campus
- Eccles (via MediaCityUK) – Cornbrook
- Rochdale Town Centre – East Didsbury (via Market Street)
- Manchester Airport – Victoria (via Market Street)
- Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
10am to 1pm
From 10am until 1pm, no trams will run through St Peter’s Square.
- Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
- Altrincham – Deansgate-Castlefield
- Etihad Campus – Victoria
- Eccles (via MediaCityUK) – Cornbrook
- Rochdale Town Centre – Exchange Square
- Manchester Airport – Deansgate-Castlefield
- Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
- East Didsbury – Deansgate-Castlefield
From 1pm until the end of service
Trams to East Disbury and Rochdale will operate via Exchange Square after 1pm.
- Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
- Altrincham – Etihad Campus
- Eccles (via MediaCityUK) – Cornbrook
- Rochdale Town Centre – East Didsbury (via Exchange Square)
- Manchester Airport – Victoria (via Market Street)
- Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
Visit TfGM’s Remembrance Sunday page for more information.
Which Manchester roads will be closed for the Remembrance Sunday service?
To enable security checks and safeguards, a series of road closures will be implemented between 7am and 1pm. Where a street is marked as a hard closure, this means no vehicle access in or out of the closure area. Pedestrian access is not affected.
- John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
- Princess Street (Cross St to Portland St) – hard closure at Back George St
- Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street)
- Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street) – hard closure at Watson Street
- Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street) –hard closure at Hale Street
- Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
- Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
- Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
- Bootle Street (Deansgate to Mount Street)
- Lloyd Street (Deansgate to Southmill)
- Jackson’s Row (Deansgate to Southmill)
- Central Street (Southmill to Mount Street)
- Cooper Street (Kennedy Street to Princess Street)
- West Mosely Street (Booth Street to Princess Street)
- Clarence Street (Princess Street to Kennedy Street)
- Bow Lane (Clarence Street to Princess Street)
- St James’s Square (South King Street to John Dalton Street)
- Ridgefield (Mulberry Street to John Dalton Street)
What parking suspensions will be in place?
The following parking suspensions will be in operation from 6pm Saturday 8th November to 1pm Sunday 9th November.
- Lloyd Street (All bays – Deansgate to Southmill Street)
- Jackson’s Row (All bays – Deansgate to Southmill Street)
- Bootle Street (All bays – Deansgate to Mount Street)
- Mount Street (All bays – Windmill Street to Albert Square)
- Museum Street (All Bays – Windmill Street to Peter Street)
- Southmill Street (All Bays – Windmill Street to Albert Square)
- Princess Street (All Bays – Albert Square to Portland Street)
- John Dalton Street (All Bays – Deansgate to Albert Square)
- Ridgefield Street (All Bays – John Dalton Street to South King Street)
- Central Street (All bays – Southmill Street to Mount Street)
- St James’ Square (South King Street to John Dalton)
- Windmill Street (Mount Street to Watson Street)
- Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street)
- Cooper Street (Kennedy Street to Princess Street)
- West Mosely Street (Booth Street to Princess Street)
- Clarence Street (Princess Street to Kennedy Street)
- Bow Lane (Clarence Street to Princess Street)