17 of the most fantastic things to do in Manchester this July

Manchester Day will return this summer with a distinct Catalan twist. Following the city’s guest appearance at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival last year, international performers from Spain will travel to the UK to join the festivities. The streets will fill with giant puppets, live Spanish music, and dance performances from leading outdoor arts companies. The event will feature a mini-parade with a strong literary theme to mark the national year-long celebration of books and reading. Outdoor arts organisation Walk the Plank will lead the preparations, bringing together local community groups to deliver a parade packed with colour, community spirit, and a vibrant Barcelona atmosphere right in the city centre.

Aviva Studios will host a massive street market celebrating Asian food, art, and music this summer. The pet-friendly festival brings more than 40 independent traders to the city, selling hot street food, traditional pastries, handmade jewellery, and custom clothing. Visitors will find live Cantonese music performances alongside interactive art stations, including guided sketching sessions and tote bag decorating workshops. The organisers designed the layout to directly replicate the bustling atmosphere and energy of traditional Hong Kong markets.

Taste Film is a great option if you’re looking for something to do with your pals or partner, with or without alcohol. Pairing brilliant food with iconic on-screen moments, Taste Film is truly a feast for all the senses. Giving a whole new meaning to ‘watch what you eat’, the immersive experience combines two of life’s greatest joys: food and film. If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to reach out and grab the food from Mamma Mia!, this is your chance.

Sounds of the City is the beloved summer series that takes over Castlefield Bowl in Manchester city centre every year. There’s always a cracking line-up for this music festival with local artists ecstatic to play, and this year is no exception. Headliners include The Streets, The Ks, Wet Leg, Johnny Marr. Sex Pistols and Hacienda Classical, all of which will certainly pack out the heart of the industrial area of Castlefield with adoring Mancs.

Comic Con Manchester, one of the UK’s largest pop culture conventions, returns to Bowlers Exhibition Centre (BEC) on July 25-26. The main attraction every year is, of course, the star guests, and you can expect plenty of exciting names from film, TV, streaming, gaming, anime and sports entertainment. In previous years, Comic Con Manchester has welcomed the likes of Tyler Hoechlin, Zachary Quinto, Seth Green, Zachary Levi and Elizabeth Berkeley. As well as having the chance to meet your heroes, you can watch the fabulous cosplayers strut their stuff on stage, get an item signed, have a photo taken with some of our unique props and set builds, attend panel talks and test your skills in the retro and modern gaming areas.

Tenpin Manchester Printworks will host two knockout-style bowling tournaments this July, courtesy of OREO ICE CREAM. Eight teams of four to six players will compete head-to-head across group stages, semi-finals, and a final match. The winning team will take home a prize bundle that includes a £100 Tenpin gift card, £50 Fever vouchers for each player, and Drayton Manor tickets. Players will enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and various ice cream treats throughout the evening.

Stand-up comedy meets unpretentious wine tasting at New Century as “An Idiot’s Guide to Wine” arrives in Manchester. Created by Australian comedian and certified wine expert Merrick Watts, the 75-minute interactive show ditches the snobbery of traditional tastings to deliver facts on grapes, regions, and food pairings through belly laughs and silly anecdotes. Guests sample six hand-picked wines while seated around tables in a highly social, adults-only environment. After selling out 25 seasons in Australia, the show offers Mancunians a chance to drink, laugh, and walk away with genuine wine wisdom.

Manchester Central Library will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sex Pistols’ 1976 gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall with a dedicated afternoon of talks and live music. The event gathers authors, journalists, and musicians to unpack the true story behind the concert that shaped the city’s music history. Attendees will hear from author David Nolan as he separates fact from fiction regarding the original audience, alongside deep dives into the punk scene by local voices John Robb and Iain Key. To close the sessions, five-piece Mancunian band Dead Stilettos will perform a live set, delivering a modern take on the DIY rock tradition

Stock Party will take over the streets of Stockport with a full-day celebration focusing on independent food, drink, and culture. The festival expands across the Underbank and the historical Market Hall, creating a wide footprint for the event. The main festival square at Robinsons Brewery will operate as the central hub, pouring fresh beers from local names like Sureshot, Balance, and Runaway, alongside natural wines selected by Isca. The food lineup features a massive BBQ setup from Where The Light Gets In and sourdough pizzas by Honest Crust, complemented by street food pop-ups including Marley’s Tacos and Café San Juan. Multiple stages curated by local collectives such as SK1 Records, MØ6B, and Ōdiobā will provide live music and DJ sets throughout the day to keep the energy high until the evening finish.

Artist and activist Ai Weiwei will re-enact his 2011 secret detention in a 24-hour live performance. A 7.2m by 3.6m cell replica will sit inside the Hall at Aviva Studios, allowing visitors to watch him sleep, eat, write, and undergo interrogation. The venue will remain open overnight for the first time, giving attendees access to the full performance through direct observation and live CCTV feeds. The performance coincides with Ai Weiwei: Button Up!, a major exhibition running from July 2 to September 6. Visitors will see massive installations, including an inflatable 47-metre migrant boat, a chandelier made from 2,000 pieces of black Murano glass, and a mural built entirely from over a million toy bricks.

The Together Again Festival will return to Cheshire this summer, delivering a three-day camping event focused on live music, comedy, and cabaret. Organisers will set up multiple dedicated stages across the grounds, including the Agora tent for dance music, The Ranch for country artists, and the Wonky Lizard stage for karaoke and comedy acts. Families attending the festival will find the Tic Tac Toe area, a dedicated zone containing over 50 free activities like climbing walls, circus skills workshops, and science experiments.

Bring Me The Horizon will perform their debut album, Count Your Blessings, in its entirety this summer to mark its 20th anniversary. The band partners with Outbreak Festival to deliver this nostalgic metalcore show. The concert coincides with the release of Count Your Blessings: Repented, a fully re-recorded version of the 2006 record. The lineup features a full roster of supporting acts, including Static Dress, Dying Wish, Heriot, Rolo Tomassi, Car Underwater, and Still in Love.

The Beeswing will host the third edition of its dedicated wine festival in the Kampus gardens this summer. Attendees will taste a curated selection of rosés, orange, and sparkling wines sourced from global vineyards, while suppliers pour samples and discuss their production methods. Live French acoustic music by La Chanteuse will play throughout the afternoon on the leafy terrace. Guests will also have the opportunity to buy full bottles of the featured wines at discounted prices directly from the vendors.