Ballet, beach days and barking at optical illusions, our guide to July in Manchester
Whether you're soaking up world premieres at the city's biggest arts festival, letting the kids loose in a giant urban sandpit or bringing your dog along for a brain-bending day out, July in Manchester has you well covered. There's live music on your lunch break, a full-on Manc carnival and plenty of family fun from cosplay to Paw Patrol.
Here’s our pick of what’s on in Manchester this July.
Tattoo Convention by UKTTA
A vibrant weekend of ink, expression and alternative culture lands at Depot Mayfield this July, as the Manchester Tattoo Convention comes to Depot Mayfield for two days of bold creativity and buzzing festival energy. As the UK’s biggest tattoo convention, it draws artists and fans from across the globe – but for Mancunians, it’s right on your doorstep. Expect top-tier tattoo talent, epic body art showcases and a packed lineup of entertainment including DJs, live music, street food, graffiti battles, samba performances and even chilli-eating showdowns. It’s more than just tattoos – it’s a celebration of self-expression, community and the colourful corners of counterculture.
Oasis Pre-Show Parties with Clint Boon
11, 12, 16, 19, 20 July
Whether you bagged tickets to Manchester's biggest reunion or fancy soaking up more of the Gallagher buzz, these pre-show parties at The Pen & Pencil are the next best thing. Spinning live across all five dates, legendary DJ and Inspiral Carpets keyboardist Clint Boon will be bringing Britpop bangers and Madchester energy to the Northern Quarter bar 3-6pm. Entry's free, no-booking needed — just turn up, grab a drink and get in the Oasis mood.
What's The Story — The Other City
16 July
Back by popular demand, The Other City returns for a third night of stories, supper and Salford pride. Join local historian Chris Hoyle at The Black Friar for an evening exploring the tales that both unite and divide Manchester and Salford. Includes a welcome drink, olives and bread, a classic pub dish and dessert, plus a live history talk. £45pp. Booking essential.
Manchester Day 2025
St Anne's Sq, Cathedral Gardens, Deansgate
26 July
Now in its sixteenth year, Manchester Day 2025 celebrates a summer of cultural excellence across the city, bringing live performances and street art to various squares across town, while Deansgate is transformed into something of a Mancunian Carnival de Rio with a parade at the day's culmination. Sports, animals and even birthdays have been the theme of previous Manchester Days, but this year, in the summer that Oasis reunite in their hometown, it's a celebration of music that takes over the streets of the city for a day of family fun all totally free of cost.
Paw Patrol Live
20 July
Paw Patrol takes Manchester this July as Ryder and his hero pup team get nautical in The Great Pirate Adventure. Expect an action-packed, music-filled stage adaptation of the Nickelodean smash hit that's taken the pre-school demographic by storm. There will be a matinee and evening show, with tickets starting at £19.75.
Manchester International Festival 2025
3-20 July
Now in its eighteenth year, MIF is the city's biennial arts festival in which parks, squares and unused spaces are transformed into stages and exhibits for original commissions shown for the first time in Manchester. This July, expect ballet adaptations of classic novels, puppet performance art on the city's busiest streets and a time capsule curated for tomorrow's generation of Mancunian children by today's. MIF25 will be the second year that Aviva Studios acts as the central hub for the festival, meaning a food and drink offering to match MIF's culture credentials.
Live at Lunchtime 2025
4 July - 26 September
What to do on the last day of the working week when even the best of meal deal combos isn't cutting it? Maybe a touch of live music will. On various Fridays throughout summer, The Bridgewater Hall are hosting free lunchtime performances in their Stalls Foyer. Get the first weekend of July off to a swinging start with the Union Chapel Jazz Band, and keep the TGIF vibes going the following week with singer-song writer Hannah Brine on 11 July.
The MUD Market
6 July
Centred around Platt Fields Market Garden in Fallowfield, MUD Kitchen is a sustainable cafe and caterer nurturing communities and cultivating the local environment through good food — and their treats are available to you, market style, on the first Sunday of every month, 10am-3pm. Grown and made only a few metres from where it's sold, MUD Market tempts shoppers with fresh produce, eggs, pressed juices, homemade cakes and freshly baked breads.
Comic Con
BEC Arena
26-27 July
When over ten thousand pop culture fans descend on the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, hoping to listen to — and maybe even shake hands with — star guests from film, TV, streaming, gaming and anime, it can only mean one thing: Manchester Comic Con. A gathering for cosplay enthusiasts as well, the spotlight isn't solely on the celebrities. While day tickets start at £28.60, fans can upgrade their experience with extras like access to the official after-party or exclusive meet-and-greets with star guests.
Sounds of the City
2-12 July
A series of outdoor gigs at Castlefield Bowl in what's meant to be the hottest month of the year — what's not to love? Elbow, Bloc Party, Hacienda Classical and Rizzle Kicks are primed for this year's 10-day not-a-festival-festival, enriching an an already excellent summer of music across the city. Ticket prices vary but sit around the £50 mark.
Great Northern Giant Summer Sandpit
Great Northern ampitheatre
15 July - 31 August
By mid-July summer's been here for a while and you'd be forgiven for wondering what on earth you're going to do with the kids for the rest of the long, warm days — never mind at low-or-no-cost. With 50 tonnes of sand, buckets and spades, seating, and a few street food spots in radius, Great Northern comes to your rescue.
'No holds barred' Pub Quiz
Every Tuesday
With the chance to win a £500 bar tab, The Blues Kitchen are using their weekly pub quiz to make Tuesdays a little bit better. The entry free is only £3 per person and tables of up to 5 can play to win. This isn't your dad's pub quiz; if you'd describe yourself as ever-so-slightly chronically online, you're in with a shot at victory.
Liberation
27 June - 26 July
As it played host to the Fifth Pan-African Conference, questions of African liberation where once answered at Chorlton-upon-Medlock Town Hall. Used as the setting by playwrite Ntombizodwa Nyoni and director Monique Touko to explore the private lives beneath the ruthless world of mid-century politics, Liberation is a story of hope and friendship that traces how leaders are made and movements are built.
Dog Days at the Museum of Illusions
13 and 27 July
For the first time since its opening last autumn, Market Street's mirages are open to you and your furry friend. With 60 mind-bending exhibits for you and your pup to explore, expect lots of freaky photo-opps with essentials like water bowls, treats and a few surprises supplied.
Get the latest news to your inbox
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!
Join our WhatsApp group
You can also get regular updates on news, exclusives and offers by joining the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp group.
