Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

Radar Festival is a three-day celebration of boundary-pushing rock and metal held at Victoria Warehouse. It’s a relative newcomer to the festival scene having started off in Guildford before getting too big for its Surrey boots and heading to Manchester where it has quickly become a fan favourite on the festival scene, picking up a Best New Festival award.

The BBC’s 6 Music Festival is a celebration of up-and-coming talent, emerging acts and the cool elder statespeople of alternative music across all genres. It started off in Manchester back in 2014 and pops up annually in the coolest gig venues across the UK. But, Manchester being synonymous with music and all that, we are its default home. 6 Music has chosen Greater Manchester more than any other city. We’re flattered. Really.

This annual weekender on the edge of Stockport won the ‘Best Festival’ award from the British Country Music Association in 2023, securing its place as one of the most popular events on the UK Country music calendar.

Festwich is the music festival with all the biggest names, from Elvis to Amy Winehouse. Ok, so they’re not the real thing but it’s as close as you’ll get without a time machine. The emphasis is on fun and ticket prices are a lot more accessible when you’re watching a tribute act.

Festwich is hugely popular. It has a rock edge but it’s family friendly too. Think of it as a cross between Reading (and Leeds) Festival on the hardcore day crossed with Stars In Your Eyes.

Manchester Jazz Festival brings the best new emerging jazz artists, homegrown talent, and living jazz legends to the city centre every May for ten days of live performances, many of which are free.

Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Manchester Pride is a joyful, loud and proud celebration of queer identity and expression. The festival is one of the most important LGBTQ+ events in the country – but it isn’t just one sun-soaked weekend. Manchester Pride is also a charity that supports all areas of LGBTQ+ lives in the city all year round.

Manchester Psych Fest certainly packs it in. It’s a one-day deep dive into the alternative music scene that marks the end of the summer festival season in the city. From lo-fi to shoegaze swagger, acid folk to goth industrialism, this is the festival that brings it all together with a psychedelic flourish.

For all the noise, Manchester Punk Festival is a friendly and inclusive event that takes place over the Easter weekend in and around Manchester’s Oxford Road corridor. It’s the sort of place where bands play to audiences of friends and people who’ve never heard of them – but nonetheless always get a loud, supportive reaction.

It’s the big one, at least for the under-25s amongst us. Parklife is a huge two-day music festival held every June at Heaton Park. Featuring top artists across the worlds of electronic, dance, rap and pop, it brings a massive number of music fans to the city in all their neon-wearing, glitter-loving glory.

Salford is doomed to be the other city, standing in Manchester’s shadow when it comes to name recognition and cultural clout. However, Sounds from the Other City proves that when it comes to urban music festivals, anything Manchester can do, Salford can do better. 

Sounds of the City is a summer season of outdoor gigs by big name acts at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester.