Manchester Day, the annual celebration of everything great about our city, is back running on a Sunday this year and will be happening on the 26th of July.

Following Manchester’s appearance at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival in 2025, this year’s celebration will highlight our city’s cultural links with Barcelona. Alongside the international line-up, this year’s event also includes a book-inspired theme to celebrate the National Year of Reading.

It will be held on Sunday, 26 July, and there will be plenty of free family fun in the city centre, including a colourful parade, captivating street shows, live music, have-a-go activities, and loads more. There will also be guest performers from Barcelona, who will bring a taste of Catalan culture to our city streets.

The celebration will include the Manchester Day Parade, which will follow a route that starts at St. Peter’s Square, going to Deansgate via Peter Street, turning onto St Mary’s Gate, then continuing along Cross Street and Princess Street, before returning to St Peter’s Square.. The parade will start at 1pm and will feature over 500 performers and community groups from across Manchester and beyond. There will also be various activities, performances and walkabout acts throughout the afternoon, between 12 to 5pm.

For many families of children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), such environments can be very challenging – whether it’s the hustle & bustle or the noises potentially causing a sensory overload, or the sheer number of people making it more difficult to move about and access certain facilities. We hope to somehow be able to alleviate some of these concerns through this guide showing relevant information such as disabled parking, quiet spaces, accessible toilets, Changing Places, and ongoing work around making Manchester’s public events more inclusive for all families.

Getting There

The city centre can easily be reached by walking, cycling, or via public transport (as recommended by the Manchester Day organisers). If you’re using the Metrolink, note that all trams have a designated area for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, which you can also use for buggies if it’s not needed by a wheelchair user. You can also download the Metrolink access guide for more information.

If you do wish to go there by car, you can find a list of nearby disabled parking on the Manchester City Council website.

Road Closures and Parking Suspensions

Please note that there will be road closures and parking suspensions at the city centre on the 26th of July. Click the link for more information.

Accessible Viewing Areas and Other Accessibility Info

There will be one accessible viewing area for the parade this year:

  • On Deansgate, outside Manahatta, near the junction with Peter Street

The organisers also recommend Peter Street or Princess Street as quieter places to watch the parade.

They also have these to say about the different performances happening across the city centre:

Stewards and stage managers will be on hand throughout the day and will look out for people who may need additional space, including wheelchair users. Where possible, they will help create space so everyone can enjoy the performances comfortably.

If you need assistance during Manchester Day, please speak to one of our stewards (wearing blue Manchester Day t-shirts!), who will be happy to help.

You can find more information about these on the Manchester Day Accessibility page.

Much thanks to Walk the Plank for the accessibility information that they shared.

Accessible Toilets

There are plenty of accessible/ “disabled toilets” in town, some requiring a RADAR key and some not.

Arndale Centre : There are accessible toilets at the three main toilet facilities in the mall. You will need a RADAR key to access it or request a toilet attendant to open the door for you. A note for those with children hypersensitive to sound: It can get quite busy here and the hand dryers can easily be heard while you’re waiting for a staff member to open the disabled toilet door. They also have a Changing Places toilet, near Shopmobility.

Manchester Art Gallery : They have accessible toilets on the ground and first floors.

Manchester Central Library : There are standard disabled toilets as well as a Changing Places toilet on the lower ground floor of the library.

Manchester Town Hall Extension Public Toilets : There are standard disabled toilets as well as a Changing Places toilet outside the Town Hall, along Lloyd Street.

Marks & Spencer : There are two accessible toilets at the first floor of the store. It is relatively more quiet and less busy here than at the Arndale Centre. You won’t need a RADAR key to use these toilets. Please note that there’s a narrow passageway leading from the main store area to the toilets, in case your child worries about such corridors.

National Football Museum : There are accessible toilets on the ground floor of the museum, near the shop and cafe, as well as on levels 1, 2 and 4.  Please note that they now charge entry to the museum; Manchester residents can have free entry upon presentation of proof of residency.

People’s History Museum : There are accessible toilets on the ground floor of the museum, one near the reception area and another in the Engine Hall.

Science and Industry Museum : There are disabled toilets on the ground and first floors of the New Warehouse building. You won’t need a RADAR key to access these toilets. They also have a Changing Places toilet but a RADAR key is needed to access it. You can also ask a member of staff for access.

Changing Places

Changing Places are accessible toilets with more space and extra features (such as adult-sized changing bench, tracking hoist system or mobile hoist) for people (and their assistants) whose needs cannot be met by standard accessible toilets.

We know of nine Changing Places toilets in Manchester city centre (listed in order of distance from St. Peter’s Square):

  • At the public toilets outside of the Town Hall Extension (Lloyd Street)
  • Manchester Central Library
  • Junction at Manchester Central
  • Manchester 53 TWO
  • HOME
  • Manchester Arndale Centre (near Shopmobility)
  • Science and Industry Museum
  • People’s History Museum
  • Manchester Piccadilly Station

Quiet Spaces

Some children and young people may struggle with noises and crowds, and may at some point need a quiet space to self-regulate or recover from all the sensory input. Below are some locations that may have a quiet room available during Manchester Day:

Manchester Art Gallery : We have partnered with Autism for the Arts to deliver a relaxed creative session on the 26th of July. You can pop in and pop out any time between 12 to 4pm for a quieter space with lovely art activities to boot. Please visit this link to register your family’s places.

National Football Museum : They mentioned some quieter spaces on their Autism-friendly Visiting Guide. Please visit their Access Policy for more info about accessibility at the museum. Tickets need to be purchased but they offer free admission to visitors who pay their council tax to Manchester City Council.

Eligible City of Manchester postcodes: M1, M2, M3,(Manchester City Council tax payers only), M4, M8, M9, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, (Manchester City Council tax payers only), M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40, M90.

People’s History Museum : The PHM has made commendable efforts to make their museum more accessible to families of children with SEND. If you require a quiet space during your visit, please ask members of staff at reception.

Science and Industry Museum : The museum tends to be busy during weekends and school holidays. However, they do have a Quiet Room within the Textiles Gallery on Level 0 of the New Warehouse for use by anyone who needs some quiet time. Visit this link for more accessibility information at SIM.