Manchester Histories Festival 2026

This year marks the 10th edition of Manchester Histories Festival. It will take place from Thursday 4 June to Saturday 6 June 2026, in and around Manchester Central Library.

This year’s festival will celebrate the spirit of Civic Pride and community collaboration, inviting audiences, artists, academics, and local groups to contribute to a shared story of the city’s past, present, and future.

Book your place via our Events page.

See the full programme below.

Highlights include:

Thurs 4 – Sat 6 June: Threads of a City: The Manchester Tapestry Project.

Take part in the creation of a large-scale community tapestry celebrating the people, places, cultures and histories that have shaped Manchester from 1853 to the present day. Across a series of workshops throughout the festival, participants will contribute to a 26-panel tapestry exploring Manchester’s identity through architecture, neighbourhoods, sport, music, heritage, and personal stories. Created by communities across Greater Manchester, the finished tapestry will be displayed in Manchester Town Hall before touring venues across the city and beyond

Thurs 4 June: Histories Slam.

Hear untold short stories from 14 performers from across Greater Manchester. Expect the fascinating, obscure, hilarious, geeky, absurd, tender, unexpected, or completely extraordinary. Hosted by Tony Kinsella, Salford-born writer, musician, and comedian. 

Fri 5 & Sat 6 June: Civic Pride & Conservation.

Over two days of films, talks, and tours, we will explore this year’s festival theme. Discover hidden stories on your doorstep, explore Manchester’s connections to global histories, and go behind the scenes at some of the city’s most iconic buildings.

Sat 6 June: Celebration Day.

The iconic Rates Hall will be home to 40 history and heritage stalls from causes and organisation from across Greater Manchester. Across Manchester Central Library, find a showcase of  eclectic, historic, quirky, diverse, and fun entertainment, from fascinating Talks and Tours, to free family-friendly activities, including a Heritage Bus and pop-up surprises. 

Sat 6 June: Across the City. 

 Manchester Histories Festival continues with events across the city! At the John Rylands Library and Research Institute, explore the uses and abuses of Manchester’s past through talks and workshops in an all-day event—What Is History For?

Discover our Champs Camp Archive Project, at an open day at the Phil Martin Centre in Moss Side & Hulme, preserving and sharing the legacy of the UK’s first Black-led boxing gym.

Join us for Heritage in Action at Manchester Central Library, a riveting discussion from Keisha Thompson, Programme Manager (Manchester), Legacies of Enslavement Programme, The Guardian and Yussuf M’Rabty, Project Manager, This Is Us: Tracing Manchester’s Histories and special panel guests (to be announced). 

We’re proud that the majority of Manchester Histories Festival 2026 events will be free to attend.

Book your place through the programme links above or via our Events page.

Follow Manchester Histories on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky for festival updates, behind-the-scenes content and programme announcements. Share your festival experience with us using the hashtag #MHF2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to Manchester Histories Festival 2026.