About
A Community Day for All
We’re excited to invite you back to campus for a vibrant, one-day event – Universally Manchester Festival!
Since 2017, the festival has been a warm, welcoming an inclusive space for visitors of all ages to enjoy a free, fun, and interactive experience. Every year, thousands from our local neighbourhoods and beyond come together to explore research, engage with arts and cultural institutions, and connect with staff, students, and community partners.
Join us for a memorable day of exploration, inspiration, and connection – we can’t wait to welcome you back!
VENUES
The historic heart of our Oxford Road campus is the backdrop to Universally Manchester Festival.
Across the day the festival takes over University Place, Nancy Rothwell Building and The Henry Royce Institute with interactive stands and thought-provoking discussions. The Manchester Museum and the Whitworth will also be open sharing their exhibitions.
Start your day at one of our buildings to collect your map, or get advice from our friendly festival ambassadors.
Can’t be in Manchester. Join us online for talks from our Bee Curious programme.
GETTING HERE – AND AROUND
Getting to and around the festival is easy, whether arriving by bus or tram, train, bike, car or on foot. The entire festival site takes around ten minutes to cross from end to end.
TfGM offers some great budget-friendly options for families arriving by bus or tram. Visit its website for details of the Metrolink one-day family travelcard and one-day Bee Bus Family pass, and book in advance.
- Nearest train station: Manchester Oxford Road
- Nearest tram station: St Peter’s Square
- Bus stops: Numerous along Oxford Road
- Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria train stations can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes (on foot)
We recommend sustainable travel whenever possible, but if you need to arrive by car you’ll find the closest available car parks at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, Booth Street West and Cecil Street, and parking charges will apply. Please note Dover Street Car Park will not be open to the general public.
Find out more about travel to campus.
ACCESSIBILITY
Universally Manchester Festival is a celebration for everyone.
Our campus is generally accessible, with parking options for blue badge holders (including free parking in Booth Street West car park) and quiet spaces for those who need them. Accessible and gender-neutral toilets can be found across campus, along with baby changing rooms and prayer facilities.
Read more about accessibility on campus.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is at our festival’s core. Across our buildings there are multiple water points; recycling facilities throughout campus and both recycling and upcycling activities and upcycling activities are planned throughout the day.
Food will cater for a wide range of dietary requirements, including plant-based and gluten-free options. Please do consider bringing refillable water bottles and coffee cups with you.
Find out more about sustainability on campus.
FAQs
The festival is taking place on our Oxford Road campus, ten minutes from the city centre of Manchester. Many activities will take place from University Place to Nancy Rothwell Building and extending to Manchester Museum and the Whitworth.
We are well served by all major transport links, including bus, tram and train. You can easily walk, wheel or cycle around campus.
Although we encourage sustainable travel, we know this isn’t possible for everyone. There are a number of official University car parks available close to the festival site, including Manchester Aquatics Centre, Booth Street West and Cecil Street. Free parking to blue badge holders is available in Booth Street West. Please be advised that parking is likely to be busy during the festival, so please plan accordingly.
Access to the festival is free and open to all, however some of our most popular events will be ticketed due to their popularity.
These tickets will be released to the public in May 2025. Check out our individual event listings to see which require them.
A limited number of tickets will be available on the day, with a first come, first served queuing system in place.
But remember, many of our events do not require a ticket at all (and all are free) – so there will be plenty to see and do if you miss out on a ticket for a particular event.
You don’t – all events are free.
Yes, absolutely!
There will be loads to do for the whole family – from interactive stands to performances, tours and lots more.
Please note, however, that some events will have age restrictions due to the nature of the activity (where health and safety requires this) and/or parental discretion may be advised.
We love dogs and they are allowed in our open spaces. However, they must be kept on a short, fixed lead at all times and are not permitted inside any of our buildings.
Please don’t bring your pooch to our pop-up dome – they won’t appreciate how busy these areas can get, and safety is our priority.
Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.
Yes, you can bring and eat your own food and drink in our designated picnic zone. These are generally outdoors. However the Nancy Rothwell Building and Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) have designated picnic zones.
Water points will also be available around campus. Please do consider bringing refillable water bottles and coffee cups with you. There are many campus recycling points to clean up after yourself.
We have accessible and gender-neutral toilets in our buildings. There are also baby change and feeding facilities available on campus.
Yes – prayer facilities are available on campus, including in Nancy Rothwell Building and University Place.
Our programme is now full, and our open call now closed.
Thank you for your interest – we have been overwhelmed with the response and received hundreds of amazing applications.