Back with a bang! Manchester’s fireworks displays set to return from 2026

Council-organised firework displays in Manchester’s parks are set to return from next year, it has been revealed.

The popular events have not been held since 2019 when they could not take place because of the Covid pandemic.

Following that, they remained paused on a trial basis while the Council sought to reprioritise funding to support a wider range of free community events across the city throughout autumn and winter.

But the door was never shut on their potential return and now an improving financial position means that the Council is in a position to bring firework events back, while continuing to support other community events.

Papers setting out the Council’s financial position as it prepares to set its budget for 2026/27, being considered by scrutiny committees next week (week commencing 1 December) show that fairer funding being introduced by the Government next year will leave the Council better off than previously anticipated.

This reintroduces the principle that the amount of money councils are given should be linked to the level of challenges and needs in their area. This link was severed by the Coalition Government elected in 2010, which saw Manchester among the places hardest hit by funding cuts and unfunded pressures such as increased demand for care services.

While the exact financial settlement will not be received until late December this year, it is anticipated that the fairer funding formula will see more money for frontline services and support for vulnerable people.

Pressures remain after so many years of cuts but this creates the opportunity not just to protect frontline services but to invest in the things which residents have said matter the most to them – and begin to build back some of the things which were hit by austerity. The proposal to bring back fireworks event is one such example.

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “Manchester prides itself on free community events and we know many people have missed Bonfire night firework spectaculars. That’s why we are pleased to confirm they’ll be back by popular demand in 2026.

“We know that generations of Mancunians have enjoyed council-organised displays and that free family events are a great way to bring people together.

“That’s why when funding was squeezed we sought to support a wider range of community events over a longer period.

“But now that this Government is actually investing in councils like ours rather than the cuts we had from Governments since 2010, we can bring back bonfire events while continuing to back other free events across the city.

“In the coming months we will talk about our investments in communities, cleaning our streets, frontline services, young people and many more initiatives that will make Manchester better, but for now here’s one example of reversing cuts to our city and building up for a spectacular 2026.”