Albert Square played a spectacular part in this year's Manchester Day finale for the first time in eight years. The city's historic civic square had been out of action since 2018 due to refurbishment works at Manchester Town Hall. Now, scaffolding is coming down off the clock tower, and the square is almost back to full use across its expanded piazza.
Catalan-themed finale
Manchester Day events returned to Albert Square on Sunday, hosting a finale with a medley of music and dance by parade performers, along with small-scale fireworks. The event had a Catalan theme, with many performers from Barcelona attending, including the Gegants—huge puppets of a Spanish King and Queen. These historic puppets appeared in Manchester for the first time ever outside of Spain, dancing to brass band Mr Wilson's Second Liners playing Faithless's Insomnia.
Catalan superstar Joan Catala also performed with a giant wooden pole, executing near-death-defying feats before a packed crowd of families on Sunday afternoon.
Return of the square
The Manchester Day event paves the way for Albert Square to host more festivals and events in the future. It made a partial return for the Manchester Christmas Markets in November and December 2025, with hopes of a fuller return for 2026. However, the Town Hall itself is not due to reopen until Spring 2027.
Cllr Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: "One of the best things about Manchester Day this year was seeing Albert Square playing its part once again in Manchester's favourite day of the year. It was fantastic to see it so vibrant and full of life and energy again. The crowds were loving it and even a sprinkling of good old-fashioned Manchester rain in the morning - much needed as we all know, even though we weren't really wanting it to rain on our parade - didn't dampen people's enthusiasm for coming into town and enjoying the day. And seeing our majestic town hall clock tower once again as a backdrop to what was a sensational crowd-pleaser of a finale finish to an incredible day celebrating our wonderful city, felt like coming home again for the first time after a very long time away. It was simply brilliant - you could see that in the faces of the crowds - utterly heartwarming and it felt so right."
