Manchester's giant Zippy Santa has returned to the city centre in his earliest ever appearance, taking up a new position on Albert Square outside Manchester Town Hall. Council workers have been installing the festive figure as preparations for the Manchester Christmas Markets get underway.
Albert Square is back as the main hub of the markets this year, with Piccadilly Gardens out of action, prompting an earlier start on installing the attractions. The Big Wheel was erected first, with the 50-metre high structure installed across Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Santa's New Cracker Tunnel Home
On Friday, Santa made his October debut in the city, before Halloween has even passed. This year, instead of the giant present box he previously sat on outside Central Library, he will sit on a giant cracker that doubles as a tunnel visitors can walk through for selfies once the markets officially open on Friday, November 6.
Santa will not be lit up until the markets open. Council bosses say he has been put up early due to the logistics of setting up all the wooden huts and other attractions in time for the opening date.
Reassembly and History of Zippy Santa
The council has shared photos showing the operation to reassemble Zippy Santa on Albert Square. Zippy Santa 2.0 was unveiled two years ago, replacing the giant moustachioed Santa who came before it. The original Zippy Santa was retired in 2019 and snapped up by Kelloggs for their Trafford Park factory, which has since closed, leaving its whereabouts a mystery.
The new version, said to be leaner and lighter than the original, is back for 2026. Alongside the Big Wheel and Zippy Santa, Albert Square will feature a vintage helter-skelter and a new pop-up pub. There will also be a new live artisan pastry-baking hut from the Flat Baker, and a new selfie sleigh inside a Christmas tree.
Tribute to Pat Karney and Festive Plans
Council leader Councillor Garry Bridges paid tribute to the city's former "Mr Christmas" Pat Karney, who died earlier this month, in marking Santa's return. He said: "There's nowhere that does Christmas quite like Manchester. We've been Santa's favourite city now for two and a half decades since our legendary Christmas Markets first began in 1998."
"Whilst there's an obvious touch of sadness this year as we're missing our biggest Christmas cheerleader Pat Karney, the best way we can celebrate him is to make sure Manchester has the best Christmas ever," he added. "So it's great to see our much-loved giant Santa has arrived back in town ready for the festive season and once more back on Albert Square in front of our magnificent Town Hall. With less than two weeks to go until our fabulous Christmas Markets open, we're going all out to make sure the city is at its sparkly best and will be pulling out all the stops over the next couple of months to make Christmas in Manchester this year the most fantastic and magical one yet."
Following Christmas, Albert Square will serve as the main hub for the city's New Year's Eve celebrations, open until midnight for the annual fireworks display to ring in 2027. The markets will also take over St Ann's Square, Corn Exchange, Exchange Square, Cathedral Gardens and Market Street, with Lincoln Square a new addition this year. Many of the wooden huts are now being installed across the city centre sites ahead of the festive celebrations beginning in two weeks.
