Manchester International Festival announces food, drink and music line-up taking over riverside location

Taking place on the banks of the River Irwell there will be food and drink from some of Manchester's best-loved restaurants alongside live music and family events

Manchester International Festival (MIF) has announced its music and food lineup for Festival Square, the hub of the major cultural event.

Festival Square will take up residence at Aviva Studios with a free programme of live music, performances, talks and family activities from 4 to 20 July on the banks of the River Irwell.

The outdoor riverside event space will host free performances from 200 artists, bands, DJs and musicians, as well as family entertainment and a wide variety of food and drink.

With over 162 artists in the line up hailing from Greater Manchester, the programme is a massive celebration of grassroots initiatives, venues, collectives and sounds from across the region.

Throughout MIF25, Festival Square will present takeovers from some of the city’s best artists, promoters, collectives, venues and radio stations including: Carlton Club, Crop Radio, YES, South Asian Music Summit, Green Island, Night & Day, Sounds From The Other City, Reform Radio and many more.

The festival will be hosting some of the best DJ’s and club nights from across the city too, including Haçienda legend Dave Haslam with Colin Curtis; and takeovers from Eves Drop Collective with The Social Service, HOMOBLOC x Homoelectric, Suffragette City, High Hoops, Swagga and Kiss Me Again.

Rising stars from Factory International’s annual artist development programme, Factory Sounds, will also be taking to the stage to showcase the wealth of grass-roots talent in the city’s music scene.

Rivca Burns, Head of Music at Factory International and Manchester International Festival, said: “Festival Square is a vital part of the annual music programme at Factory International.

"It’s where we celebrate our fantastic city and its musicians on an international stage. For many of us - including myself as a programmer - it’s where the journey begins.

"Festival Square tells the story of Greater Manchester’s sound, both on stage and behind the scenes. I’m incredibly proud that this year we’re working with more promoters and curators than ever before and celebrating some of our most cherished music venues, shining a light on independent voices.

"The variety of performances is incredible - a true reflection of Manchester, with something for everyone. Come and discover your new favourite artist!”

Elsewhere, family friendly activities includes kids clubbing, silent disco, a Sports Day from The Carlton Club and a Mad Hatter’s Musical Tea Party from Z-Arts, The Giant Bubble Show, Our Kids Social Silent Disco and Playhouse Project.

Each day food and drink on the square will feature Indian street food from Bundobust, hot chicken dishes from Trading Route and Thai food from Superserve as well as regular appearances from Ginger’s Ice Cream and other friends of the festival.On Sunday, 6 July Honest Crust will be serving up limited-edition pizza in collaboration with celebrated chef Shaun Moffat of acclaimed Manchester restaurant Winsome from 1pm until they sell out in aid of EatWell MCR.

Official beer for the festival comes from Madri, with a new Dream Differently cocktail offered by Superserve too.

Taking place from Thursday, 3 July to Sunday, 20 July, this year will see Manchester International Festival spread its wings beyond the city centre, with events in Rochdale and Wigan, and boast a plethora of artists from across the region.

Highlights of this year's event include a parade of life-size puppets, a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Royal Ballet, and the next stage of the festival's collaboration with World Cup and Champions’ League winner Juan Mata alongside football greats including Eric Cantona and Edgar Davids.

Visitors to Festival Square will be able to visit the summer exhibition 'Football City, Art United'. in the Warehouse space at Aviva Studios with free entry for those aged 16 and under.

Manchester International Festival (MIF) runs Thursday, 3 July to Sunday, 20 July 2025.

Festival Square line-up July 4-20

Friday 4 July

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Sweet Vibrations and SWAGGA Bennettiscoming (17:00)

Katbrownsugar (17:30)

Lei Hope (18:30)

Katbrownsugar (19:00)

Victoria Jane (20:00)

Meme Gold (20:30)

DJ Nkay

DJ Stacey Bee

DJ Jade Jaxon

THE SOCIAL

Swagga (DJ) (22:00 - 2:00)

Saturday 5 July

Z-Arts Mad Hatters Musical Tea Party (13:00)

RUBIX (13:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Neighbourhood Orgs Naomi Kalu

Zola Steel Pan

Brian Boru Ceili Dancers

May & Hunte (17:00)

PAVÉ (18:00)

Patience (18:30)

Third Kulture (19:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Art Decade Presents Transmission Towers (20:30)

Ghost Assembly (21:30)

Dave Haslam (22:15)

Adam Statham (00:30)

Dom Blood & Fire (22.00)

Colin Curtis (23:00)

Andrea Trout (00:30)

Sunday 6 July

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Carlton Club Manchester Little Artists (10:00)

Carlton Choir (12:00)

Semi Peppered x Building Bridges presents Sports Day (12:30) Carlton Club Old Time Session (13:30)

Govend (14:15)

The Greek Folk Collective (15:00)

DJ Chafik (15:45)

Oojami (16:15)

E&I Collective (17:30)

DJ Rapha (18:15)

BRUME (18:45)

Good Afternoon (20:45)

Will Tang Clan (20:00)

Funked It Up (21:15)

Home On The Range (22:45)

Moodymanc (23:00)

Rummage in The Range

Tuesday 8 July

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: From The Soil EKUA (17:00)

ProphetZd (18:00)

Andre Jahnoi (18:20)

General (18:40)

Lashimba (19:00)

Hazel (19:20)

Kahreign (19:40)

Kingxton (20:00)

Artist Lebo (20:20)

Migraine Mowgli (20:40)

Rootz (21:00)

Renee Stormz (21:20)

Dilligent Fingers (21:40)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Crop Radio Greenskeepers Soundsystem (22:00)

Crop Cypher ft. Shadev, LZ & MC’s (23:00)

THE SOCIAL

A Symphony of Flesh and Bones, Juliet Ellis Talk (15:00-16:00)

FAFSWAG talk (16:00)

Sounds of Diaspora (live) (18:00)

Sounds of Diaspora (talk) (19:00)

Sounds of Diaspora (live) (20:00)

Wednesday 9 July

Tay Temple (17:00)

Red Rodeo Club 17:30)

Luna b2b Gomorrah(19:00)

Phia b2b Lav (20:30)

Yyre b2b fkahardcore (22:00)

THE SOCIAL

An Inheritance talk (14.30-15.30

Queering Football talk 15.30-16.30)

England vs. Netherlands (football) (17:00 - 18:30) Thursday 10 July

Holly Redford Jones (17:00)

Olivesque (18:00)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: YES TTSSFU (19:00)

Choe Slater (21:00)

Chips with Everything (22:00)

THE SOCIAL

Desi Fusion DJ (22:00)

Friday 11 July

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Schools T4T (17.00)

Lucky Roy Singh: Fashion (18:00)

atalaya (19:00)

RIYA (20:00)

Miss Chief Does Madchester (21:00)

Eves’Drop B2B The Social Service (22:00)

THE SOCIAL

Venture Arts Talk (15:00 - 16:00)

Breathe (18:00)

Rhod Parry (22:00)

Lily C (23:00)

Shimrise (00:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Eves Drop Collective B2B The Social Service (22:00 - 02:00)

Ladybeige

Kath McDermott

Laura Jackson

Lil Minx

Ruby Swallows

Sarah Sweeney

Shimrise & Friends

Saturday 12th July

Born To Be Child (10:00)

Bethlehem Casuals (14:00)

Oriki b2b Sharari (14:30 - 15:30 & 16:00 - 17:00)

IRIS (15:30)

Ewan Sim (17:00)

Funkademia (18:00)

See Thru Hands (21:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: High Hoops x FAFSWAG

Kim Lana (22:00)

Lady Shaka / FAFSWAG (23:30)

Fastlove (00:30)

THE SOCIAL

UK Space Agency - Ask an Astronaut - 15.00-16.00

KRUMP (18:00)

Kiss Me Again (22:00)

Sunday 13 July

NONUNONU (12:30)

Jenna G (14:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Joy on the Square:

Our Kids Social

CDM UK Workshop

Katumba (Brazilian Drumming)

Colibri Mexican Folkdance (13:00)

NIA Choir (14:00)

Hamsaz Ensemble (15:30)

DJ Pipes & Friends (16:00)

True Aubz (17:30)

Spoken Word with John O'Neill

THE SOCIAL

Creative Engagement (workshop) (13:00 - 14:00) Spoken Word with John O'Neill (14:00 - 14:30)

Portrait of Black Britain (Talk) (15:30 - 16:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: South Asian Music Summit GirlcalledSim

Hindh

Zeny Bux

Sagan

Samina

Ourkid

Jason Patel

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Green Island Presents Atike (20:00)

Rumbi Tauro (20:30)

Krin (21:30)

MAMA KILLA (22:00)

Atike B2B Dr Jive (23:00)

Tuesday 15 July

NEKO NEKO (17:00)

Kop-Z (17:30)

Shell Company (18:30)

Kop-Z (19:00)

Rian Treanor w/ Rotheram Sight & Sound (19:30) Kop-Z (20:30)

Algernon (21:00)

Rainy Miller (22:00)

Wednesday 16 July

Poolera (17:00)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Night & Day presents Deafwhip (18:00)

Fruit Tones (19:00)

Madame Claude (20:00)

ROLLA (21:00)

DJ Mx World (21:30)

Thursday 17 July

Grumpy (17:00)

SOPHIA (17:30)

Lemon Vinyl (18:30)

Muziiswak (19:00)

Fuzia (20:00)

Purple Collective (21:00)

Asandia (22:00)

THE SOCIAL

Audrey Hall Talk (15:00 - 16:00)

Inner (18:00 - 21:30)

Friday 18 July

Beck Pocket (17:00)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Sounds from the Other City Gamilee Worldwide presents PRIDO

Seamus & Friends presents Levi Love B2B teepee h Grey Lantern presents Beau Mec

Maxi Zee (22:00)

Zeyla (20:30)

Superlative (21:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Adele Tondu & Friends Adele Tondu (22:00)

Lotus Phaze (23:00)

Ayy Den (00:00)

Chunky B2B Adele Tondu (01:00)

Mamba (MC)

THE SOCIAL

A Possibility, Germaine Kruip Talk (15:00 -16:00)

Saturday 19 July

Playhouse Project

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: REFORM Radio Daudi (13:00)

Foot In The Door (13:30)

Secret Night Gang (14:30)

SNO (15:00)

Blythe (16:00)

Cariss Auburn (16:30)

Queering The Arts (17:00)

Shanika Sunrise (18:30)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: HOMOBLOC x Homoelectric

Lucas Assagba (19:00)

The Darklings (20:00)

PVA (21:00)

Joshua James (22:00)

Grace Sands (00:00)

Ghetto Fabulous Catwalk

DJ Freerunner (22:00)

DJ Mother (23:00)

Jade Jaxon (00:00)

Sunday 20 July

Ray Bubbles: The Giant Bubble Show (10:00)

Brown Wimpenny (13:00)

FESTIVAL SQUARE TAKEOVER: Under One Roof

The Fat Britney (14:00)

The Spotlighters (15:00)

Jake Smith (15:30)

Lighting Power (16:30)

Porcelain Delaney

DJ Xanda (17:00)

The Social

Public Living Room (14:00 - 17:30)