Civic Pride: Celebrating Communities and Belonging

Manchester Histories FREE Festival 2026

Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 June 2026
manchesterhistories.co.uk #MHF2026
The multi award-winning Manchester Histories Festival is back for its tenth edition!
Celebrate our histories at this FREE three-day festival full of events for everyone.

Location Hub: Manchester Central Library and various other locations in Manchester.
Civic Pride: Celebrating Community & Belonging across Greater Manchester

Manchester Histories Festival 2026 celebrates the spirit of civic pride and community collaboration, inviting audiences, artists, academics, and local groups to contribute to a shared story of the city’s past, present, and future.

The FREE three-day programme highlights include:
Thurs 4 – Sat 6 June: Threads of a City: The Manchester Tapestry Project a stunning large-scale textile tapestry reflecting the stories, cultures, and history that shape Manchester from its incorporation as a city in 1853 to the present. The 26-panel tapestry is being created by people of Greater Manchester, capturing Manchester’s identity through architecture, art, neighbourhoods, sport, music, heritage, and personal stories. It will be displayed in Manchester Town Hall before touring venues across the city and beyond.

Tapestry Workshops for ages 15 + (various times).

Thurs 4 June: Histories Slam, untold short stories from 14 diverse people from across Greater Manchester share fascinating, obscure, hilarious, geeky, absurd, tender, unexpected, or completely extraordinary tales.

Hosted by Tony Kinsella, Salford-born writer, musician, and comedian.

Saturday 6 June: The ever-popular Celebration Day – including over 40 history and heritage stalls
and hundreds of local people across Greater Manchester who will showcase eclectic, historic, quirky, diverse, and fun entertainment. Plus, fascinating Talks and Tours and free fun entertainment and activities for adults and children, including a Heritage Bus and pop-up surprises.

Fri 5 & Sat 6 June: Include two days of films, talks and tours celebrating civic pride & conservation.

Sat 6 June: Three Special Highlights include: What Is History For? Open Day at John Rylands Library
and Research Institute

Sat 6 June: Open Afternoon at Phil Martin Centre, Moss Side & Hulme part of
Manchester Histories Champs Camp Archive Project preserving the legacy of UK’s first Black-led
boxing gym and telling its story

Sat 6 June: Heritage in Action at Manchester Central Library, a riveting discussion from Keisha Thompson, Programme Manager (Manchester), Legacies of Enslavement Programme, The Guardian and Yussuf M’Rabty, Project Manager, This Is Us: Tracing Manchester’s
Histories and special panel guests (to be announced).
The full programme of events is available at

Manchester Histories – Connecting people through histories and heritage

manchesterhistories.co.uk