Crowds filled St Peter’s Square for NYE event

• Tens of thousands gathered in Manchester city centre for the council’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations, featuring live entertainment, inclusive displays and a large-scale fireworks show.
• BBC Radio Manchester presenter Joe McGrath hosted the St Peter’s Square event, describing the experience as “really special” as crowds enjoyed music, city highlights and messages from local figures.
• A fireworks and light spectacular above Central Library marked the arrival of 2026, while nearby Albert Square also drew crowds with fairground attractions despite freezing temperatures.

Tens of thousands flocked to Manchester city centre last night as Manchester City Council’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations drew huge crowds and spectacular displays to ring in 2026.

The event, staged across two historic squares in the heart of the city, delivered a blend of family-friendly entertainment, festive fairground attractions and a fireworks and light show that kept revelers cheering long into the early hours. 

From 10pm, St Peter’s Square became a hub of activity, with BBC Radio Manchester presenter Joe McGrath hosting a lively programme of music and entertainment leading up to the midnight countdown. Families and friends gathered to enjoy the atmosphere, with a soundtrack that ranged from classic sing-alongs to upbeat anthems before the fireworks lit up the night sky. 

“To be able to front this is really special”

Speaking to Northern Quota, McGrath, who grew up in Stockport, said hosting the event was particularly meaningful. “It’s one of the biggest public events the city centre does and one of the highlights of the year, so to be able to front this is really special,” he said.

He also reflected on returning to the stage for a second year, explaining that last New Year’s Eve he used the event to announce his new breakfast show on BBC Radio Manchester. “To be back hosting the event this year feels like a full circle moment,” he said, adding that the celebrations had only been held twice since the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a great night and it gets really busy — last year was just mental.”

Organisers made efforts to ensure the event felt inclusive for international visitors, with LED screens and advertising boards displaying “Happy New Year” in 26 different languages. The audience was also shown highlights celebrating Manchester’s cultural and sporting achievements, including clips of Oasis and football moments, alongside pre-recorded messages from BBC presenters and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Confetti rained over the crowd

At midnight, an 8-minute firework and light display illuminated above Manchester’s iconic Central Library, kicking off 2026 with bursts of colour and a flash of confetti that rained down over the crowd. The show, set to a medley that included a tribute to local music legends, brought cheers from the assembled crowds and was hailed as “nothing short of spectacular” by many attendees. 

RNCM student Shuangqhai Yao, from China, attended with a friend visiting from Hong Kong. “It was brilliant, and there were so many people here wishing for a good beginning for 2026,” she said. “I wish everyone a happy life in the new year.”

Just a short walk away in Albert Square, the celebrations offered an equally vibrant experience. The square buzzed with activity throughout the evening, featuring the city’s giant festive Ferris wheel, a wide range of food and drink stalls, and independently run craft pop-ups that drew visitors from across Greater Manchester. Social media was alive with photos and videos from the celebrations, with many choosing St Peter’s Square as their main meeting point. 

Despite freezing temperatures reported nationwide and a cold weather alert in the north of England, celebrants across Manchester appeared undeterred, celebrating the arrival of 2026 in high spirits.