Countdown on for the Universally Manchester Festival

08 Jun 2026

Our free Universally Manchester Festival returns with fun activities for all!

Join us on campus on Saturday, 13 June, 11am – 4.30pm for a day of inspiration, curiosity, and play for all the family. Get hands-on with science activities, creative sessions, tours, and engaging talks and performances.

From atoms to art, calligraphy to computing, and music to medicine, there’s plenty to discover and do. With more than 80 hands-on stalls, together we will explore what makes for a greener, healthier, and fairer world.

Get moving with outdoor sporting challenges, featuring a range of fun activities designed to get everybody active and involved. Enjoy a quiet moment at our University Community Allotment, hosted in partnership with Ardwick Climate Action, a space to connect with nature.

Find out more about Manchester as a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning and hear how the University is a key partner in helping to create a healthier and more inclusive city. See our Flash Bang Show - a dazzling display of colour changes, flashes and the occasional bang. Meet up with a heritage specialist to tour the campus on foot and hear how our work has shaped innovation and society.

The day will also celebrate our vibrant cultural institutions, including Manchester Museum, Jodrell Bank, and the Whitworth, who will host a programme of drop-in activities throughout the day as part of the Festival.   

What are asteroids made of? How can we save the world’s frogs? And can you master the psychology to win The Traitors? These are just some of the questions being asked at our Bee Curious programme, featuring thought-provoking talks and performances for all ages.

We hope you can join us for the Festival – bring your families, your friends, your neighbours. It promises to be a day that has something for everyone.

Find out more at: universallymanchester.com