Manchester’s much-loved St Patrick’s Day Parade is set to return amidst a packed programme of festivities.
This year’s edition of the city’s now legendary Irish Parade – which first took place over 35 years ago – has once again been organised by Manchester’s Irish World Heritage Centre.
When/Where will Manchester’s St Patrick’s Day Parade take place?
It will start at midday on Sunday from the Irish World Heritage Centre itself in Cheetham Hill, and travel along Cheetham Hill Road heading towards the AO Arena, before turning right onto Trinity Way, left onto Great Ducie Street, continuing onto Chapel Street, then left onto Victoria Bridge Street, and right onto Deansgate, before ending at the junction of Deansgate and King Street.
The annual parade is expected to attract thousands of people into the city centre, with its promise of live Irish music played by marching, pipe, and accordion bands, who will be performing alongside some incredible troupes of traditional Irish dancers of all ages.
It’s anticipated the parade will last an hour from its start in Cheetham Hill to its finish on Deansgate.
As well as a full calendar of events at Irish bars and other venues across the city, the run-up to St Patrick’s Day, which falls on Tue 17 Mar, also sees the return of the Irish Festival Village to St Ann’s Square in the heart of the city centre. From Thu 12 Mar through to closing time on St Patrick’s Day, expect back-to-back live music every day, plus Irish-themed food and drink.
Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson and Chair of the Irish Festival, and himself born in Dublin before coming to live in Manchester as a child, said: “We have a really big community of Irish people living here in our city and although I’ve lived in Manchester since I was a boy I still proudly count myself amongst them.
“The city has a long history of welcoming Irish people in and taking them to their hearts and I’ll be forever grateful for the welcome Manchester showed me when I first arrived here as a child. At the same time I’m also really proud of the many contributions Irish people have made to this amazing city of ours.
“St Patrick’s Day is a really big date in the calendar for Irish people everywhere and getting together with family, friends and others to celebrate and mark the day is really important to us.
“With one of Europe’s oldest and best St Patrick’s Day parades here on our doorstep, you won’t want to miss it – so come on down on Sunday and join in the craic!”
Manchester St Patrick’s Day road closures
9am – 11am:
Queens Road (Boyle Street to Smedley Lane)
11am – 1pm:
Queens Road (Cheetham Hill Road to Smedley Lane)
11am – 3pm:
Cheetham Hill Road (Queens Road to New Bridge Street)
Cheetham Hill Road (New Bridge Street to Victoria Street)
Victoria Street (New Bridge Street to Deansgate)
Chapel Street (Victoria Street to Victoria Bridge Street)
Victoria Bridge Street (Chapel Street to Deansgate)
Cateaton Street (Hanging Ditch to Deansgate)
Deansgate (Victoria Street to Peter Street)
John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Princess Street)
Princess Street (John Dalton Street to George Street)
South King Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St James Square (South King Street to John Dalton Street)
King Street (Essex Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Gate (Deansgate to Cross Street)
Parking Bay Suspensions Mon 16 March from 12.01am – 4pm
Cateaton Street – Fennel Street to Deansgate
Deansgate – Victoria Street to Peter Street
Cross Street – King Street to Market Street
St Mary’s Gate – Market Street to Deansgate
St Anns Street – Cross Street to Deansgate
St Mary Street – Deansgate
King Street West – Deansgate
Queen Street – Deansgate to end
South King Street – Cross Street to Deansgate
John Dalton Street – Princess Street to Deansgate
St James Square – South King Street to John Dalton Street
St Mary’s Gate – Deansgate to Cross Street
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 11 Mar 2026
