Free things to do in Manchester FT Góbéfest, World Cup 2026 & more

Get yourself over to The Blues Kitchen this Wednesday to watch England launch their World Cup 2026 campaign, head-to-head with Croatia.

It’s first come first served so the team advises arriving early to secure a spot, or miss getting the best view of the game…

Góbéfest, Manchester’s original urban folk music and dance festival, is celebrating a decade of love, lutes and lángos this week.

The weekend promises an expertly curated outdoor mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance groups, choirs and more. Headliners include legendary Hungarian artist Ildikó Keresztes and the Bekecs Dance Theatre from Transylvania, showcasing traditional Szekler folk culture.

Independent food and drink traders will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin and beyond, while free activities in the family tent include music and dance workshops, arts and crafts and storytelling.

Léna C. will be returning to renae alongside partner-in-crime Josh FB for a Discothèque Tropicale takeover this Friday night, treating attendees to a border-crossing journey through tropical rhythms and sun-drenched sounds.

While the sun sets this Saturday night, the jungle will awaken during the Summer Solstice at Ramona.

Gather on the longest day of the year for an immersive journey through deep, soulful and percussion-led house music. Attendees can expect carefully curated sounds, tropical energy and a dance floor united by rhythm.

To celebrate the launch of Manchester’s newest trance night, TranceMCR, the team are throwing a free after-party in the recently opened Bee Noir, playing all of the best Trance classics.

Swing by after their launch night at Amber’s, where TranceMCR will be welcoming the likes of Oliver Lieb, Sean Tyas, Thrillseekers, Art of Trance, Airwave, DJ Wag, Podders and many more…