From free art exhibitions brought to you by local legend Stanley Chow to a bass-filled dance session that’ll have you grooving into the early hours – here’s our rundown of the best free things to do in Manchester this week…
Kick off the weekend early at Freight Island as New Zealand’s finest will be touching down in Manchester after a sold out debut last summer for the latest instalment of the legendary Ghosts of Garage sessions.
Hosted by Bants and Bash, Factory International’s Game Social is the perfect way to spend a cosy evening meeting new people, chatting, playing games and having fun!
Enjoy a selection of free games including icebreaker games, classic board and card games, pool, ping pong, PlayStations and more – plus a live DJ throughout.
If you’re up for a late one this Friday night, look no further than Bass Face at Gorilla.
Following their sold out 2026 shows so far, Bass Face will be joined by the biggest names in DNB, House, Tech-House, Techno & UKG right now.
Swing by Ramona this Saturday night for a feel-good event all about bringing people together through music, dancing and community.
Noisy Neighbour and Krioso are back again, and as always they’ll be joined by some of the finest House and Garage selectors Manchester has to offer.
- Words:
- Rhiannon Ingle
- Published on:
- Mon 3 Aug 2026
This summer, internationally acclaimed Manchester artist Stanley Chow is transforming Manchester Arndale with 13 GIANT inflatable portraits, ranging from 3–6 metres in length, suspended throughout the shopping centre.
Running from this Monday, MCR Made celebrates the people who have helped shape Manchester across music, sport, politics, science and culture. Visitors will experience the free exhibition, inflatable portraits of Manchester icons including Liam and Noel Gallagher, Marcus Rashford, Emmeline Pankhurst, Alan Turing and Aitch, alongside a brand-new portrait of Ellen Wilkinson, created exclusively for MCR Made.