The beloved manchester jazz festival piano trail returns to uncover musical talent across the city

Returning for another year with a citywide extravaganza of musical delight, manchester jazz festival and the legendary Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces for the latest mjf piano trail competition, challenging Mancunians of all ages to uncover hidden talents across a route of sixteen street pianos from Thu 20 Mar – Sat 31 May.

Devised with an ethos of creativity and engaging, accessible fun, the mjf piano trail competition offers the chance to explore the city streets and wider region with an exciting instrumental twist, as you navigate some of Manchester’s most iconic venues and even have the opportunity to win an assortment of incredible prizes, including a Yahama digital piano.

This year, the competition will commence with an official launch ceremony at the Corn Exchange, hosted by Forsyth Music Shop manager, Emma Loat. The occasion will feature live performances from last year’s winner, Ainsley Vanzyl, emerging piano prodigy William AN and special guest Andrzej Baranek.

The competition is part of mjf’s landmark 30th anniversary celebrations, which take over twelve venues around the region from Fri 16 – Sun 25 May.

The sixteen piano locations are: Piccadilly Station, Manchester Arndale, Harvey Nichols, HOME, Victoria Station, MediaCityUK, Great Northern, Corn Exchange, Spinningfields, Royal Exchange Arcade, Central Library, Forsyth Music Shop, Aviva Studios, Trafford Palazzo, Grand Arcade (Wigan) and Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre (Oldham).

Alongside the main trail, Free Manchester Walking Tours stage a pair of bespoke walking routes on Fri 17 and Sat 18 May (£10 per adult, children go free) with live performances along the way.

To enter the competition, all you need to do is find one of the trail pianos, make a video of your performance lasting no longer than five minutes, and post the video to your Instagram, Facebook or X account, tagging @manchesterjazzfestival on Facebook or IG or @manjazzfest on X. Use the hashtag #mjfpianotrail2025 to be in with a chance at winning a prize, from a Yamaha P145 digital piano and a two-course meal with a bottle of wine at HOME to a birthday party for twelve kids at Oxygen MediaCity and two free tickets to Manchester International Festival’s unmissable upcoming show, Football City, Art United.

Find out more HERE.