Chinese New Year Parade

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February

It's the year of the horse and to celebrate in style, it's the return of Manchester's famous Chinese New Year Dragon Parade.

Follow the famous 175ft dragon through the city’s streets towards Chinatown, leading a colourful parade packed with live cultural performances, red lantern-lined streets and funfair style energy for the whole family to enjoy.

Key Advice

Celebrations will begin on Saturday 14 February with markets in the city centre. The Dragon Parade will take place on Sunday 15 February at 12pm from Oxford Road.
To allow the Parade to pass through the city centre safely, there will be a number of road closures and bus diversions along the route.
During the Chinese New Year celebrations, Network Rail works will be taking place. As a result, Piccadilly Station will be closed to trains from the south and east of the city.
Tram services will not be affected and will continue to operate as usual via Piccadilly.
We advise against travelling into the city centre by car on Saturday if possible, as roads will be busier than usual and journeys may take much longer.
Public transport will be the best way to travel. If you must drive, consider leaving the car at one of our park and ride sites and completing your journey by tram, bus or train.

About the Chinese New Year Parade

The parade will begin at the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12pm on Sunday 15 February. The parade will make its way along Portland Street before concluding in Chinatown for a final performance on Princess Street.

Bus Diversions

Road Closures

The following road closures will be in place over the weekend:

From 5am on Saturday 14 February until 11.59pm on Sunday 15 February

Nicholas Street (Portland Street to George Street)
St James's Street (Princess Street to Nicholas Street)
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)

From 5am on Sunday 15 February until 11.59pm

Reyner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)

From 10am until 3pm on Sunday 15 February

Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street) soft closure at the junction of Peter Street / Deansgate. Access for residents and businesses only.
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street West)
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street)
George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
Back George Street (Dickinson Street to Princess Street)
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Novotel Hotel Entrance/ End of Faulkner Street)
Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley
House/end of Dickinson Street)
Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)
Soft Closure inbound at Whitworth Street / Princess Street, Whitworth Street/ Sackville Street and Whitworth Street / Chorlton Street junctions. No through traffic. Access to residents, businesses and buses only.  
Reverse the one way at Major Street (Princess Street to Sackville Street)

Travelling by Tram

Travelling by tram will be the best way to get to and from the parade.

The nearest stop to the start of the parade, and Chinatown, is St Peter's Square with multiple lines stopping there.

There will be a 15-minute frequency across the network on Sunday 15 February.

Park and ride

If you have to drive, why not leave your car at one of the 24 park and ride sites, and complete your journey into the city centre by tram? It will save you a lot of time looking for a car parking space in the city.

From the north

Whitefield (Bury line) - 331 spaces and 13 disabled spaces.
Radcliffe (Bury line) - 480 spaces and 22 disabled spaces.

From the south

Sale Water Park (Airport line) - 285 spaces and 16 disabled spaces.

From the east

Ashton Moss (Ashton line) - 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces.
Ashton West (Ashton line) - 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces.

From the west

Parkway (Trafford Park line) - 341 parking spaces and 19 disabled spaces.

Tickets

Beat the queue at the machines and touch-in and out at the on-stop machines using contactless. Save money and travel with the family using our family travelcard. All events in the city centre are located in zone 1. View ticket prices for each zone.

Travelling by Train

If you're travelling by train to the Chinese New Year celebrations, from Saturday 14 until Sunday 22 February 2026, Network Rail works will be taking place at Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station.

Whilst the works are taking place, Piccadilly Station will be closed to trains from the south and east of the city.

Tram services will not be affected and will continue to operate as usual via Piccadilly

For details on affected rail services, rail ticket acceptance on trams and buses, and replacement bus services, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Travelling by Car

With closures in place and city centre roads likely to be very busy, avoid driving into the city centre if possible.

Why not consider using public transport or travelling by bike or on foot to complete your journeys into the city centre on Sunday 15 February?

Car parking

Park on the same side of the city as your route if you can. Driving across the city can add additional time to your journey, so if it’s an option for you, park in a car park closest to your route out of the city centre. View the map of the city centre car parks here.
Check for quicker routes before every car journey on Google, Waze and other Apps.

Car parking suspensions

The following parking suspensions will be in place:

From 8pm on Saturday 14 February until 4pm on Sunday 15 February

Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street) 
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Whitworth Street West) 
Hall Street (Oxford Street to Bale Street) 
George Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street) 
Back George Street (Dickinson to Princess Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)  
Chepstow Street (Oxford Street to Great Bridgewater Street)  
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to New York Street) 
Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley
House/end of Dickinson Street)  
Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street) 
Abingdon Street (Major Street to Portland Street)
Faulkner Street (Mercure Hotel to Princess Street)
Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)

Accessible parking to be relocated to Fountain Street (Booth Street to York Street)

Cycling and Walking

With road closures and bus diversions in operation, you may find that walking in and around the city centre will get you to the parade in less time. There's lots of information and handy tips about getting on your bike or walking in Greater Manchester on our Bee Active website.