Getting to Parklife 2026

Manchester's biggest music festival, Parklife, returns to Heaton Park on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June.

This year's line up features many of the world's best DJs including Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji and Marlon Hoffstadt.

Planning is underway to ensure fans have a smooth and seamless journey to the park across the weekend.

Keep checking back over the coming months as we add more information related to traffic and transport for the event.

So whether you're travelling from the other side of the world like Yousuke Yukimatsu, or slightly closer to home, we'll have all the information you need to make your visit an easy one.

Have your travel for Parklife sorted with the Bee Network's integrated travel ticket. Travel from anywhere across Greater Manchester to Parklife by tram, bus or shuttle bus with one ticket. Please note, this is the only ticket that will be accepted on the shuttle buses.

What's included with the ticket?

Travel across all zones on the tram
Travel on any Bee Network Bus
Travel on the Parklife Shuttle Bus which runs between Manchester city centre and Heaton Park

How much is the ticket?

Saturday only: £8
Sunday only: £8
Weekend ticket (Saturday AND Sunday): £14.95

How do I buy the travel ticket?

Parklife travel tickets are available exclusively on the Bee Network app. To buy the ticket, you need to:

Download the Bee Network app.
Open the app and select 'Tickets' from the options on the bottom menu of the home screen.
From there, select the 'multi-modal' option.
For a single day ticket (Saturday or Sunday) select 1-day. If you want a weekend ticket for Saturday and Sunday, select the 2-7 day option.
On the next screen, select the Parklife ticket option that is applicable to you and then follow the necessary steps to purchase the ticket.
The ticket will then be saved on the ‘My tickets’ section of the ticketing menu.

Don't forget to make sure that your phone/device with your ticket on is fully charged, or that you have access to charging facilities. If you purchase a Parklife travel ticket on the Bee Network app, you will need to show this on your phone/device for travel.

Where is the ticket valid?

parklife

Getting there

Tram services will operate to several stops close to the Parklife site across the weekend.

The stops that you will need for Heaton Park are:

Please note Heaton Park tram stop will be closed after the event so please head to Bowker Vale to get to the city centre or Bury.

Both stops are just a few minutes away from the park gates, and there will be staff and signs to help you on your way.

Those travelling from the city centre (Zone 1) are advised to make their way to Victoria where they can board trams to the event. Event-goers travelling from other lines may need to change onto a Bury bound tram at Victoria.

For more information about your journey, take a look at the tram network map and keep up to date with the latest travel news by visiting our travel alerts hub.

Park and ride

If you have to drive or need to be dropped off/picked up, did you know that there are 24 park and ride sites in Greater Manchester, where you can park your car for free, and hop on the tram to your destination? The park and ride sites on the Bury line are:

Whitefield - 331 spaces and 13 disabled spaces.
Radcliffe - 480 spaces and 22 disabled spaces.

Tickets

If you have not bought a Parklife travel ticket, there are other options.

Bowker Vale is located in Zone 2/3 and Heaton Park is in Zone 3. Further information on ticket prices can be found on our tram ticket price webpage.

Beat the queue at the machines and touch-in and out at the on-stop machines using contactless.

Make sure that you have purchased your Parklife travel ticket on the Bee Network app before boarding the bus. Please note, no other ticket will be accepted on the shuttle buses. More information is in the dedicated section above.

The Parklife shuttle bus will depart from the city centre, with departure points and times to be confirmed in due course.

Journeys take around 30 minutes on the bus, with drop off next to the festival site.

Buses will operate back into Manchester from the early evening until the site is clear. Clear signage will be in place to direct you to the buses from the festical site.

Manchester Piccadilly, Deansgate-Castlefield, Oxford Road and Victoria stations are all expected to be busier than usual with various events taking place over the weekend.

From Victoria, you can take the tram straight to the event. You will need the Bury line (yellow or green lines on some journey planners), and to get off the tram at Heaton Park or Bowker Vale. More information on travelling by tram is available in the section above.

Be sure to check train times on the National Rail website before you travel and follow them on Twitter for live updates @nationalrailenq.

Walking

Heaton Park is around a one hour walk from Manchester city centre. There is a clear walking route along Bury Old Road, which will be signposted to and from Manchester city centre to Parklife.

If there's good weather, it's a good opportunity to catch up with your mates and chat about your Parklife experience. Make sure that you are prepared, are walking with someone, and follow designated paths and routes. More tips for looking after yourself at Parklife are in our 'More information' section.

Cycling

There are spaces to park your bike in the main car park - simply ask a member of staff if you're unsure of where to go.

More information

Keeping safe so that you can enjoy the festival is crucial. The Parklife festival has a variety of welfare provisions in place, including:

A dedicated welfare team onsite, who can offer support in a non-judgemental environment.
Availability of many wellbeing resources ranging from plasters, to hygiene products, to water, to hot drinks, blankets and waterproof coverings.
A place to rest, relax and have a chat to someone, if you need.

For more information, you can visit Parklife's FAQ webpage.

However you may be travelling to the festival, here's our top tips for being transport-savvy:

Ensure that your phone is fully-charged/you have access to a portable power bank. If you have purchased a Parklife travel ticket on the Bee Network app, you will need to show this on your phone/device for travel.
Make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Make a day of it and if you choose to walk, make your journey with your mates.
Leave in plenty of time so you don't miss the act you really want to see or the last service of the day.
Follow us on Twitter @BeeNetwork