Manchester City parade route and Pep farewell times

By Hiyastar Newsroom | Published 25 May 2026

Manchester City fans are expected to gather across Manchester today, Monday 25 May, for an open-top bus parade celebrating the club’s 2025/26 season and marking Pep Guardiola’s departure after ten years in charge.

The free parade begins at 5pm after a build-up in the Northern Quarter from 4pm. Supporters can watch along the route through Ancoats and towards Ashton Old Road, while a separate ticketed After Party will take place later at Co-op Live.

For readers tracking the wider event, Hiyastar has also published a practical guide to the Manchester parade route and Pep farewell.

Parade details for fans heading into Manchester

The celebration covers Manchester City’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, with all teams due to be part of the opening moment before the buses set off.

The parade is free to watch from public viewing points along the route. The Co-op Live After Party is separate and ticketed, with live music, entertainment, player interviews from the men’s and women’s teams, and special guests. The full parade will also be shown inside Co-op Live for ticket holders.

Fans have been asked to use public transport where possible, travel light and avoid bringing large bags. Glass bottles should not be brought to the parade or event areas.

Times, route and main gathering points

The route is expected to draw heavy crowds around the Northern Quarter and Ancoats before the parade moves east. The final stage near the Etihad Stadium is likely to be one of the busiest points, especially for supporters wanting to mark Guardiola’s farewell close to the club’s home ground.

Road closures across the city

Temporary road closures are in place on Monday 25 May to support the parade. Some Northern Quarter streets are closed from 9am to 9pm, including sections of Newton Street, Back Piccadilly, Dale Street, Hilton Street, Port Street, Little Lever Street and nearby roads.

From 2pm to 9pm, closures expand across Great Ancoats Street, parts of Mancunian Way, Pin Mill Brow, George Leigh Street, Blossom Street, Jersey Street, Redhill Street, Old Mill Street, Store Street and other streets around Ancoats.

From 3pm to 9pm, closures include parts of Pollard Street, Malta Street, Every Street, Merrill Street, Ashton New Road, Grey Mare Lane and streets close to the Etihad Stadium approach.

Roads will reopen when it is safe to do so. Drivers should expect delays around the city centre, Ancoats, Beswick and the Etihad area during the afternoon and evening.

Public transport and crowd advice

Manchester City Council is advising fans to use public transport where possible because of the scale of the event and the road closures around the parade route.

Supporters travelling with children or older relatives should plan where they want to watch before arriving, as the busiest areas may become harder to move through once the parade begins. Anyone attending Co-op Live should allow extra time to reach the venue, especially if travelling through the city centre after work.

Temperatures are expected to be a factor on the day, so fans should prepare for standing outdoors and follow event safety instructions from stewards and police.

Guardiola farewell gives the parade a wider pull

The parade is not only a celebration of Manchester City’s season. It is also the city’s public farewell to Pep Guardiola after a decade in which he reshaped the club’s football identity and became closely associated with Manchester’s modern sporting profile.

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said Guardiola’s impact had gone beyond the pitch, describing his decade at the club as “a decade-long masterclass in both leadership and teamwork”.

She added that he would be remembered as “a true Manchester legend” and “the honorary Mancunian he undoubtedly is”.

Fans attending should check transport updates before setting off and be ready for closures to remain in place until the route is cleared safely.

Source: Manchester City Council

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Source check Source trail

This article was prepared from Manchester City Council’s published parade notice and checked against the practical details contained in that notice.

Checks

• Confirmed the parade date, 4pm build-up and 5pm start time from the source notice.
• Checked the route references including Northern Quarter, Ancoats, Ashton Old Road and the...
• Separated the free parade from the ticketed Co-op Live After Party.
• Included road-closure timing bands without adding unconfirmed ticket prices or performers.

Manchester City Council Check wider coverage

Source

Manchester City Council

Scope

Manchester

Updated

2026-05-25 16:23

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Article contextPeople & topics2#7

Pep GuardiolaBev Craig

#Ancoats#Co-op Live#Etihad Stadium#Manchester City#Manchester parade#Northern Quarter#Pep Guardiola

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