Fireworks to finally return for New Year’s Eve in Manchester city centre

Fireworks will make a return for official New Year’s Eve celebrations in Manchester city centre.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that a fireworks display will take place on December 31st to bring in the new year for the first time since before the Covid pandemic in 2019.

There will be an official countdown held in a location in the city that is yet to be disclosed.

Last year, a New Year’s Eve countdown was held in Piccadilly Gardens but fireworks were not included in the celebration. Fireworks displays across the city for Bonfire Night were also cancelled again this year with council bosses blaming ‘rising costs’.

But officials say it feels right to bring back the fireworks to ‘celebrate the city’ and ‘look ahead to 2024’.

A location for the official event, along with timings and further details, is set to be announced some time this week.

The welcome news comes amid fantastic cultural news and events of recent weeks. Chanel chose the city to host its annual Métiers d’Art fashion show with a line-up of stars in attendance to watch the catwalk runway along the Northern Quarter’s Thomas Street, on December 7th.

The English National Opera has also confirmed its move up north to Manchester.

Explaining the decision to bring back the fireworks display for Manchester’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations, Councillor Pat Karney said: “No-one can deny that 2023 has proved to be quite the year for Manchester with a list of successes in the fields of culture and sport as long as your arm, added to a rapidly growing global reputation as a city to do business with.

“Coming as it does after the dark days of the last few years, we think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond.

“This in no way means we’ve forgotten how hard life is for a lot of people just now, but we do know that bringing people together helps – it’s what Manchester does best.”

He continued: “Mancunians really are the best people in the world and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us, than spending it with those we love.”

The last time the city centre held a fireworks display was on December 31st, in 2019 where thousands of revellers and spectators gathered on Deansgate to countdown to 2020, next to Manchester Cathedral.

In previous years, Albert Square had been the chosen location with the Town Hall clock tower used for the countdown, however due to upgrade works on the building, alternative locations for city centre celebrations have been used instead.

Keep your eyes peeled for Manchester’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations further updates this week.