By Munisha News Desk
Manchester City fans are expected to gather across the city on Monday 25 May for an open-top bus parade celebrating the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, with the day also marking Pep Guardiola’s departure after a decade at the club.
The free street celebration begins with build-up in the Northern Quarter from 4pm, before the parade sets off at 5pm. A separate ticketed After Party will follow at Co-op Live, with entertainment, interviews and coverage of the parade inside the venue.
Supporters planning to attend are being urged to use public transport where possible, travel light, avoid large bags and not bring glass bottles. Several roads will be closed for much of the day, with restrictions in place from 9am, 2pm and 3pm depending on location.
Parade day details for Manchester fans
The parade is designed as a city celebration for Manchester City’s 2025/26 season across the club’s senior and academy sides. It will also give supporters a chance to pay tribute to Guardiola, whose time in Manchester has reshaped the club’s modern era.
The street event is free for fans along the route. Co-op Live’s After Party is separate and ticketed, with the council confirming it will include live music, entertainment, player interviews from both the men’s and women’s teams, and other special guests.
For readers tracking the route, timings and travel points together, these FA Cup parade details give broader context alongside the day’s city-centre arrangements.
For readers tracking wider parade travel disruption in the city, Munisha also has a separate guide to Manchester parade road closures.
Route and timings from Northern Quarter to Etihad Stadium
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday 25 May |
| Build-up | From 4pm in the Northern Quarter |
| Parade start | 5pm |
| Route area | Northern Quarter, Ancoats and Ashton Old Road |
| Finish | Outside the Colin Bell West Stand Reception at the Etihad Stadium |
| After Party | Ticketed event at Co-op Live after the parade |
The parade will begin after a kick-off moment involving the teams at the start of the route. Buses will then travel through Ancoats and continue towards Ashton Old Road before heading on to the Etihad Stadium.
The final celebratory moment is scheduled outside the Colin Bell West Stand Reception, making the Etihad area one of the main gathering points later in the day.
Road closures and travel advice
Manchester City Council has confirmed temporary road closures to support the parade. Roads will reopen when it is safe to do so, rather than at a fixed minute-by-minute time.
Closures from 9am to 9pm include Newton Street, Back Piccadilly, Cavell Street, Dale Street, Hilton Street, Faraday Street, Port Street, Little Lever Street, Postal Street, Houldsworth Street and Little Ancoats Street.
Closures from 2pm to 9pm include Great Ancoats Street, Mancunian Way, Pin Mill Brow, George Leigh Street, Blossom Street, Jersey Street, Redhill Street, Leyhall Street, Lomax Street, Old Mill Street, Store Street, Chapeltown Street, Adair Street and Great Street.
Closures from 3pm to 9pm include Pollard Street, Malta Street, Munday Street, Carruthers Street, Every Street, Merrill Street, Frost Street, Ashton New Road, Hillkirk Street, Councillor Street, Darley Street, Swallow Street, Rowsley Street and Grey Mare Lane.
Fans should expect busy public transport, walking routes and crowding around the Northern Quarter, Ancoats, Ashton Old Road and the Etihad Stadium. Anyone attending with children or older relatives should agree a meeting point before entering dense crowds.
Co-op Live After Party plans
The Co-op Live event is not part of the free street parade. It is a ticketed indoor celebration taking place after the buses complete the route.
The council says the full parade will also be shown inside the venue for those attending. That means ticket-holders do not have to choose between watching the parade and being inside Co-op Live for the later programme.
No ticket prices or full performer list were included in the council notice, so fans should check their ticket provider and venue guidance before travelling.
Guardiola farewell adds extra pull for the crowd
Guardiola’s departure gives the parade a wider significance than a standard trophy celebration. Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said his impact had gone beyond football, describing his decade in the city as “a decade-long masterclass in both leadership and teamwork.”
She added that he would “go down in the history books as a true Manchester legend” and called him an “honorary Mancunian.”
For those heading into the city, the practical advice is clear: arrive early, use public transport where possible, keep bags small, avoid glass bottles and plan around the staged road closures.
Source: Manchester City Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on Manchester City Council’s public notice for the parade, with route, timing and closure details kept to the published information.
- Checked the parade date, build-up time and 5pm start against the source notice.
- Separated the free street parade from the ticketed Co-op Live After Party.
- Kept road closure timings grouped by the council’s published 9am, 2pm and 3pm windows.
- Did not add ticket prices, performers or transport changes not stated in the source.
- Source
- Manchester City Council
- Scope
- Manchester
- Updated
- 2026-05-25 16:32
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