Transport for Greater Manchester will operate a dedicated shuttle bus service (“Parklife Express”) between Manchester city centre and Heaton Park across the Parklife weekend.

PARKLIFE 2026: Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June.

What’s happening in the city centre

• The shuttle will operate from Aytoun Street (near Minshull Street)
• Minshull Street will be closed to traffic to create a managed customer queuing area
• Supporting facilities (including toilets and waste provision) will be installed as part of the event operation
• Additional space on surrounding streets (e.g. Adair Street) will be used for bus staging and operations.

When to expect activity

• Ingress (arrivals to the event): Late morning to late afternoon
• Egress (return from the event): Evening through to early morning

Bus activity and customer footfall will be highest:

• Early–midafternoon (arrivals)
• Late evening to midnight (departures)

The service operates on a continuous, demand-led basis, rather than fixed timetables.

Scale of the operation

• Up to ~25 buses during the daytime (ingress)
• Up to ~50 buses during peak evening departures (egress)

This is designed to move large volumes of customers quickly and safely between the city centre and the event.

What this means for businesses

Businesses in and around Aytoun Street / Minshull Street can expect:

• Increased footfall, particularly from late morning through to evening
• High customer presence and queuing activity along Minshull Street
• Traffic restrictions and diversions in the immediate area
• Periods of congestion, especially during key peaks
• Increased demand for:
  • Food and drink
  • Convenience retail
  • Toilets and short-stay services

How the operation will be managed

TfGM staff will be on-site to:

• Manage queues and customer flow
• Control boarding and dispatch of buses
• Provide travel information and support

The operation is designed to:

• Keep queues organised and controlled
• Minimise disruption to the wider city centre
• Ensure safe movement of large crowds.

This is a large-scale, well-managed transport operation supporting one of the UK’s biggest music festivals. The approach prioritises safety, efficiency and customer experience.

CITYCO | CITY CENTRE BID MEMBERS: For any operational guidance email operations@cityco.com