A huge crowd of people wait to board the 192 to Stockport
10:57, 01 Jan 2026Updated 11:01, 01 Jan 2026
A crowd of people waiting to board the 192(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Pictures and video show long queues of people waiting to board buses home after celebrating the New Year in Manchester city centre.
Thousands flocked to the city centre, with the centrepiece of the city’s 2026 celebrations a fireworks display outside Central Library and other festivities in St Peter’s Square.
After 2026 had been ushered in, people who had come into the city centre were left with that often tricky New Year question: how to get home.
Demand for taxis, buses and trams home spikes, and our pictures show big queues of people waiting to board buses in Piccadilly Gardens.
Huge queues for buses after New Year celebrations in Manchester
Metrolink services operated until 1am with staff on hand to manage access to platforms. No trams were operating between Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly Gardens/Market Street/Exchange Square
Meanwhile the buses were operating a Saturday timetable.
Our pictures and video show a huge throng of people waiting to board a 192 service to Hazel Grove.
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
For the first time ever, the official New Year’s Eve events took two of Manchester’s most famous and historic squares. A free fireworks display took place above the Central Library at midnight to mark the beginning of 2026. People were able to watch from both St Peter’s Square and Albert Square where simultaneous events took place.
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Around 20,000 were allowed inside the official event area in St Peter’s Square. The event was was billed as family-friendly and alcohol free.