From dancing and crafting, to gaming and sports, there are loads of free activities for kids
14:33, 20 Jan 2026Updated 15:57, 20 Jan 2026
Manchester to become a ‘giant playground’ for free four-day family festival(Image: The Super Duper Family Festival)
Manchester is about to be transformed into one giant playground as it plays host to a free family event this February half term.
The Super Duper Family Festival returns bringing loads of free-to-attend activities to iconic public spaces, cultural venues and landmark destinations across the city.
Families are promised hands-on making, dancing, exploring, building, crafting, gaming, storytelling, sports and lots of surprises.
With a vibrant line-up of cultural partners – including BBC’s Waterloo Road, CBeebies Bedtime Stories, Super League Basketball and the National Football Museum – the festival will bring back its much-loved play zones while introducing a host of exciting new additions.
Activities will pop up across the city at iconic venues such as Aviva Studios, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester Arndale, Manchester Central Library, Manchester Central, People’s History Museum, Printworks and the Science and Industry Museum.
Activities will take place in various zones across the city(Image: The Super Duper Family Festival)
Hosted by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID, the festival is delivered in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council and Marketing Manchester. This year also welcomes The Bee Network as the official travel partner, ‘helping families effortlessly explore all festival zones across the city’.
Gary James Williams, event producer of The Super Duper Family Festival, said, “We’re super excited to be bringing The Super Duper Family Festival back for a second year. 2026 will see us go all out with eight different zones across the city centre, featuring everything from skateboarding, roller skating and gaming to storytelling, science and filmmaking.
“We’re working with an incredible line-up of event partners including CBeebies, Super League Basketball and the National Football Museum to help us create a festival that’s inspiring and packed with unforgettable experiences for families of all ages.
“As the only city in the UK to host a free four-day family festival during February half term, we’re encouraging families to stay over, explore Manchester and enjoy the buzz across the city – from the festival itself to our wider cultural, food and retail scene.”
The event runs Wednesday, February 18 to Saturday, February 21. More details on the website here.
The Arcade zone inside the Printworks(Image: The Super Duper Family Festival)
New zones for 2026 include:
The Story Den with BBC CBeebies Bedtime Stories
A celebration of creativity, culture and storytelling, The Story Den brings a range of daily activities to Central Library. Throughout the week, enjoy daily drop-in Lego workshops and an exciting Library Hunt, while on Wednesday, young readers can enjoy a Little Reads interactive storytelling session with Manchester Literature Festival, whilst older children can get hands-on with crafting at the Crochet Club.
Thursday is a day of music and dancing with music-themed crafts and a high energy Little Movers and Shakers session. Friday is one for film fans with the Family Film Club and on Saturday, it’s International Mother Language Day, with activities celebrating languages from across the globe including Ukrainian Storytime. All activities are drop-in apart from the Crochet Club.
Don’t miss the Story Book Walk on Lower Mosley Street and spot iconic characters from classic children’s literature, before reaching Manchester Central for fun with BBC CBeebies in The Story Den. Children and their families and carers can get cosy and snuggle up to experience some special CBeebies Bedtime Stories. CBeebies stars, storytellers, dates and times are yet to be announced, and free tickets will be available to book very soon.
Lori Hoinkes, chief executive at Manchester Central, said: “Manchester Central is honoured to be a host venue for The Story Den with BBC CBeebies Bedtime Stories as part of the Super Duper Festival 2026. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to championing the city’s cultural landscape and delivering events that inspire, energise and connect communities. We look forward to playing our part in one of Manchester’s most anticipated annual festivals and to welcoming audiences to an exceptional experience.”
Open daily from 10am – 5pm. Manchester Central Library and Manchester Central
The Soapbox
Step into a rebellious world of activism this half term with People’s History Museum – where families can make their own protest badges, explore a pop-up creativity corner, play Banner Bingo in the galleries, dress-up as historical changemakers, snap a photo in the photobooth, and unleash their voices in engaging, fun activities.
Plus, there are ticketed sessions of My Protest Song with singer-songwriter Matt Hill on Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th February, and drop-in, un-ticketed African Drums for Protest sessions on Friday 20th & Saturday 21st February.
Jenny Mabbott, head of collections and engagement at People’s History Museum, said: “People’s History Museum is hugely excited to be hosting The Soap Box play zone as part of this year’s fantastic Super Duper Family Festival. There will be lots of fun ways for families to find their voices and explore their creativity as future changemakers at the museum – from toe-tapping music sessions to a photo booth for protest superheroes”.
Free tickets for My Protest Song available here. Open daily from 10am – 5pm. People’s History Museum
The Studios at St. John’s Manchester
It’s lights, camera and action at St John’s as venues including Aviva Studios and the Science and Industry Museum host The Studios, a play zone where families can get hands on with film, TV, music, dance and technology on the grounds of Old Granada Studios.
At Aviva Studios, imagination meets innovation with activities featuring: The Digital Playground – an expansive space with motion-triggered content, interactive digital canvases and dynamic soundscapes, Make & Create: Family – a creative zone where families can design, build and play in collaborative projects, Game Stations with digital games in a chill-out area, The Roller Studio – a mini roller rink led by an instructor and a Silent Disco – where families can hit the dancefloor and groove to their own beat.
Children will even get the chance to step into the director’s chair and help create The Super Duper Movie. With guidance from the wonderfully wacky film crew, families can shoot their own 30-second scene on a smartphone and submit it directly to the producer. Selected scenes will be featured in the brand-new feature film, set to receive its grand premiere at The Super Duper Family Festival 2026. Don’t forget to take a break at Crew Catering by street food legends, GRUB – a pop-up mini market where hungry filmmakers can refuel with delicious bites.
That’s not all! The Studios will also host Manchester Music Mooch – a fun, creative family experience inspired by the Manchester Music Mooch app. Young and old visitors can take part in relaxed, hands-on digital-based music workshops where they’ll explore sounds and the city’s musical heritage, experiment with beat-making, and build (and keep) their own track, using a selection of music loops created especially for the app by local established and emerging artists.
Meanwhile, the Science and Industry Museum will be joining in the action with a stellar line-up of free activities inspired by the museum’s new world-premiere exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos. Festivalgoers can enjoy a variety of experiences including Cosmic Dance Drop-Ins, an immersive Journey Through the Universe and budding stargazers can discover how to become experts of the night sky. A must-visit for fans of the hit new CBBC Horrible Science TV show and budding astronauts!
Open daily 10am – 5pm. St John’s
The Nursery Rhyme Trail
Manchester Arndale is taking Story Time to a whole new level as Humpty Dumpty takes centre stage in this energetic, imaginative trail, packed with music, movement and mission-solving. Begin at the Dippy Training School – a colourful training zone led by the Queen and her wonderful, wacky egg soldiers: Private Yolk and Private Scramble, where families can take part in silly warm-up drills, singalongs and games, before joining the Humpty Dumpty Parade on a playful trail of riddles, tasks, pop-up performers and creative challenges. Back at the base, families will work together to put Humpty Dumpty back together again, graduate from Dippy Training School and receive a chocolate reward.
Perfect for ages 3 – 11. Open daily 10am – 5pm. Manchester Arndale
Humpty Dumpty will take centre stage(Image: The Super Duper Family Festival)
As well as these new, exciting zones. Families can also enjoy some returning favourites:
The Arcade
Press START on a retro-meets-future gaming adventure beneath Europe’s largest digital ceiling at Printworks. Families can race head-to-head on the giant interactive racing game using phones as controllers or flex their reflexes on real-world table games, including Digital Whack-a-Mole, Chase the Light, Air Hockey and Catchy It Reaction Ring.
Open daily 10am – 5pm. Printworks, Withy Grove
The Arcade zone will be inside the Printworks(Image: The Super Duper Family Festival)
The Sports Hall
A mega-mix of high-energy activities awaits families in The Sports Hall – kicking off with the exciting arrival of The Skate Park. New for this year, this major addition brings an adrenaline-charged edge to the festival, with Graystone Action Sports leading free introductory skateboarding sessions (suitable for ages 7+) every hour on a first-come, first-served basis.
The action continues across the site, where families can race Scalextric cars in The Grand Prix, capture a victory moment on the Winner’s Podium, go head-to-head on The Pitch with table football and Subsoccer, or pick up a paddle in The Ping Hub. Sports fans can also unwind and get creative in The Fan Zone with the National Football Museum – the perfect spot for all ages to take a half-time breather.
For the first time, the iconic AO Arena in Manchester will play host to both the Men’s and Women’s Super League Basketball Cup Finals on Sunday 22nd March 2026, so don’t forget to join SLB at The Sports Hall and get closer to the game!
Open daily 10am – 5pm. Great Northern Warehouse, Deansgate
The Carnival
Roll up for a whirl of old-school amusement and carnival magic as St Ann’s Square becomes a world of nostalgia and wonder. The traditional Victorian Carousel returns, alongside a colourful array of side-show stalls, including Hook a Duck, Spin the Wheel, Coconut Shy and Ferris Wheel Hoopla. Families can test their might at the Test of Strength, stretch their reflections in the Carnival of Mirrors and take on a brain-bending challenge courtesy of the Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground.
Open daily 10am – 5pm. St Ann’s Square
The Playground with Waterloo Road
School’s in for half term because families are invited to step into a playful, supersized school day inspired by BBC’s Waterloo Road! Explore a cluster of activity-packed shipping containers created by Playful Anywhere, bursting with free schoolyard fun, including boogie sessions at The School Disco, hands-on crafts in The Art Class, props, costumes and photo-fun in The Drama Class, sports day silliness in The PE Class featuring a Spin the Wheel challenge, table tennis, swing ball and chill out vibes in The Sixth Form Common Room and free-play activity and big-energy games in The Yard, including hoola-hooping, skipping and giant Jenga.
Open daily 10am – 5pm. Exchange Square
The Playground with Waterloo Road(Image: Carl Sukonik)
Discounts
Manchester’s top attractions are stepping up to make The Super Duper Family Festival an even more unforgettable – and great-value – experience this year. As the entire festival is completely free to attend, visitors can enjoy even more savings across the city, with museums, galleries, hotels, restaurants and shops offering additional activities, exhibitions and special offers, ensuring families can turn half term into a full-on city adventure without the premium price tag.
Many of Manchester’s most family-friendly hotels are offering up to 25% off, including CitySuites, ROOMZZZ, Holiday Inn Express and more. Parents can also take advantage of generous kids eat free menus and dining deals. And with The Bee Network’s family travel tickets making it easy and affordable to hop between festival zones by tram or bus, the aim is for families to explore the entire festival ‘with minimal cost and maximum fun’.