Chinese New Year in Manchester: Full dragon parade route, performance times and road closures

Plans for Manchester’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations have been announced and it’s been confirmed that the Dragon Parade is returning this year 2024 – a fitting start for the Year of the Dragon. 

The headlining parade, featuring the impressive 175ft Chinese dragon, will be taking place on Sunday 11 February. It will start from 12pm and also be accompanied by traditional lion and ribbon dancers, Chinese Opera performers, twelve Zodiac animals and Ancient Army characters. 

Following the parade, there will also be a live performance stage, fun fair and street food stalls set up in Chinatown from 12pm – 7pm. As is now tradition in Manchester, the city council will be decorating the city centre in hundreds of red Chinese lanterns.

The event has been organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District and the council. 

Dragon Parade Performance and Parade Times

A new parade route has been confirmed for this year's celebrations. Performances will begin at 12pm at the Oxford Street and George Street junction, before the parade makes its way to Chinatown via Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street, ending in Chinatown - which will be celebrating Chinese New Year with a live performance stage, fun fair, Chinese arts and crafts workshops and a street food market from 12pm – 8pm, as well as an illuminated dragon finale at 6pm. Approximate timings for the route are below.  

• 12pm - 12.30pm: Performances, Oxford Street
• 12.30pm- 1pm: Dragon Parade, Oxford Street to Chinatown
• 1pm: Dragon Parade, Arrives in Chinatown
• 1.10pm - 1.40pm: Performances, Faulkner Street Car Park, Chinatown
• 1.40pm: Dragon Leaves Chinatown
• 6pm: Illuminated dragon finale.

Parade route road closures 

11am – 3pm Sunday 11 February

• Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
• Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street)
• Oxford Road (Oxford Street to Whitworth Street)
• Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
• Princess Street (Portland Street to Cooper Street)
• George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
• St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
• Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Princess Street)
• Faulkner Street (Princess Street to end)
• Dickenson Street (Back George Street to end)
• Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
• Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)

China Town weekend road closures 

5am Saturday 10 February – 11.59pm Sunday 12 February

• Faulkner Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
• Reyner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
• St James’ Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
• Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
• George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
• Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
• Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
• Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
• Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)