Fireworks will be back in Manchester city centre for official New Year's Eve celebrations, the MEN can reveal. The city centre has not hosted an official New Year's Eve fireworks display since before the Covid pandemic, in 2019.
But in a surprise move, Manchester Council bosses have today confirmed that fireworks will be BACK for December 31 in an official celebration in Manchester city centre. There will be a countdown event to be held in as-yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Last year a New Year's Eve countdown event was held in Piccadilly Gardens, but fireworks were not included. Fireworks displays for Bonfire Night were also cancelled again earlier this year with the council blaming "rising costs".
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Now, the council say they feel the time is right to "celebrate the city" and "look ahead to 2024" by bringing back the fireworks. They are set to announce next week the location, timings and further details of the official New Year's Eve event on Sunday, December 31.
The news comes amid huge cultural news and events of recent weeks, including fashion giant Chanel spending millions to host its annual Métiers d’Art fashion show in the Northern Quarter and the English National Opera confirming its move to Manchester.
Explaining the decision, councillor Pat Karney, Christmas and New Year spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "No-one can deny that 2023 has proved to be quite the year for Manchester with a list of successes in the fields of culture and sport as long as your arm, added to a rapidly growing global reputation as a city to do business with.
"Coming as it does after the dark days of the last few years, we think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond."
He continued: "This in no way means we've forgotten how hard life is for a lot of people just now, but we do know that bringing people together helps - it's what Manchester does best.
"Mancunians really are the best people in the world and we can't think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us, than spending it with those we love."
The last time a New Year's Eve fireworks celebration was held in the city was December 31, 2019. Thousands gathered on Deansgate to watch the countdown to midnight next to Manchester Cathedral.
In years before then, Albert Square had always been the traditional home to the countdown to midnight on the Town Hall clock.
Since the New Year's celebration in 2018 the Town Hall and Albert Square have been shrouded though, as works continue on the upgrade of the building. It is hoped some element of the square will be back in public use by the end of 2024.
The location for this year's New Year's Eve event is set to be confirmed next week by council bosses.
