We Invented The Weekend

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We Invented The Weekend The festival of free time returns to MediaCity and Salford Quays, 6&7 June 2026 www.weinventedtheweekend.com

As a festival at the heart of Salford, we couldn't be more thrilled to champion local sounds and new music with Sounds F...
23/07/2026

As a festival at the heart of Salford, we couldn't be more thrilled to champion local sounds and new music with Sounds From The Other City taking over the main stage on Sunday.

We loved every bit of the incredible live music programme that had everyone dancing all over the Piazza, hosted by DJ Andrea Trout and Jenna G featuring Madame Claude, Swane Vieira brought to We Invented the Weekend by La Coopérative de Mai festival from Salford's twin town Clermont-Ferrand, EVABEE and headliner Afriquoi.

Can't get enough of it? Head over to our YouTube channel and watch it all again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szyvdQR0rqU

📸 Natalie Argent, Chris Currie Photography

We love it when Salford Quays and MediaCity were buzzing with creativity! Crafting with WONDERHAUS and our Salford Twinn...
21/07/2026

We love it when Salford Quays and MediaCity were buzzing with creativity!

Crafting with WONDERHAUS and our Salford Twinning partners from Clermont-Ferrand, making pasta with Altogether Otherwise, printing club wear with Print Norf, creating conveyor belt art with Helena Worthington, building a street playground with U-Build, and many more. It's such a joy to see everyone go all out to spread the love of free time at We Invented the Weekend, from families, young creatives to lifetime Salfordians.

Did you challenge yourself to do something different? The festival may be over, but every weekend is a gentle reminder to sprinkle our lives with a little wonder and fun.

Did you dance among us at the pink stretch tent of We Invented The Weekend? 💃Club Culture was a new area and programme t...
16/07/2026

Did you dance among us at the pink stretch tent of We Invented The Weekend? 💃

Club Culture was a new area and programme this year dedicated to Greater Manchester’s electronic and dance music scene. Salford’s proximity to iconic venues like the Haçienda meant its communities were deeply involved in the rise of house and techno since the late 1980s.

We were proud to programme a rich DJ line-up featuring the likes of SHIMRISE, Meme Gold., Living Room Dance Club, Jason Boardman and more, with pop up performances by Night People, paying homage to the wealth of diverse talent we have here across the region. Emerging talents Nick Charles, Saoirse Marie and Gemma Evans had the opportunity to showcase their selections at our open decks session, playing at one of Manchester's largest festivals.

Along the music our participants got creative customising club wear with Meme Gold and Charity Super.Mkt's Made Better, designing nail art with The Set by C and making bag charms with crafthernoon, making Club Culture one of the busiest and most popular areas at the festival.

📸 Chris Currie Photography, Natalie Argent, Mykola Rromanovsky, Matt Broadbent

New to this year's festival, the Free Time Lawn was buzzing with fun and games for families and the young at heart. With...
14/07/2026

New to this year's festival, the Free Time Lawn was buzzing with fun and games for families and the young at heart. With heaps of paper cut-outs and facilitated making, Salford Badge Club made sure everyone created and wore their own badge of pride at We Invented the Weekend!

The festival weekend has something for everyone - including calm, immersive worlds away from the buzz - such as HoloCity...
02/07/2026

The festival weekend has something for everyone - including calm, immersive worlds away from the buzz - such as HoloCity by musician Richard Evans and Ambient Space by Starry Lake Productions and Justine Lesage in The University of Salford.

Through sci-fi film, pop-up displays and electronic music, HoloCity explores life in a future megacity amidst environmental change, displacement and the rise of technologies that expand what it means to be human.

At the heart of the Ambient Space is a cosy installation featuring animation, fabric and lighting.

Cheers to the artists and the brilliant Creative Technology team from the School of Arts and Media: University of Salford for producing these otherworldly experiences!

📸 Mykola Romanovsky

Last year, we began working with Mikesian Studio to find out what Salfordians' perfect weekends looked like. Through a s...
30/06/2026

Last year, we began working with Mikesian Studio to find out what Salfordians' perfect weekends looked like.

Through a series of summer workshops, we captured as many as 160+ ideas and 600+ community artworks from 8 local groups, which culminated in the Department of Perfect Weekends exhibition and activation at Hot House. We then invited festival participants to plan their time at We Invented The Weekend through drawing and collage.

Thanks to all who contributed their ideas, craft and time!

Talk About It Mate
Salford Loaves and Fishes
CommUNITY Little Hulton
Stepping Stones Creative
Salford Community Leisure
St Patrick's RC High School
Age UK Swinton
The Castle Community Centre in Eccles
Herstory Salford

📸 Natalie Argent

In this sporty summer season, we can't stop marvelling at the true spectacle where football met opera in Perfect Pitch, ...
25/06/2026

In this sporty summer season, we can't stop marvelling at the true spectacle where football met opera in Perfect Pitch, presented by English National Opera and Walk the Plank at We Invented The Weekend. ⚽️🎭

A 400-strong community choir of football fans and singers across Greater Manchester and ENO performers, including tenor Luis Gomes, united in a finale on both the waters of Salford Quays and the MediaCity Piazza, with a nail-biting ‘penalty shoot-out’ featuring Bury Football Club Women and a rousing rendition of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma.

So honoured to showcase this powerful moment of mass participation at the festival! 🙌

MediaCityUK Visit Manchester Visit Salford Salford City Council

We can't believe it's been two weeks since the magical weekend. Here's a throwback and special thanks to all the communi...
23/06/2026

We can't believe it's been two weeks since the magical weekend. Here's a throwback and special thanks to all the community groups that made We Invented The Weekend a festival for the people, celebrating all the creative, joyful things we do as we get together in our free time.

From time travels with Ydalir Vikings, drumming workshops with Afrocats Manchester, puppet shows with Salford Loaves and Fishes to life-size street games with The Lowry's Community Creators and artists Ell-Squared, and many more, your passion and energy brought smiles to the faces of everyone taking part.

Beyond the festival, our community partners continue to make Salford and Greater Manchester a healthier, more equitable and creative place to live, through arts and culture. Do check out and support their brilliant work!

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MediaCity & Salford Quays
Salford
M502EQ

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