Manchester is already home to some of Britain\u2019s greatest music festivals. The city\u2019s festi roster includes the likes of Parklife, Outbreak and Manchester Psych Fest (which are all on Time Out\u2019s list of the best music festivals in the UK to book for 2026<\/a>) \u2013 but in May there\u2019ll be a new kid on the block: Outwards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Outwards will be a brand-new music festival in Manchester, with the first edition taking place on May 2 \u2013 that\u2019s the Saturday of this year\u2019s early May Bank Holiday.<\/p>\n The event will take place in Ardwick\u2019s Progress Centre, which is just to the southeast of the city centre. It\u2019ll have space for 5,000 punters across five open-air spaces, with the day-into-night event running from 12pm all the way through to 5am.<\/p>\n Outwards presents itself as \u2018a gathering for electronic music culture past, present and future\u2019, and its lineup certainly fits that bill. The poster features classic artists like Orbital, DJ Pierre, Tom Middleton (of Global Communication fame), The Orb and Factory Floor \u2013 as well as a massive b2b set from Moodyman and Carl Craig.<\/p>\n There will also be sets from Manchester legends A Certain Ratio and Black Grape (which features Happy Mondays members Shaun Ryder and Bez). Trendier, current names include Midland, OK Williams, Danielle, Pearson Sound and Josey Rebelle. The lineup spans both DJs and live acts.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full list of names confirmed for Ardwick on May 2 so far (listed A-Z)<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n During the festival there will also be artist talks and workshops, as well as indie record fairs, exhibitions, a hi-fi listening bar and food\/drink options. Outwards will partner with Manchester venues to put on afterparties.<\/p>\n Commenting on the announcement, Outwards festival director Olli Ryder (who\u2019s the son of Shaun Ryder) said: \u2018Electronic music has always been about more than nightlife. It\u2019s about the music, the communities, the places and the people who carry culture forward.<\/p>\n \u2018Outwards is an attempt to create a space where the past, present and future of that culture can exist together, in Manchester, where so much of this story began, and where there is still so much to be written.\u2019<\/p>\n Tickets go on sale on Thursday February 26 at 10am \u2013 sign up for updates on the Outwards website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/figure>\nOutwards 2026 lineup<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"Outwards](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106376218\/image.webp\")
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