Live Well Spring Festival
Between Monday 9 March and Monday 23 March 2026, Greater Manchester will be hosting the first ever Live Well Spring Festival.
Rather than one system-wide event, the festival will pop-up locally with many things happening at once across neighbourhoods, in spaces, community centres, high streets and online places.
The festival period coincides with the holy month of Ramadan and Lent, as well as Eid al-Fitr (expected 19-20 March) and International Women's Day (8 March). Spring festival pop-ups should be planned with care and consideration for religious observances and equality events, including awareness of fasting, prayer times and respectful ways to acknowledge communities of identity.
Rather than one system-wide event, the festival will pop-up locally with many things happening at once across neighbourhoods, in spaces, community centres, high streets and online places. Imagine:
Community pop-ups and street socials
Wellbeing walks or walking audits through parks, canals and green spaces
Storytelling corners and listening circles where local voices are heard and valued
Participation parties that feel joyful, shaping neighbourhoods and local decision-making
Roving public living rooms and food shares that bring neighbours and communities together
Podcast clubs sparking big conversations around what it means to Live Well
Community reporters sharing what Live Well looks like where they live in their own way
Visits to community spaces and centres where Live Well is being brought to life
And more
Together, these local festival pop-ups will showcase how the emerging Live Well hallmarks show up in practice across Greater Manchester’s spaces, places and neighbourhoods.
The four festival 'stages'
The festival will be built around four (metaphorical) stages. Unlike traditional festivals, these are not physical stages. Instead, they act as shared foundations that support local pop-ups to grow, while ensuring a strong, consistent thread runs throughout the festival.
Each pop-up can connect with one or more stages, reflecting the many different ways Live Well is visible across Greater Manchester.
Spaces of hope and connection: Celebrating the trusted, community-rooted places that bring people together – where belonging grows, relationships deepen, and support flows.
Great everyday support: Showcasing inspiring examples of relational and inclusive support in communities that helps people Live Well.
Building bridges and weaving trust: Bringing people, places, and experiences together – strengthening trust, connection and belonging between communities, and with public services.
Participation and community power: Celebrating the ways communities shape the places they live and the decisions that affect their lives – shifting power, driving change, and growing collective action.
You can use this opportunity to showcase the excellent work that you are doing as VCFSE organisations working in the migration sector. This platform is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise and connect with others. If you have an idea for a festival pop-up, you can share it with the Live Well team before Friday 30 January 2026.
Ways to share:
Online form - email gmlivewell@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk if you need support completing it.
Book a 15-minute chat to talk through your idea
The GM Live Well team will walk alongside pop-up curators, enabling ideas to take shape and come to life. A Live Well Spring Festival Fund is also available to resource involvement, participation, and the costs of running events or activities. Any support needed can be shared through the options above.
You can also contact the GMCA migration team at: katie.howe@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk if you would like support in developing your idea.
