This month we attended the first-ever Manchester Eurovision Party, Manchagen 2025! This 3-day festival took over the heart of Manchester from 10th to 12th of April, and we’re here to spill all the details from this unforgettable weekend. From intimate performances to all-night Eurovision bangers, we’ve got it all!
Friday: The Warm-Up Concert at Cruz 101
The weekend kicked off with a warm-up concert at the iconic Cruz 101 in Manchester’s buzzing Gay Village. This was the perfect warm-up for Eurovision enthusiasts, as the venue was packed with legendary Eurovision stars! We were treated to a dazzling lineup, including this year’s Montenegro representative Nina Zizic, alongside Eurovision veterans who gave the crowd everything they had.
Performances from Hera Björk (Iceland 2010 & 2024), Bojana (Serbia 2015), Justs (Latvia 2016), Lindsay Dracass (UK 2001), Niamh Kavanagh (Ireland 1993), and Vladana (Montenegro 2022) were nothing short of electric, and the atmosphere was charged with energy. The crowd cheered, sang, and even teared up during some of the most iconic Eurovision ballads (including ‘Husavik-My Hometown‘ by Hera!).
But the night didn’t end there! As the performances wrapped up, the legendary DJ Lady Ole took the decks to host a EuroFiesta, blasting Eurovision hits that had everyone dancing until the early morning. It was the ultimate Eurovision celebration—a wild mix of nostalgia, glitter, and pure joy!
Saturday: The Yellow Carpet and the All-Stars Concert
Saturday was the big day — and what a day it was! As part of the press team, we headed to the Holiday Inn for the glamorous Yellow Carpet event. Think the classic Eurovision Turquoise Carpet… but yellow, a nod to Manchester’s iconic worker bee symbol (adorable, right?). Stars strolled down the carpet, striking poses, chatting with the hosts, and soaking up the buzz. Then, it was time for the press room, where we got up close and personal for interviews and photo ops!
Highlights? Kaj taught us their dance moves (we almost nailed them), Kyle practiced his Greek skills, Justina blew us a kiss, and plenty of this year’s favourites were revealed — make sure to check our socials for all the fun clips!
Afterwards, the excitement moved to the incredible Depot Mayfield for the All-Stars concert. If you haven’t heard of it, Depot Mayfield is a legendary warehouse space right in the heart of Manchester — home to some of Europe’s wildest raves. But last night, it hosted something even more epic: the first-ever Manchester Eurovision party!
The stage lit up with performances from some of the Eurovision 2025 class, including Skodra Elektronike (Albania), Emmy (Ireland), Kaj (Sweden), Kyle Alessandro (Norway), and Justina (Poland). And it didn’t stop there — Eurovision royalty graced us too! Legends like Bojana, JK Bello, Silvester Belt, Maria Surr, Linda Martin, Nicky French, and KEiiNO brought the house down.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better — enter Drag a vision! A fabulous drag extravaganza featuring iconic queens like Banksie, Marmalade, and Rileasa, who served up fierce looks and danced to iconic Eurovision hits.
Manchagen wasn’t just another Eurovision pre-party; it was a full-on festival celebrating music, community, and pure joy, right in the beating heart of Manchester. Thank you for an unforgettable experience — we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this amazing festival!
