Parklife (festival)

Parklife is an annual two-day music festival in Manchester, England and takes place in June each year. The festival predominantly features dance and electronic music, as well as pop and hip-hop artists.

Jointly organised by a number of groups, including Manchester's The Warehouse Project and Live Nation, the festival started life as Mad Ferret Festival in Platt Fields Park, Rusholme, before moving to Heaton Park in north Manchester in 2013 in order to accommodate the increased numbers attending. By 2023 the non-camping festival has a capacity of 82,500 people over the two days.

2020
The would-be 2020 event was to feature headline artist Tyler, The Creator, the performance being one of his first since being banned in the UK by former Home Secretary Theresa May over alleged "violence and intolerance of homosexuality".

Khalid, Lewis Capaldi, Charli XCX, Little Simz, Carl Cox, Bicep and Eric Prydz were also set perform at the event, among others. However, in March 2020, the festival was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

2021
The festival was pushed back to a later date of 11 and 12 September 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Artists announced included Dave as a UK festival exclusive, alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Skepta, Dababy (later dropped after a spate of homophobic comments ), Disclosure, Mabel, Becky Hill, Carl Cox, Peggy Gou, Young Thug (who was later replaced by Migos because of scheduling conflicts), Jamie XX, Burna Boy and Bicep.

2022
On 25 January 2022, the festival announced that it would be returning to Heaton Park on 11 and 12 June 2022.

Acts including 50 Cent (UK festival exclusive), Tyler, The Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, Loyle Carner, Chase & Status, Central Cee, PinkPantheress, Camelphat, Patrick Topping, Jamie XX, Annie Mac and Fred Again.

2023
On 31 January 2023, the festival announced that years lineup, featuring The 1975, Aitch (UK Festival Headline Exclusive), The Prodigy, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas as part of 'NY State of Mind', Fred again.., Rudimental, Michael Bibi b2b Jamie Jones (Global Exclusive), which later was altered to just Jamie Jones due to Michael Bibi taking time of shows because of him having cancer, Charlotte De Witte, Patrick Topping, FISHER, Nx Worries (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge) as well as The Blessed Madonna, Becky Hill, Ben Hemsley, RAYE and Skrillex.

2024
On 5th December 2023, as a European debut and exclusive, Under Construction was announced, consisting of both FISHER and Chris Lake. The full Parklife 2024 lineup was announced on 23rd January 2024 boasting a diverse lineup, with acts including Doja Cat, Disclosure (Live) as a UK Festival Exclusive, J Hus, Becky Hill, KAYTRANADA, Shy FX, Anne-Marie, PAWSA, Dennis Cruz, CamelPhat, Sugababes, Peggy Gou, Sammy Virji, ANOTR, Hedex, Folamour, Digga D, Uncle Waffles and Rudimental.

Incidents
In June 2024, a massive brawl broke out at the festival with 52 people arrested by Greater Manchester Police for both drug related and violent offences within and outside of the festival grounds during the event.