Summer Cookout 2026

Following last year’s sold out event, the Cookout returns to The Carlton Club for an even bigger summer celebration — bringing together So Flute, Shindigger and one of Manchester’s most beloved community venues for 14 hours of music, food, dancing and open-air energy. This year, we’re levelling everything up. Expect an expanded outdoor setup with the return of the stretch tent, upgraded sound systems across day and night programming, four bars pouring throughout the day, and a ridiculous line-up of DJs spanning soulful house, disco, broken beat, Afro-Latin rhythms, jazz-infused club sounds and everything in between. Leading the charge for 2026 are Nick The Record, Camilla Reghenzi, Miss Jackson and Nossa!, joined by Baloo, Bolts, Eccah, Danuka Yadava and hosted by the unmistakable MC Kwasi — taking us from sun-drenched daytime grooves into late-night dancefloor territory deep inside The Carlton. As always, the Cookout is about more than just music. We’re bringing together some of the city’s favourite food traders and BBQ specialists, including African Suya & Grill, Knights BBQ, Broke N Bone, Osak Local and Gingers Emporium, serving everything from live-fire grills and jollof to Jamaican barbecue, Japanese flavours and ice cream for the sunshine sessions. We also have some family-friendly activities taking place in the first couple of hours – more on this to be announced. Expect craft beer, outdoor dancing, good people, family-friendly daytime vibes, dogs roaming the courtyard, and the kind of atmosphere that only happens when Manchester’s communities, collectives and music lovers all come together in one place. Whether you joined us last year or this is your first Cookout, this is once more set to be Manchester’s best BBQ party of the summer. Saturday 25th July 12PM — 2AM The Carlton Club, Manchester Tickets from £6 + BF