Freshers Festival Group has announced the launch of Freshers Festival Manchester, a major new student lifestyle marketing event taking place on Saturday 27 September 2025 at Manchester Central.

Positioned as a high-impact live event for brands to connect with Gen Z audiences, Freshers Festival Manchester will bring together thousands of students from the city’s universities and colleges with leading brands, youth-relevant charities, local businesses and employers.

The Manchester launch builds on the group’s success in London and Glasgow, where Freshers Festival has attracted over 150,000 student attendees to date. In 2024 alone, the events generated 10,000+ student sign-ups per city, positioning the series as one of the most effective face-to-face Gen Z engagement platforms in the UK.

Confirmed brands for the 2025 tour include local SMEs as well as blue-chip names such as LadBible, Real Techniques, Floral Street, giffgaff, Oh Polly, Hollywood Bowl, Hair Syrup, Wrigley’s Extra, and Oriflame to name a few.

Previous partners have included Google, Meta, Sony, Ray-Ban, and Sharpie, using the platform to drive awareness, sample products, launch youth-focused campaigns, and recruit student brand ambassadors.

Graeme Barratt, Founder of Freshers Festival Group, said:
“Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting youth markets. We’ve seen growing demand from brands looking for smart, scalable ways to connect with students beyond paid media. Freshers Festival gives them a content-rich, data-driven, face-to-face route into Gen Z culture at the exact moment students are building new habits, loyalties, and networks.”

Freshers Festival Manchester will feature:

  • Amazing interactive brand experiences delivered by exhibitors
  • A blend of lifestyle, tech, fashion, beauty, and early careers exhibitors
  • TikTok, YouTube and Instagram creator activations and live student content capture
  • Job and graduate opportunities
  • Digital content and CRM lead capture opportunities for all exhibitors

Exhibitor bookings are now open.


Organisations referred via Meet Manchester receive a free stand size upgrade with code: MeetFF25.

Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester Central is an award-winning venue in the heart of one of Europe's most vibrant cities; the vaulted arches and station clock have made the venue an iconic city feature for more than 140 years. Located in the heart of Manchester, the venue is surrounded by a vibrant cultural and social…

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