Sidewinder Halloween Festival

About Sidewinder Halloween Festival

At Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester, Sidewinder Halloween Festival 2026 runs as an 18+ indoor music event for UK garage, bassline, R&B and dancehall.

The brand dates back to 2001. The official site marked Sidewinder as celebrating 25 years across 2025 and 2026, with this Halloween edition set inside the BEC Arena in Trafford Park.

Published ticket tiers run from £29.50 to £44.50 plus fees, covering Standard, VIP and Super VIP options.

Who Is It For?

This is an adult rave audience: 18+ only, with valid government-issued photo ID required on entry.

UK garage, bassline, R&B and dancehall are the music lanes. Fancy dress is optional, and entry runs with a strict search policy.

VIP buyers get queue jump and VIP zone access, while Super VIP tickets include re-entry until doors close.

The Venue and Site

Bowlers Exhibition Centre, also billed as BEC Arena, is an indoor live-music venue on Longbridge Road in Trafford Park, Manchester.

The site has four arenas or halls. Its main live-music hall capacity ranges from 300 up to 4,500, with seven bars, large toilet facilities, free Wi-Fi, a pay café, on-site ticket sales and a VIP lounge listed among venue facilities.

Travel to Sidewinder Halloween Festival

BEC Arena sits on Longbridge Road in Trafford Park, about 3 miles from Manchester city centre.

• Nearest station: Eccles Station, around a 45-minute walk from the venue.
• Manchester rail links: Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly connect via tram at St Peter's Square; Manchester Victoria connects via tram at Victoria.
• Road access: Longbridge Road, Park Way, Village Way and Tenax Road serve the site, with access from M60 Junction 9.
• Parking: the venue lists an on-site car park with over 800 free visitor spaces; some events carry a £10 parking fee. Overnight parking is listed for live-music use.