Get Involved - We Invented the Weekend

Support the Festival

We Invented the Weekend has grown to become one of the most popular, not-for-profit festivals in the North West, generating real social value and powerful place-marketing impact for Salford. We’d be delighted for your organisation to be part of that story as we continue to grow.

In 2026:

Over 100,000 people came along
278 free activities and performances
£3.7m economic boost to the local economy
96% felt welcome and included
97% said the festival had a positive impact on their wellbeing
84% came from within 10 miles and 95% within 20 miles of MediaCity and The Quays
Named one of The Times’ Top 10 Free Days Out for Summer 2026

By becoming an official partner to We invented the Weekend, you can benefit from fantastic profile and activation. We want to work with you to align your partnership with your marketing and communication campaigns.

This partnership will engage all your stakeholders:

Employees can benefit from getting involved in shaping your plans and volunteering at the festival.
Customers can feel more connected with your brand and we can give you an opportunity to showcase your products and services.
Communities will value your commitment to this festival by helping make sure that this is free and accessible to all.

As a partner, we can make introductions to some of the great organisations making this happen, from the BBC to Lowry and colleagues in Salford City Council. We can also introduce you to the many community organisations who want to get involved and help you forge partnerships with them.

We really appreciate your help to make We Invented the Weekend the very best it can be.

Get in Touch

Case Study – Autotrader

Overview

Autotrader partnered with the We Invented the Weekend as the festival’s title sponsor in 2024, delivering an engaging and community-focused activation programme across the weekend. Through a combination of interactive experiences, competitions, and sustainable mobility showcases, the partnership aimed to strengthen Auto Trader’s position as a modern technology business with personality while connecting directly with festival audiences.

Objectives

Auto Trader’s primary objective was to increase brand visibility and strengthen its connection with local communities by presenting itself as an innovative and approachable technology-led business. The company sought to align its presence with the festival’s inclusive and community-driven values, ensuring that all activations felt relevant, engaging, and accessible to attendees.

The partnership was built on closely aligned brand values between Auto Trader and the festival organisers, with both teams collaborating throughout the planning and delivery process to create experiences that resonated with visitors and enhanced the overall festival atmosphere.

Activation

As title sponsor, Auto Trader created a highly visible presence across the festival site, showcasing a range of vehicles including electric bikes and cars.

Father’s Day Competition

To encourage audience engagement ahead of the event, Auto Trader launched a Father’s Day giveaway campaign offering attendees the opportunity to win a £100 food and drinks voucher for Kargo, alongside a complimentary overnight stay at the Holiday Inn MediaCity for a family of four. The competition generated pre-event excitement and helped drive awareness of the festival programme.

Electric Vehicle and Caravan Giveaway

One of the headline activations was an electric car and caravan giveaway valued at more than £70,000. Positioned within the MediaCity Piazza, the display created a strong visual focal point and encouraged festivalgoers to interact directly with the brand while learning more about electric vehicle options and sustainable travel.

Smile Trial Electric Bike Track

Auto Trader also introduced an electric bike experience track near The Lowry, giving attendees the opportunity to test ride electric bikes in a fun, family-friendly environment. The activation reinforced the brand’s focus on innovation and environmentally conscious mobility solutions.

Driving Simulator Experience

Visitors were also invited to take part in an immersive driving simulator challenge, where participants competed to beat the high score set by automotive presenter Rory Reid. The experience attracted high footfall and provided an entertaining way for audiences to interact with the brand.

Outcome

Through a varied programme of interactive activations, Auto Trader successfully established a strong and engaging presence at We Invented the Weekend 2024. The partnership demonstrated the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement, while delivering memorable experiences for festival audiences of all ages.

Case Study – Bupa

In 2023 we were supported by the Bupa Foundation who became an event partner to We Invented the Weekend under our We Get Green banner. Bupa Foundation worked alongside Salford Loaves and Fishes to promote a Garden to Table initiative.

During the weekend over 600 sunflower seeds were planted and seed pots decorated. Children really got involved in planting and some even left their precious seeds which turned into glorious sunflowers in MediaCity some months later.

Bupa also aligned their activities to their Healthy Cities programme.