JD UP 2026: Two Magic Mirrors, Thousands of Memories at Manchester Central

We are buzzing to share that Candid Camera has been invited back to JD UP 2026 at Manchester Central Convention Complex, and this year we are going even bigger. After the incredible success of JD UP 2025, where we captured over 3,300 branded photos with a single Magic Mirror and Selfie Print Pod, the JD Foundation asked us to come back with two Magic Mirrors to match the scale and energy of one of the North West's largest youth events.

What Is JD UP?

JD UP is a massive careers and inspiration event run by the JD Foundation, which is the charitable arm of JD Sports Fashion plc. Now in its third year at Manchester Central, JD UP brings together thousands of Year 10 students from schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire for a two-day experience that mixes careers guidance with youth culture, brand activations, and live entertainment.

The event is built around the Gatsby Benchmarks (the national framework for careers guidance) but delivers them in a way that actually gets young people excited. There are interactive brand zones from Nike, adidas, The North Face, and Jordan sitting alongside workshops on interview skills, personal branding, and creative career paths. Past events have featured speakers including JD's CEO Regis Schultz and social media personalities like Angry Ginge and Chunkz.

JD UP 2026: Bigger Than Ever

This year's event takes place across two packed days at Manchester Central Convention Complex, with thousands of young people expected through the doors. The growth has been unreal. The first Manchester event in April 2024 had around 1,900 students. By February 2025 that had jumped to 6,000. And JD UP 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest one yet.

Manchester Central is the perfect venue for something this size. The Grade II* listed former railway station, with its iconic barrel-vaulted roof spanning 210 feet, gives the whole thing a brilliant backdrop. The interactive zones, auditorium sessions, and of course our Magic Mirrors all fit perfectly in this space.

Why Two Magic Mirrors This Year?

At JD UP 2025, the demand for our single Magic Mirror setup was massive. The queue ran non-stop from doors opening right through to close, and we produced over 3,300 branded prints across the event. Every photo featured the JD UP branding, and digital copies were shared instantly, so social media was flooded with branded content before the event was even over.

For 2026, JD asked us to double our capacity. With two Magic Mirrors running side by side, we can get through more students, cut down queue times, and capture even more of those brilliant, spontaneous moments that make events like this so special. Each mirror features:

• Custom JD UP branded overlays and print templates
• Touchscreen interaction with animations, digital signatures, and on-screen prompts
• Instant high-quality prints that students can take home as a keepsake
• Instant digital sharing for social media, email, and messaging
• Data capture capability (with consent) for post-event engagement

Magic Mirror Hire for Large-Scale Corporate Events

Events like JD UP show exactly why Magic Mirrors have become the go-to activation for large corporate events, conferences, and brand activations across Manchester and the North West. Unlike traditional photo booths, Magic Mirrors are built for high footfall environments. There is no enclosed space, no group size limit, and the touchscreen interface keeps guests engaged while our on-site attendants manage the flow.

For corporate clients, the branded print is where the real value is. Every photo that leaves the event carries your logo, your messaging, and your design. When 3,000+ people walk away with a branded keepsake and share the digital version on social media, the reach is massive. It is the kind of organic, authentic brand engagement that you just cannot replicate through traditional advertising.

What Makes Our Corporate Event Setup Different?

• Multi-unit capacity: We can deploy multiple Magic Mirrors, Photo Booths, and Selfie Pods to match any event scale
• Fully custom branding: Print templates, digital overlays, start screens, and photo frames all tailored to your brand
• High throughput: Each Magic Mirror handles 800 to 1,500+ photos per day with our experienced attendants managing the queue
• Real-time social sharing: Guests share branded photos instantly, amplifying your event's reach
• Data capture and analytics: With user consent, collect email addresses and engagement data for post-event follow-up
• Dedicated on-site team: Our attendants handle everything from setup to teardown, so your team can focus on the event

Photo Booth Hire for Events in Manchester and the North West

As a Lancashire-based company, we are proud to serve events right across the North West region. From intimate weddings in the Ribble Valley to massive corporate activations at Manchester Central, our equipment and team are built to deliver consistent quality at any scale.

Manchester has become a real hub for large-scale events, conferences, and brand launches in recent years. Venues like Manchester Central, Victoria Warehouse, The Lowry, and Manchester Arena regularly host events that need professional photo activation, and Candid Camera has the experience and equipment to deliver every time.

Whether you are planning a conference, exhibition, product launch, awards ceremony, brand activation, or a youth engagement event like JD UP, we have got the setup to match your ambitions.

Who Will Be This Year's Special Guest?

Part of what makes JD UP so exciting is the surprise celebrity and influencer appearances. In 2024, YouTuber Chunkz had the crowd going wild. Last year it was Angry Ginge, fresh off his I'm A Celebrity win, who absolutely smashed it on the auditorium stage.

So who is it going to be this year? JD are keeping it under wraps as always, but there are a few clues floating around. Angry Ginge has an even deeper partnership with JD heading into 2026 and there has been teaser content on JD's TikTok that suggests he could well be making a return. Then there is Aitch, the Manchester rapper who is close mates with Ginge (they were on I'm A Celebrity together) and has his own strong ties to the JD brand. Either way, whoever takes that stage is going to have thousands of students absolutely buzzing.

We will be right there capturing the reaction on our Magic Mirrors, so keep an eye on our socials for the reveal.

We Cannot Wait for Tomorrow

As we write this, our two Magic Mirrors are loaded up, branded, and ready to go. Tomorrow morning we will be at Manchester Central bright and early, setting up for what is going to be an incredible two days. The energy at JD UP is like nothing else. Thousands of young people discovering career paths they never knew existed, getting stuck in with brands they love, and creating memories that we get to capture.

Being invited back by JD for a second year means the world to us. It shows the quality of what we delivered in 2025 and the trust that brands like JD place in our team. We genuinely cannot wait to see the thousands of smiling faces again this year.

Book Magic Mirror or Photo Booth Hire for Your Next Event

If you are organising a corporate event, brand activation, or large-scale function in Manchester or anywhere across the North West and you want to create something your guests will actually remember, get in touch with Candid Camera today. We will work with you to design a bespoke setup that fits your brand, your venue, and your audience.

You can also check out our full range of event photography and photo booth services, browse venues we cover across the region, or have a look at our gallery to see our work in action.