Coventry City are heading back to the Premier League for the first time since 2001 – and the city is preparing to mark the occasion with one of the biggest celebrations in its recent history. Here is everything you need to know about Monday’s We Are Back: Live event, the open-top bus parade route, tickets and timings.
Frank Lampard’s side confirmed promotion to the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers last Friday, before sealing the Championship title in style with a 5-1 win over Portsmouth at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night. A founding member of the Premier League in 1992-93, Coventry have not been back to the top flight since their relegation in 2000-01 – a wait of 25 years that has taken in one of the most turbulent journeys in English football.
Coventry’s lowest point came in 2017 when the club dropped into League Two – the fourth tier – but they have fought their way back level by level, and under Lampard have stormed the Championship to earn their Premier League return with games to spare.
Now it is time for the city to celebrate.
We Are Back: Live – what is it?
The centrepiece of the celebration is We Are Back: Live, a full-day music and community festival at the War Memorial Park that will run from 1pm to 7pm on Bank Holiday Monday 4 May.
The event was announced on Friday afternoon across Coventry City’s social media channels, with indie heroes The Enemy confirmed as the headline act. The Coventry-born band – whose anthemic, working-class rock became the soundtrack to a generation of Sky Blues fans – are a fitting choice for a day that is as much about the city as it is about the football club.
A spokesman for Coventry City said the festival “will showcase a vibrant mix of local music and entertainment, celebrating the creativity and diversity of Coventry, before welcoming the promotion-winning players and staff on stage.” Further acts and the full line-up are expected to be announced shortly.
Players and staff will arrive at the War Memorial Park from 4pm after completing the open-top bus parade, bringing the two elements of the day together for what Doug King described as “an unforgettable finale.”
Tickets – how much and where to buy
Initial tickets for season ticket holders are priced at £5 and are on sale now. General sale opens on Wednesday 29 April at a price of £10.
Coventry City Council confirmed that all money from ticket sales will go directly to the football club. The council shared the club’s announcement with the message: “All money from ticket sales will be going to the club. Join us in celebrating our champions.”
The parade route – in full
The open-top bus parade will begin at 1pm from the CBS Arena area and has been specifically designed, in the club’s own words, “to reach deep into the community – including areas full of passionate supporters who haven’t previously experienced an event like this on their doorstep.”
The full route, as confirmed by Coventry City, is as follows:
The parade formally begins from Holbrook Way after its junction with Jimmy Hill Way – the road named after the last manager to take Coventry City to the top flight. From there it will turn right onto Holbrook Lane, then left onto Parkgate Road, down Beake Avenue, along Bruce Road to Wallace Road, continuing along Norman Place Road, turning left onto Hollyfast Road and then Westhill Road.
The buses will then head down Barkers Butts Lane, turning right onto Moseley Avenue, crossing Holyhead Road, then travelling along Four Pounds Avenue and Queensland Avenue before arriving at Hearsall Common.
The public section of the parade concludes at Hearsall Common. Players and staff will then travel to the War Memorial Park, arriving at 4pm.
The route has been carefully chosen to pass through residential streets, pubs and community hubs across the north and west of the city – areas with a high concentration of Sky Blues supporters. Whether you are watching from your doorstep, your local pub, or lining the streets with friends and family, the route offers countless places to gather and be part of the moment.
What the city’s leaders said
Coventry City owner and executive chairman Doug King said: “We are delighted to announce the route for the parade to celebrate our promotion to the Premier League as Champions. The players and staff will be travelling in the heart of the community to celebrate, and we encourage fans and the people of our city to join them on the public route from Holbrook Way to Hearsall Common and to be part of this amazing and historic event.”
Councillor George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council, added: “The whole city is in celebration mode after the club secured the Championship title. The club’s parade will provide the opportunity for everyone to come together and share the joy. It is set to be an unforgettable day, celebrating an amazing achievement and I am sure it will be a day to remember, and a day that will go down in the club and city’s history.”
Frank Lampard’s remarkable achievement
The man at the centre of all of it is Frank Lampard, who joined Coventry 16 months ago and has delivered the most significant achievement in the club’s recent history. “It’s right at the top of my career,” Lampard said after winning the title. “I said it after Blackburn and to seal the title in the manner that we did, the way the team played from minute one, how we stepped it up in the second half. We’ve had a lot of these performances at the CBS Arena this year, this team has been so consistent.”
Speaking to supporters on the pitch at the CBS Arena after lifting the Championship trophy, Lampard paid tribute to all who had made the promotion possible: “That moment was about more than just one season. It reflects years of loyalty, resilience and belief. This football club and its supporters have been through so much.”
There is now speculation about whether Lampard’s success could attract interest from higher-profile clubs in the summer. Chairman Doug King acknowledged the possibility: “It doesn’t mean there’s not going to be some staggering bid for him in the summer and he’ll have to make his choices, because he’s shown his credentials as a high-quality head coach.” But King was clear about the current mood: “I just think he’s happy, I’m happy, everybody’s happy.”
For now, on May 4, the only thing that matters is the party. Twenty-five years in the making. One day to celebrate it all.
Summary – all the key details
We Are Back: Live
- Date: Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May 2026
- Venue: War Memorial Park, Coventry
- Time: 1pm – 7pm
- Headline act: The Enemy
- Players and staff arrive: 4pm
Tickets
- Season ticket holders: £5 – on sale now
- General public: £10 – on sale Wednesday 29 April
- All proceeds go to Coventry City FC
Parade
- Starts: 1pm from CBS Arena area (Holbrook Way/Jimmy Hill Way junction)
- Route: Holbrook Lane – Parkgate Road – Beake Avenue – Bruce Road – Wallace Road – Norman Place Road – Hollyfast Road – Westhill Road – Barkers Butts Lane – Moseley Avenue – Holyhead Road – Four Pounds Avenue – Queensland Avenue
- Ends: Hearsall Common (public section)
- Players arrive at War Memorial Park: 4pm
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