Want to know what's hot at the theatre in Manchester at the moment?

Well, these are the Top 10 most sought after theatre shows, plus the most popular comedy gigs and music concerts on ManchesterTheatres.com right now...

(week ending Thu 17 Sep 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) High School Musical

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• Until 19 Sep 2026.
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with JASON DONOVAN
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with WILL WHELTON & JOSEPH HOUSTON
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

2) Jersey Boys

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• Until 19 Sep 2026
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

3) East is East

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Until Sat 3 Oct 2026
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

4) Billy Elliot The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 2 Dec 2026 - 9 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

5) Dirty Dancing

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 29 Sep - 3 Oct 2026

• Tickets & More Info

6) Little Shop of Horrors

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• 25 Sep - 29 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

7) Macbeth

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 11 Sep - 3 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

8) Come From Away

• Garrick Theatre, Altrincham
• 10 - 19 Sep 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

9) Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 11 - 27 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

10) Cats

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 10 - 21 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

11) A Christmas Carol

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 11 Dec 2026 - 10 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

12) Dick Whittington

• Manchester Opera House
• 5 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

13) High Society

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 22 Sep - Sat 3 Oct 2026

• Tickets & More Info

14) Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience

• Transmission House, Manchester
• Until Sun 27 Sep 2026

• Tickets & More Info

15) Home Alone in Concert

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 2 & 3 Dec 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

16) Legally Blonde

• Manchester Opera House
• 3 - 14 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

17) Othello

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• 30 Sep - 10 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

18) Gandey's Halloween Spooktacular

• The Trafford Centre
• 10 Oct - 1 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

19) The Mousetrap

• Manchester Opera House
• 26 - 31 Oct 2026

• Tickets & More Info

20) The Haunting of Hill House

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 27 - 31 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

21) Sylvia

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 19 - 24 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

22) Cinderella - A Fairytale

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 20 Nov 2026 - 9 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

23) Pretty Woman - The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 23 Mar - 3 Apr 2027

• Tickets & More Info

24) A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

• Manchester Opera House
• 17 - 21 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

25) Paranormal Activity

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 17 - 21 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

26) Back to The Future The Musical

• Manchester Opera House
• 13 Jul - 21 Aug 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

27) The Sorcerer's Apprentice

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• 27 Nov 2026 - 3 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

28) Lowry 360

• Lowry, Salford Quays
• Until 30 Sep 2026

• Free Tickets & More Info

29) Disney Princess - The Concert

• Manchester Opera House
• 4 Apr 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

30) Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies

• Manchester Opera House
• 26 Jan - Sat 6 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

31) English National Ballet - Romeo & Juliet

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 21 - 25 Oct 2026

• Tickets & More Info

32) Burlesque The Musical

• Manchester Opera House
• 6 - 23 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

33) The Choir of Man

• The Lowry, Salford Quays
• 13 - 16 Oct 2026.
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with NIMI OWOYEMI
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

34) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

• Science & Industry Museum, Manchester
• Until 3 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

35) The Silence of the Lambs

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 6 - 10 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

36) Calendar Girls - The Musical

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 8 - 31 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

37) Christmas Musical Spectacular

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 22 & 23 Dec 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

38) The Highwayman

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 3 - 7 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

39) The Signalman - Victorian Illusions and Ghost Stories

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• 10 - 14 Mar 2027

• Tickets & More Info

40) The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 7 - 10 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 OTHER COMEDY SHOWS

1) Jack and The Beanstalk

• Stockport Plaza
• 4 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

2) Phil Mealey - Early Doors: Behind The Bar & Beyond

• Waterside, Sale
• 27 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

3) Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

• The Albert Halls, Bolton
• 1 - 31 Dec 2026

• Tickets & More Info

4) La Voix

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 17 Apr 2027

• Tickets & More Info

5) Off The Hook - Daz and Will Unhooked

• Opera House, Manchester
• Fri 18 Sep 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Day Fever

• New Century, Manchester
• 19 Sep & 17 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) The Music of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight

• Manchester Opera House
• 27 Sep 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

3) Stevie Wonder

• Co-op LIve, Manchester
• 8 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Man in the Mirror

• Manchester Opera House
• Tue 23 Sep 2026 + more dates.

• Tickets & More Info

5) The Bootleg Beatles

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 10 Dec 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

Also See:

The Best of What's On in Manchester This Week

The Top 10 Most Popular Shows in Liverpool

The Top 10 Most Popular Shows in London