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 Sun 15 Mar 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) Mamma Mia!

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• Until 21 Mar 2026
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

2) Billy Elliot

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

• Tickets & More Info

3) Matilda The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 26 Mar - 25 Apr 2026

• Tickets & More Info

4) The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind

• Depot Mayfield, Manchester
• 13 Mar - 7 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) The Constant Wife

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• Tue 17 - Sat 21 Mar 2026.

• Exclusive £15 Offer & More Info

6) Manchester Card Show

• Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton
• 5 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

7) The Full Monty

• Manchester Opera House
•  5 - 10 Apr 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

7) Burlesque The Musical

• Manchester Opera House
• 6 - 23 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

8) Luminescence

• Manchester Cathedral
• Until 26 Mar 2026

• Tickets & More Info

9) Top Hat

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 31 Mar - 4 Apr 2026.
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with AMARA OKEREKE
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Exclusive £25 Offer & More Info

10) Macbeth

• Octagon Theatre, London
• Until Sat 28 Mar 2026
• Read our ★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

11) The Battle

• Manchester Opera House
• 17 - 21 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

12) Two

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 6 - 28 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

13) Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus

• The Trafford Centre
• 2 - 19 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 20% Off Tickets & More Info

14) Private Lives

• Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• 27 Mar - 2 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

15) The Jury Experience - Death on the Port Side

• RNCM Theatre, Manchester
•  2 Apr & 7 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

16) Annie

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
•  9 - 20 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

17) Back to The Future The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

18) English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 5  & 6 Jun 2026

• Tickets & More Info

19) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

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

• Tickets & More Info

20) Bog Witch

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• 26 -28 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

21) Double Indemnity

• Manchester Opera House
• 28 Apr - 2 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

22) Paranormal Activity

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

• Tickets & More Info

23) Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts

• Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
• 7 Apr - 11 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

24) Return to the Forest

• AVIVA Studios, Manchester
• 7 - 10 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

25) Sylvia

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

• Tickets & More Info

26) Gandeys Circus by Night

• The Trafford Centre
• 3 - 17 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

27) Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical

• Contact, Manchester
•  18 Apr - 2 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

28) Teechers

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 5 May 2026 - Sat 16 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

29) The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor

• AVIVA Studios, Manchester
• 25 - 27 June 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

30) English National Opera - Angel's Bone

• AVIVA Studios, Manchester
• 12 - 16 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 COMEDY SHOWS

1) Dungeon Crawler Carl

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• Mon 16 & Tue 17 Mar 2026

• Tickets & More Info

1) Paul Smith

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 21 & 22 Oct 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) Something Rotten

• Manchester Opera House
• 16 Jun - 19 Jul 2026

• Tickets & More Info

3) Al Murray

• Parr Hall, Warrington
• 24 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Clinton Baptiste

• Lowry + Bolton + Stockport + Middleton + Warrington
• 13 May 2026 - 25 Feb 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience

• The Albert Halls, Bolton
• 29 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Day Fever

• New Century Hall, Manchester
• 11 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) The Shoop Shoop Show - The Cher Collection

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 8 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 20% Off Tickets & More Info

3) The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter

• Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
• 12 Jul 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Elkie Brooks

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 9 Oct 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

5) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Anthracite Fields

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 21 Mar 2026.

• Exclusive £13.25 Offer & 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