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 Sunday 25 Jan 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) The Bodyguard - The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 19 Jan - 31 Jan 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with MATT MILBURN
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

2) Luminescence

• Manchester Cathedral
• Until 26 Mar 2026

• Tickets & More Info

3) Matilda The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

4) Six

• Lowry, Salford Quays
• 1 - 15 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

5) Mamma Mia!

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 3 - 21 Mar 2026

• Tickets & More Info

6) Barnum

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 10 - 14 Feb 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with PENNY ASHMORE

• Tickets & More Info

7) Road

• Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• 13 Feb - 14 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

8) Operation Mincemeat

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 16 Feb - Sat 28 Feb 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with CHRISTIAN ANDREWS & HOLLY SUMPTON

• Tickets & More Info

9) Manchester Card Show

• Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton
• 5 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

10) Annie

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

• Tickets & More Info

11) Miss Saigon

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 4 - 8 Aug 2026.
• Read our ★★★★✭ review

• Tickets & More Info

12) The Memory of Water

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Until 21 Feb 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

13) Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 19 Feb - 28 Feb 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

14) Mean Girls

• Manchester Opera House
• 23 Feb - 7 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

15) Single White Female

• Manchester Opera House
• 10 - 14 Feb 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

16) Dirty Dancing

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

• Tickets & More Info

17) Private Lives

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

• Tickets & More Info

18) Dance Consortium - MÁM

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 3 & 4 Feb 2026.

• Exclusive £10 Tickets Offer & More Info

19) Ockham's Razor - Collaborator

• Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
• 5 - 7 Feb 2026.

• Exclusive £10 Tickets Offer & More Info

20) Midsummer's Night Dream

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 4 - 7 Feb 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

21) Circus Funtasia

• Wythenshawe Park, Manchester
• 12 Feb - 1 Mar 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

22) Sylvia

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

• Tickets & More Info

23) BalletLORENT - Snow White

• Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
• 14 Feb 2026.

• Exclusive £10 Tickets Offer & More Info

24) Top Hat

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

• Tickets & More Info

25) Teechers

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

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 COMEDY SHOWS

1) Jason Manford

• Stockport Plaza
• 13 Feb 2026

• Tickets & More Info

2) Horrible Histories - The Concert

• Manchester Opera House
• 6 - 8 Feb 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with ETHAN LAWRENCE & NEAL FOSTER

• Tickets & More Info

3) Something Rotten

• Manchester Opera House
• 16 Jun - 19 Jul 2026

• Tickets & More Info

4) Stewart Lee

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 10 & 11 Jul 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Peter Kay

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 8 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Day Fever

• New Century Hall, Manchester
• 31 Jan 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) Hallé - The Silence of the Lambs: Live in Concert

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 31 Jan 2026.

• Exclusive 30% Off Tickets & More Info

3) Hallé - From Broadway with Love

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 14 Feb 2026.

• Exclusive £25 Tickets Offer & More Info

4) Michael Starring Ben

• Middleton Arena + Stockport Plaza
• 27 Mar & 24 Apr + more dates.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Queen of the Night

• Stockport Plaza
• 8 Mar 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