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 31 May 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) Even These Things (World Premiere)

• Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• Until 15 Jun 2026.
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

2) The MGM Story - The Magic of the Musical

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• Until Sun 7 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

3) The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind

• Depot Mayfield, Manchester
• Until 28 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Luminiscence

• Manchester Cathedral
• Until 5 Jun 2026

• Tickets & More Info

5) Something Rotten (World Premiere)

• Manchester Opera House
• 16 Jun - 19 Jul 2026

• Tickets & More Info

6) Annie

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 9 - 20 June 2026

• Tickets & More Info

7) Billy Elliot The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

8) The Ballad of Johnny & June

• The Lowry, Salford Quays
• 9 - 13 Jun 2026.
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with LENNY TURNER

• Exclusive £25 Tickets Offer & More Info

9) High School Musical

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 21 Aug - 19 Sep 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

10) Evening4Ricky

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 7 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

11) Malory Towers

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• Tue 2 - Sat 13 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

12) Amy & Carlos Reborn

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 14 Jun 2026.

• Exclusive £30 Tickets Offer & More Info

13) John Cleese and The Holy Grail

• Manchester Opera House
• 21 Sep 2026

• Tickets & More Info

14) Nell Gwynn

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 12 Jun - 4 July 2026.

• Exclusive £10 Tickets Offer & More Info

15) Clothes Swap

• Waterside, Sale
• Weds 3 - Sat 6 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

16) Pretty Woman - The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

17) Bubble Planet

• Depot Mayfield, Manchester
• Until 29 Aug 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

18) Back to The Future The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

19) Trainspotting - The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 2 - 7 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

20) English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 5  & 6 Jun 2026

• Tickets & More Info

21) Six

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 1 - 15 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

22) Danny Beard

• Albert Hall, Manchester
• 18 Sep 2026.

• Exclusive 10% Off Offer & More Info

23) Murder For Two

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 5 - 27 June 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

24) 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

25) A Christmas Carol

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

• Tickets & More Info

26) Northern Ballet - Gentleman Jack

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• Thu 4 - Sat 6 Jun 2026.

• Exclusive £20 Tickets Offer & More Info

27) DroneArt Show: Harry Potter

• Haydock Park
• 21 & 22 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

28) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

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

• Tickets & More Info

29) The Good Life

• Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
• 1 - 7 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

30) Lowry Flamenco Festival - Olga Pericet - Baile Sonoro

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 13 & 14 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

31) The Misfits

• HOME Cinema, Manchester
• 1 & 14 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

32) The Highwayman

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

• Tickets & More Info

33) Lowry Flamenco Festival - Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía: Tierra Bendita

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• Tue 30 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

34) Calendar Girls - The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

35) Paranormal Activity

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

• Tickets & More Info

36) Matthew Bourne - The Car Man

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 23 - 27 June 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

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

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

• Tickets & More Info

38) Sylvia

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

• Tickets & More Info

39) Christmas Musical Spectacular

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

• Tickets & More Info

40) The Sorcerer's Apprentice

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

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 COMEDY SHOWS

1) Richard Ayoade

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• Sun 31 May - Mon 1 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) An Idiot's Guide to Wine

• New Century Hall, Manchester
• Sat 6 Jun 2026 + more dates.

• Tickets & More Info

3) A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

• Manchester Opera House
• 17 - 21 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Dick Whittington

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

• Tickets & More Info

5) Alan Carr

• Manchester Opera House
• 15 - 17 Apr 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Luminiscence

• Manchester Cathedral
• Until 5 Jun 2026

• Tickets & More Info

2) Day Fever

• New Century, Manchester
• 27 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

3) Evening4Ricky

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 7 Jun 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

4) What's Love Got To Do With It?

• Stockport Plaza
• 21 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

5) The Simon & Garfunkel Story

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester + Stockport Plaza
• 4 Jun & 5 Jul 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Donny Osmond

• Co-op Live, Manchester
• 24 Jan 2027.

• 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