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 1 Nov 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) Billy Elliot The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

2) Little Shop of Horrors

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• Until 29 Nov 2026
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

3) Paranormal Activity

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

• Exclusive £25 Tickets Offer & More Info

4) Legally Blonde

• Manchester Opera House
• 3 - 14 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

5) Dick Whittington

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

• Tickets & More Info

6) King Lear

• Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• Until Sun 15 Nov 2026
• Read our ★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

7) Cats

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 10 - 21 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

8) A Christmas Carol

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

• Tickets & More Info

9) Snowstorm - A Frozen Adventure

• Trafford Centre
• 4 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027.

• Exclusive 20% Off Tickets & More Info

10) Prehistoric Planet - Discovering Dinosaurs

• Aviva Studios Warehouse, Manchester
• 8 Dec 2026 - 7 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

11) Jack and The Beanstalk

• Stockport Plaza
• 4 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

12) Murder Mystery Train

• East Lancashire Railway, Bury
• Fri 6 Nov 2026 + more dates

• Tickets & More Info

13) A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

• Manchester Opera House
• 17 - 21 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

14) Home Alone in Concert

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

• Tickets & More Info

15) Crown Ballet - The Nutcracker

• Stockport Plaza
• 10 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

16) A Man For All Seasons

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 3 - 7 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

17) Cinderella: A Fairytale

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

• Tickets & More Info

18) Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies

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

• Tickets & More Info

19) The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail

• Arley Hall & Gardens, Cheshire
• Until Sun 27 Dec 2026

• Tickets & More Info

20) Crown Ballet - The Nutcracker

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 2 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

21) Jesus Christ Superstar

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 11 - 27 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

22) Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

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

• Tickets & More Info

23) Dirty Dancing

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 8 - 12 Jun 2027

• Tickets & More Info

24) Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience

• Transmission House, Manchester
• Extended until 29 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

25) Burlesque The Musical

• Manchester Opera House
• 6 - 23 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

26) Back to The Future The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

27) Fences

• HOME Theatre 1, Manchester
• 3 - 7 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

28) The Sorcerer's Apprentice

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

• Tickets & More Info

29) Matthew Bourne's Cinderella

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 24 - 28 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

30) Sleeping Beauty

• Contact, Manchester
• 10 - 31 Dec 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with WILL COUSINS & BEN RICHARDS.

• Tickets & More Info

31) Lowry 360

• Lowry, Salford Quays
• Until 31 Dec 2026

• Free Tickets & More Info

32) Opera North - Rigoletto

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 12 - 14 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

33) David Bowie - You Are Not Alone

• Aviva Studios Warehouse, Manchester
• 8 Dec 2026 - 10 Jan 2027

• Tickets & More Info

34) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

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

• Tickets & More Info

35) The Highwayman

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

• Tickets & More Info

36) Deepest Fears

• HOME Theatre 2, Manchester
• 4 - 6 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

37) Christmas Musical Spectacular

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

• Tickets & More Info

38) Christmas Carol

• Shakespeare North Playhouse
• 20 Nov 2026 - 2 Jan 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

39) Blackadder Goes Forth

• Garrick Theatre, Altrincham
• 16 - 22 Nov 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

40) The Signalman - Victorian Illusions and Ghost Stories

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

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 OTHER COMEDY SHOWS

1) Sleeping with Beauty - One Little Prick

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• 3 - 23 Dec 2026

• Tickets & More Info

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

• Sale Waterside + Lowry, Salford Quays
• 27 Feb & 29 Mar 2027

• Tickets & More Info

3) Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - Adult Only Panto

• Albert Halls, Bolton
• 28 Dec 2026

• Tickets & More Info

4) Ricky Gervais

• O2 Apollo, Manchester
• 8 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

5) Jimmy Carr

• Manchester Opera House + Stockport + Warrington
• 21 Apr - 28 May 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Day Fever

• New Century, Manchester
• 14 Nov & 19 Dec 2026

• Tickets & More Info

2) The Hallé - Elvis: Viva Las Vegas

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 21 Nov 2026.

• Exclusive £25 Tickets Offer & More Info

3) Soul Town in Concert

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 9 Apr 2027

• Tickets & More Info

4) Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites

• Manchester Cathedral
• 19 Dec 2026.

• Exclusive 15% Off 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