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 12 Jul 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) Something Rotten

• Manchester Opera House
• Until 19 Jul 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with JASON MANFORD & RICHARD FLEESHMAN
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Exclusive Tickets Offer & More Info

2) Hairspray The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 2 - 18 Jul 2027

• Tickets & More Info

3) Fun Home

• Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• Until 1 Aug 2026.
• Read our ★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

4) The Spy Who Came in From The Cold

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 22 - 25 Jul 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Thespians - Greece The Musical (But not that one)

• HOME, Manchester
• Until Sat 18 Jul 2026.
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

6) Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies

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

• Tickets & More Info

7) Billy Elliot The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

8) Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 11 - 27 Feb 2027

• Tickets & More Info

9) James - Getting Away With It

• Aviva Studios, Manchester
• 17 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

10) The Rocky Horror Show

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 27 Jul - 1 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

11) Six

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

• Tickets & More Info

12) Back to The Future The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

13) Dirty Dancing

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

• Tickets & More Info

14) High School Musical

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 21 Aug - 19 Sep 2026.
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with JASON DONOVAN

• Tickets & More Info

15) Little Shop of Horrors

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

• Tickets & More Info

16) Lowry 360

• Lowry, Salford Quays
• Until 30 Sep 2026

• Free Tickets & More Info

17) Jersey Boys

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 7 - 19 Sep 2026

• Tickets & More Info

18) Miss Saigon

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 4 - 8 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

19) Le Navet Bete - Oh Zeus!

• Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
• 28 Jul - 1 Aug 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

20) Comic Con Manchester

• Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester
•  25 & 26 Jul 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

21) An Evening with David Byrne

• The Stoller Hall, Manchester
• 11 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

22) Home Alone in Concert

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

• Tickets & More Info

23) Pretty Woman - The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

24) High Society

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

• Tickets & More Info

25) Cats

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 10 - 21 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

26) DroneArt Show: Harry Potter

• Haydock Park
• 21 & 22 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

27) The Gruffalo

• Z-Arts, Manchester
• 27 - 29 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

28) The Jury Experience - Diamonds, Lies and a Dead Man

• The Stoller Hall, Manchester
• 24 Jul 2026 + more dates

• Tickets & More Info

29) An Audience with Danny Beard

• Albert Hall, Manchester
• 18 Sep 2026.

• Exclusive 10% Off Offer & More Info

30) Trainspotting - The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 2 - 7 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

31) A Christmas Carol

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

• Tickets & More Info

32) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

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

• Tickets & More Info

33) Sylvia

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

• Tickets & More Info

34) Paranormal Activity

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

• Tickets & More Info

35) 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

37) Calendar Girls - The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

38) The Highwayman

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 3 - 7 Nov 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) Peter Kay - The Final Show

• AO Arena, Manchester
• 8 Aug 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) Roy Chubby Brown

• O2 Apollo, Manchester + Bolton + Stockport
• 16 Jan - 27 Aug 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

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

• Waterside, Sale
• 27 Feb 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Murder, She Didn't Write

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 20 & 21 Jul 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) The Bob Ross Effect

• Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
• Weds 15 July 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) James

• Aviva Studios, Manchester
• 17 Aug 2026

• Tickets & More Info

2) Day Fever

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

• Tickets & More Info

3) Sienna Spiro

• Albert Hall + O2 Apollo, Manchester
• 23 Aug 2026 (2 shows) + 1 & 2 Mar 2027.

• Tickets & More Info

4) Sam Smith

• Albert Hall, Manchester
• 3 & 4 Sep 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) The Music of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight

• Manchester Opera House
• 27 Sep 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