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 29 Mar 2026)

TOP 10 THEATRE SHOWS

1) Matilda The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 26 Mar - 25 Apr 2026
• Watch our Exclusive Interview with RICHARD HURST
• Read our ★★★★★ review

• Tickets & More Info

2) Luminiscence

• Manchester Cathedral
• Until 26 Mar 2026

• Tickets & More Info

3) 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

4) The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind

• Depot Mayfield, Manchester
• Until 7 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

5) Private Lives

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

• Tickets & More Info

6) The Manchester Card Show

• Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton
• 5 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

7) Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus

• The Trafford Centre
• 2 - 19 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 20% Off Tickets & More Info

8) High School Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

9) Back to The Future The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

10) The Choir of Man

• Manchester Opera House
•  5 - 9 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

11) Bank of Dave The Musical - World Premiere

• Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
• 2 - 16 May 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

12) Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts

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

• Tickets & More Info

13) Waitress

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 26 May - 30 May 2026

• Tickets & More Info

14) Double Indemnity

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

• Tickets & More Info

15) Doktor Kaboom and the Wheel of Science!

• Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
• 5 & 6 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive £10 Tickets & More Info

16) The Karate Kid The Musical

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 12 - 23 May 2026

• Tickets & More Info

17) Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

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

• Tickets & More Info

18) English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake

• Palace Theatre, Manchester
• 5  & 6 Jun 2026

• Tickets & More Info

19) Wating for Godot

• Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• 15 Apr - 2 May 2026

• Tickets & More Info

20) The Sorcerer's Apprentice

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

• Tickets & More Info

21) Amy & Carlos Reborn

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

• Tickets & More Info

22) Sylvia

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

• Tickets & More Info

23) Gandeys Circus by Night

• The Trafford Centre
• 3 - 17 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

24) Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical

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

• Tickets & More Info

25) Paranormal Activity

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

• Tickets & More Info

26) Murder For Two

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

• Tickets & More Info

27) Return to the Forest

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

• Tickets & More Info

28) English National Opera - Angel's Bone

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

• Tickets & More Info

29) Teechers

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

• Tickets & More Info

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

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

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 COMEDY SHOWS

1) Something Rotten

• Manchester Opera House
• 16 Jun - 19 Jul 2026

• Tickets & More Info

2) A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

• Manchester Opera House
•  17 - 21 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

3) Russell Howard

• Manchester Opera House
• 2 - 5 Apr 2026

• Tickets & More Info

4) Eric & Ern

• Stockport Plaza
• 16 Nov 2026

• Tickets & More Info

5) Dick Whittington

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

• Tickets & More Info

~ o ~

TOP 5 MUSIC SHOWS

1) Day Fever

• New Century Hall, Manchester
• 11 Apr 2026.

• Tickets & More Info

2) Northern Live - Do I Love You

• The Albert Halls, Bolton + Wigan
• 24 Sep & 9 Oct 2026

• Tickets & More Info

3) The Shoop Shoop Show - The Cher Collection

• The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• 8 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 20% Off Tickets & More Info

4) Tyler Hay - Vaudeville Virtuoso!

• Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester
• 25 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 25% Off Tickets & More Info

5) Eric Lu & Katie Liu

• The Stoller Hall, Manchester
• 4 Apr 2026.

• Exclusive 25% Off 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