What's on in Manchester
What's on in Manchester
Friday 16 October 2026
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Trafford Centre, Manchester
Something wickedly spectacular this way comes...! Dare you enter the haunted Big Top? Gandeys Circus returns, bringing you a brand-new, spine-chilling, and action-packed Halloween Spooktacular-a legendary show filled with frights, delights,...Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
We are thrilled to announce a bold new revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, is coming to Manchester in Autumn 2026. This cult classic musical will be brought to life in a major new production, continuing the...Alice Cooper Book Tour
Alice Cooper Book Tour
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
The definitive autobiography and an evening of unforgettable stories from Alice Cooper, the Godfather of Shock Rock and one of the world's iconic musicians, with a career spanning six decades. Alice Cooper announces the release of his defin...Hannah Laing
Hannah Laing
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Dundee DJ Hannah Laing specialises in high energy trance, techno, and hard house with her club night Welcome To The Doof. In 2023, she was nominated for a DJ Mag Best of Britain award and has been regularly featured on BBC Radio 1, includin...Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet
O2 Apollo, Manchester
How time flies. It's been 40 years since Alison Moyet stepped out of Yazoo and fired up a solo career with her #1 debut album 'Alf' and Top 10 hits 'Love Resurrection' and 'All Cried Out'. That unmistakable voice - big enough to fill a stad...King Lear
King Lear
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
David Threlfall returns to the Theatre after 27 years to play Lear 'You see how full of changes his age is' Shakespeare's most elemental tragedy charts a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war...Khalid
Khalid
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Multi-platinum selling global superstar Khalid has taken the world by storm with his blend of smooth R&B fused with electro-pop and 80s-inspired synths since his first single, the RIAA-certified diamond 'Location' - released right before hi...The Wanted 2.0
The Wanted 2.0
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Following their remarkable career with The Wanted, which saw massive hits like Glad You Came, Chasing The Sun, and Heart Vacancy, Max George and Siva Kaneswaran return after the tragic death of Tom Parker as The Wanted 2.0. Promising to...Fish56Octagon
Fish56Octagon
O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
TikTok DJ sensation Fish56Octagon, the king of dance music curation across multiple genres, returns. The London electronic dance music disc jockey gained a social media following due to his videos exhibiting his enthusiasm for dance music, ...The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats
Albert Hall, Manchester
The Mountain Goats are, for all practical purposes, the endlessly clever and prolific former California nurse John Darnielle and whatever cast of musicians he's working with at the moment, which means the indie folk sound may change from pr...Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience
Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience
Transmission House, Manchester
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality adventure that doesn't just show you the universe - it places you inside it. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, th...BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - British Iconoclasts
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - British Iconoclasts
RNCM, Manchester
Britten and Tippett shared many traits: both were pacifists; conscientious objectors during the war; homosexuals, at a time when it was publicly outlawed in Britain; and both shared a love of older forms of music. Drawing on one of Corelli'...Gurriers
Gurriers
New Century, Manchester
Dublin's newest alternative addition, Gurriers, embody the emerging Irish genres of post-punk, noise rock and shoegaze. ...Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle
HOME, Manchester
During this discussion, the director of films such as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire, and upcoming feature Ink will discuss a career that has placed him among the most successful British filmmakers. Following a successful...Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
O2 Ritz, Manchester
Purveyors of a cosmic brand of the popular American songbook Buffalo New York act Mercury Rev merge jazz, folk, sweeping orchestration, and a dose of 60's rock. Their 1998 album Deserter's Songs remains one of the essential records of the p...Ania Magliano
Ania Magliano
Fairfield Social Club, Manchester
Fresh from starring in the latest series of Taskmaster, Ania Magliano (Live At The Apollo, Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show Nominee) brings a brand-new show full of jokes, confessions, and occasionally unhinged observations to venues nat...Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City
Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City
Transmission House, Manchester
Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City transports you back 450 years ago to the heart of the ancient Inca Empire in stunning virtual reality. You'll climb the breathtaking peaks of the Andes, wander through the Temple of the Sun, walk the f...And So I Watch You from Afar + Caspian
And So I Watch You from Afar + Caspian
Manchester Academy, Manchester
A co-headline gig from Belfast instrumental rockers And So I Watch You From Afar and American post rock group Delta Sleep. ...Team Viking
Team Viking
HOME, Manchester
Ten years ago, James Rowland's best friend Tom was diagnosed with heart cancer and given three months to live. His last wish was to have a full Viking burial. So James gave him one. Team Viking tells the remarkable, hilarious and heart-lift...Big Mad Andy's Peep Show Quiz
Big Mad Andy's Peep Show Quiz
Freight Island, Manchester
Peep Show heads. This one is for you! Liam Noble, AKA Big Mad Andy has stocked up on Breakfast Room Green and is ready to bring you the ultimate quiz on one of Britain's favourite sitcoms, Peep Show! Famed for his emotionally unstable yet...Saturday 17 October 2026
Manchester City v Ipswich Town
Manchester City v Ipswich Town
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City take on The Tractor Boys in the Premier League ...Hallé Orchestra - Classical Extravaganza
Hallé Orchestra - Classical Extravaganza
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Showstopping hits and magical musicianship - enjoy some of the world's favourite classical pieces. A rousing fanfare - Shostakovich's flashy and exciting Festive Overture, alongside Haydn's landmark Trumpet Concerto, performed by Ro...Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Trafford Centre, Manchester
Something wickedly spectacular this way comes...! Dare you enter the haunted Big Top? Gandeys Circus returns, bringing you a brand-new, spine-chilling, and action-packed Halloween Spooktacular-a legendary show filled with frights, delights,...Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
We are thrilled to announce a bold new revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, is coming to Manchester in Autumn 2026. This cult classic musical will be brought to life in a major new production, continuing the...Mo Gilligan
Mo Gilligan
AO Arena, Manchester
Mo Gilligan is a British stand-up comedian known for his observational comedy. After several years of uploading comedy clips to social media, he found global success in 2017. He hosted The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, which debuted in 201...Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
O2 Apollo, Manchester
Fat Freddy's Drop is a New Zealand seven-piece band from Wellington, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by m...King Lear
King Lear
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
David Threlfall returns to the Theatre after 27 years to play Lear 'You see how full of changes his age is' Shakespeare's most elemental tragedy charts a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war...Gareth Malone - Sing-along-a-Gareth
Gareth Malone - Sing-along-a-Gareth
RNCM, Manchester
It's time to lift our voices once more as Gareth Malone, together with his band and a group of stellar singers, guides us through an evening of song. Featuring the tunes he's performed over the last 15 years on television, this feel-goo...Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Waterside, Manchester
As a child Russell Watson could always carry a tune, but he never dreamed he'd become an opera singer. Today, he's counted among the world's finest classical voices. Born and raised in Salford, Watson worked an array of jobs and started sin...Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett
Aviva Studios, Manchester
In the hands of indie rocker Courtney Barnett, fragments of everyday life become rich and riveting. A deft lyricist and virtuosic guitarist, she is an emblem of millennial wit and one of Australia's most successful musical exports. Based...Eric Prydz
Eric Prydz
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Swedish house DJ Eric Prydz rose to prominence with his 2004 hit single "Call on Me" which topped the UK singles chart for five weeks. Although this track made him a world wide star, with the risque video clocking up hundreds of millions of...
Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience
Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience
Transmission House, Manchester
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality adventure that doesn't just show you the universe - it places you inside it. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, th...Day Fever
Day Fever
New Century, Manchester
The day-time clubbing event started by Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure, her husband, Welsh actor and filmmaker Jonny Owen, and Jon McClure, the frontman of Sheffield indie kings Reverend & The Makers, has swept the UK since it's launch i...Hugh Bonneville
Hugh Bonneville
HOME, Manchester
Witty and engaging, esteemed British actor Hugh Bonneville is a gifted raconteur whose stories are as captivating as his performances. Celebrated for his work with the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and in the West End, Hug...Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City
Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City
Transmission House, Manchester
Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City transports you back 450 years ago to the heart of the ancient Inca Empire in stunning virtual reality. You'll climb the breathtaking peaks of the Andes, wander through the Temple of the Sun, walk the f...Team Viking
Team Viking
HOME, Manchester
Ten years ago, James Rowland's best friend Tom was diagnosed with heart cancer and given three months to live. His last wish was to have a full Viking burial. So James gave him one. Team Viking tells the remarkable, hilarious and heart-lift...Close Enough To Touch
Close Enough To Touch
Waterside, Manchester
A play about sex, heartbreak... and toilets from Leeds-based national touring company Red Ladder. This young man has a secret. He has a girlfriend, he's looking for work, and he spends his free time cruising in men's toilets. This one-perso...Margaret Glaspy
Margaret Glaspy
Hallé at St Michael's, Manchester
In an era of excess and endless distraction, New York-based Californian artist Margaret Glaspy rejects the noise in favour of something far more essential. Before setting to work on her fourth full-length album I Am Both, she stepped away f...Buff Bingo Drag Brunch
Buff Bingo Drag Brunch
On Bar, Manchester
If your idea of brunch involves dancing on your chair, shouting at bingo cards, and being served by buff butlers, you're in the right place. Buff Bingo Drag Brunch is pure, unfiltered fun-a daytime party that doesn't hold back. Go big with ...
Sunday 18 October 2026
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Trafford Centre, Manchester
Something wickedly spectacular this way comes...! Dare you enter the haunted Big Top? Gandeys Circus returns, bringing you a brand-new, spine-chilling, and action-packed Halloween Spooktacular-a legendary show filled with frights, delights,...Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
We are thrilled to announce a bold new revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, is coming to Manchester in Autumn 2026. This cult classic musical will be brought to life in a major new production, continuing the...Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
O2 Apollo, Manchester
The Martians are back! Based on HG Wells' dark Victorian tale, the production remains a favourite to millions around the world, exciting audiences of all ages. In October 2026, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds - Live...Phil Wang
Phil Wang
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
UH OH. Phil Wang's back with a new stand - up show, and he's older than ever before. He's got a moustache now. It bristles with wisdom. His eyes shine with good humour. His shoulders groan under the weight of being the only cool millennial ...Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile
Co-op Live, Manchester
Known as one of music's most respected voices, Brandi Carlile is an 11 times Grammy Award, 2 time EMMY-winning singer/songwriter, and a #1 New York Times Bestselling author. Throughout her acclaimed career, the Washington State country an...Starsailor with Strings
Starsailor with Strings
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Formed at Wigan & Leigh Music College, Starsailor will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their critically-acclaimed, multi-platinum debut album Love is Here with a special tour featuring a string ensemble arranged and conducted by Joe Dudde...King Lear
King Lear
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
David Threlfall returns to the Theatre after 27 years to play Lear 'You see how full of changes his age is' Shakespeare's most elemental tragedy charts a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war...Collectorcon
Collectorcon
Manchester Academy, Manchester
CollectorCon is the ultimate trading card experience, bringing together collectors, traders, investors and hobby enthusiasts from across the UK for a full day dedicated to trading cards and collectibles. Whether you're into Pokemon, Sports ...Sol and the Gang
Sol and the Gang
Albert Hall, Manchester
A high-energy journey through the decades - from Motown to present day - blending timeless RnB classics with premium production and tight musicianship. Founded by award-winning artist and choreographer J-Sol of The X Factor fame, the hand-p...Smithsonian Starstruck - An Immersive Experience
