What's on in Manchester
What's on in Manchester
Thursday 30 April 2026
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
Hollywood icon Mischa Barton (The O.C.) makes her UK stage debut in Double Indemnity, the gripping adaptation of one of the greatest crime novels of the 20th Century - the story that inspired Billy Wilder's film noir classic. Los Angeles, 1...The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Europe's most popular Banksy exhibition lands in Manchester, opening from the 13th March 2026 at Depot Mayfield. Step inside the mind of Banksy with an art experience for all, featuring over 200 reimagined works by the acclaimed street ar...Private Lives
Private Lives
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Jill Halfpenny returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play Amanda Prynne. 'I think very few people are completely normal really, deep down in their private lives.' In Noel Coward's savage comedy, there's nothing a cocktail can't cu...Luminiscence
Luminiscence
Manchester Cathedral, Manchester
Arriving in the UK for the first time, after dazzling over 1 Million people in Europe, the incredible immersive projection concert LUMINISCENCE transforms Manchester Cathedral into a fully immersive world of sound, story, and light. Featuri...Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Contact, Manchester
Trompe l'Oeil is an American drag queen's journey through a surreal Wizard of Oz / 2016 American landscape - with drag kings and queens, jaw-dropping sex fiends and flying bats and trampolines! Not to be overlooked is the show's lyri...Crippled With Laughter
Crippled With Laughter
Aviva Studios, Manchester
A disabled-led comedy night curated and hosted by Wheels and the Legman Get ready for a groundbreaking disabled-led comedy event that challenges stereotypes and pushes the boundaries of humour. By putting disability at the forefront of thei...Hamish Hawk
Hamish Hawk
O2 Ritz, Manchester
Rich of voice and even richer of imagination, Edinburgh born indie singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk creates musical pen-portraits as vivid in lyric as they are in melody. He has established himself as a writer of heartfelt, headstrong, unasham...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...Dragged Into Sunlight
Dragged Into Sunlight
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Liverpool death metal who wear masks to conceal their true identities. An unholy collaboration of minds producing an aggro, cold and industrial stabbing of aural madness. ...Odyssey
Odyssey
Band On The Wall, Manchester
Chart-topping icons of Disco - Odyssey will perform their greatest hits from the 1970s and 80s, including "Native New Yorker", "Use It Up & Wear It Out", "Looking for a Way Out", "Don't Tell Me Tell Her", "Inside Out", and "Going Back to My...Jain Edwards
Jain Edwards
53two, Manchester
Join award-winning comedian and viral sensation Jain Edwards as she brings her sell-out, five star Fringe show to stage. Jain Edwards is an award-winning comedian who isn't like other girls. She's worse. But she's finally ready to Lean In (...Liberace & Liza - A Tribute
Liberace & Liza - A Tribute
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Liberace & Liza Minnelli never performed together, but that didn't stop David Saffert and Jillian Snow from creating this wildly successful mashup of two over-the-top icons. Saffert's dizzying piano skills and Snow's powerhouse belt team up...Bubble Planet - An Immersive Experience
Bubble Planet - An Immersive Experience
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Welcome to Bubble Planet, where bubbles are bigger and more magical than ever. Let your inner child run free and follow your imagination in this spherical universe full of soap bubbles, air bubbles, and even virtual reality. Explore every ...Sofie Hagen
Sofie Hagen
Contact, Manchester
Sofie won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015 and she thinks you all stopped talking about it too soon. Remember TV? Yeah, she did that too. You may know her from that, but it's more likely you know her from the internet, where ...Adventures in Wonderland
Adventures in Wonderland
Z-arts, Manchester
Fall down the rabbit hole and have your very own magical adventure with Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts! Created by Z-arts in partnership with Macmillan Children's Books, step into Alice's shoes and have your very own magical Adventure i...Horizon of Khufu - Journey to Ancient Egypt
Horizon of Khufu - Journey to Ancient Egypt
Transmission House, Manchester
The Pyramids of Egypt have arrived in the UK for the first time! This immersive and groundbreaking expedition takes you back to the golden age of ancient Egypt, allowing you to explore the depths of the iconic pyramids, meet the goddess Bas...Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos
Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos
Science & Industry Museum, Manchester
An out-of-this-world premiere exhibition, now open at the Science and Industry Museum. Blast off into the solar system and embark on a cosmic adventure guided by familiar characters from the brand-new BBC Horrible Science TV series. Walk in...StreetHunt Games: Outdoor scavenger hunt
StreetHunt Games: Outdoor scavenger hunt
Great Northern Square, Manchester
Will you crack the case? Whether you're planning a day out or a team event with a difference, this is Manchester as you've never experienced it. Friends, couples & families - Something fun, surprising and story-driven. Corporate & group boo...StreetHunt Games: Outdoor treasure hunt
StreetHunt Games: Outdoor treasure hunt
Science & Industry Museum, Manchester
Will you crack the case? Whether you're planning a day out or a team event with a difference, this is Manchester as you've never experienced it. Friends, couples & families - Something fun, surprising and story-driven. Corporate & group boo...Gabriel Kidd: I found the giant and he was dead
Gabriel Kidd: I found the giant and he was dead
HOME, Manchester
Through sculpture, drawing, sound, and writing, Kidd's work utilises queer tactics of parody, fluidity and vitality, to explore mythology, ecology and history. In Gabriel Kidd's first institutional solo show, they have created an immersive ...Friday 1 May 2026
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
Hollywood icon Mischa Barton (The O.C.) makes her UK stage debut in Double Indemnity, the gripping adaptation of one of the greatest crime novels of the 20th Century - the story that inspired Billy Wilder's film noir classic. Los Angeles, 1...NE-YO + Akon
NE-YO + Akon
Co-op Live, Manchester
American R&B star Ne-Yo shakes up the generic club based R&B to create something truly different with elements of Europop, synth-pop and hip hop soul. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit "Let Me Love...The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Europe's most popular Banksy exhibition lands in Manchester, opening from the 13th March 2026 at Depot Mayfield. Step inside the mind of Banksy with an art experience for all, featuring over 200 reimagined works by the acclaimed street ar...Private Lives
Private Lives
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Jill Halfpenny returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play Amanda Prynne. 'I think very few people are completely normal really, deep down in their private lives.' In Noel Coward's savage comedy, there's nothing a cocktail can't cu...Luminiscence
Luminiscence
Manchester Cathedral, Manchester
Arriving in the UK for the first time, after dazzling over 1 Million people in Europe, the incredible immersive projection concert LUMINISCENCE transforms Manchester Cathedral into a fully immersive world of sound, story, and light. Featuri...Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Contact, Manchester
Trompe l'Oeil is an American drag queen's journey through a surreal Wizard of Oz / 2016 American landscape - with drag kings and queens, jaw-dropping sex fiends and flying bats and trampolines! Not to be overlooked is the show's lyri...Ninja Sex Party
Ninja Sex Party
O2 Apollo, Manchester
American musical comedy synth rock duo Dan Avidan and keyboardist Brian Wecht are better known as Ninja Sex Party characters Danny Sexbang, an idiotic, exuberant, hypersexual Jewish man who tries to hit on women with varying degrees of suc...Ist Ist
Ist Ist
Albert Hall, Manchester
Regularly condemned as too 'out there' to be successful; through sheer determination, hard work and a bulging catalogue of songs, Ist Ist continue to silence the doubters and move from strength to strength. Displaying an arrogance akin to t...Candlelight - A Tribute to Coldplay and Ed Sheeran
Candlelight - A Tribute to Coldplay and Ed Sheeran
Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Discover the music of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran performed by a string quartet at this awe-inspiring location under the gentle glow of candlelight. ...Candlelight - Hans Zimmer's Best Works
Candlelight - Hans Zimmer's Best Works
Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
The most awe-inspiring music from one of the greatest film composers of all time brought to you by a string quartet in an intimate candlelight setting. No doubt these tracks will sound familiar, as they give life to iconic films such as ...BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Tamara Stefanovich - Grand Pianola Music
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Tamara Stefanovich - Grand Pianola Music
RNCM, Manchester
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra continues its thrillingly up-close series at the RNCM with a heavyweight artistic collaboration - Chief Conductor John Storgards joins the acclaimed pianist Tamara Stefanovich in this exploration of the pure power...Gary Davies - Disco for Grown Ups 80s Party
Gary Davies - Disco for Grown Ups 80s Party
O2 Ritz, Manchester
Legendary 80s DJ and host of BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 80s show 'WOO' Gary Davies has teamed up with Discos For Grown Ups to bring you an unstoppable, high-energy 80s party... packed with iconic 80s hits and floor-shaking anthems So, dust...Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
Manchester Academy, Manchester
The Swedish melodic death metal band deliver precise, ferocious musicianship. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, Hypocrisy find a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver something m...Dogma
Dogma
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Faithful truth seekers, Dogma tell a powerful musical narrative that delves deep into the human psyche. The all-female South American theatrical heavy metal and hard rock act are known for their provocative, anti-religious, and self-empower...EXTC
EXTC
Band On The Wall, Manchester
It's been a long time coming (over 40 years, in fact) but Terry Chambers, the drummer for XTC, is back on the road with his new band, EXTC (named and approved by Andy Partridge), bringing the XTC songbook to audiences worldwide - including ...Mr Traumatik & DJ Frenzee
Mr Traumatik & DJ Frenzee
Gorilla, Manchester
A unique voice on the drum & bass circuit, idiosyncratic emcee Mr. Traumatik has been tearing things up since he first arrived. Cardiff-born Marcus Coakley first made his name as an emcee through his controversial and provocative lyrics, se...Yung Singh Presents
Yung Singh Presents
Amber's, Manchester
Rattling breaks from EKTA boss Yung Singh who curates a weighty lineup of jungle, UKG, techno and UK funky that leaves nothing on the floor. ...Liberace & Liza - A Tribute
Liberace & Liza - A Tribute
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Liberace & Liza Minnelli never performed together, but that didn't stop David Saffert and Jillian Snow from creating this wildly successful mashup of two over-the-top icons. Saffert's dizzying piano skills and Snow's powerhouse belt team up...Dogma
Dogma
Rebellion, Manchester
Faithful truth seekers, Dogma tell a powerful musical narrative that delves deep into the human psyche. The all-female South American theatrical heavy metal and hard rock act are known for their provocative, anti-religious, and self-empower...Bubble Planet - An Immersive Experience
Bubble Planet - An Immersive Experience
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Welcome to Bubble Planet, where bubbles are bigger and more magical than ever. Let your inner child run free and follow your imagination in this spherical universe full of soap bubbles, air bubbles, and even virtual reality. Explore every ...
Saturday 2 May 2026
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
Hollywood icon Mischa Barton (The O.C.) makes her UK stage debut in Double Indemnity, the gripping adaptation of one of the greatest crime novels of the 20th Century - the story that inspired Billy Wilder's film noir classic. Los Angeles, 1...NE-YO + Akon
NE-YO + Akon
Co-op Live, Manchester
American R&B star Ne-Yo shakes up the generic club based R&B to create something truly different with elements of Europop, synth-pop and hip hop soul. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit "Let Me Love...Manchester Camerata at Victoria Baths
Manchester Camerata at Victoria Baths
Victoria Baths, Manchester
Beethoven meets Meredith in the heart of Victoria Baths Prepare for a sensory collision where heritage architecture meets the cutting edge of sound. On 2 May 2026, the Manchester Camerata-the UK's most "redefining" orchestra-transforms the ...Clubland
Clubland
AO Arena, Manchester
In a spectacular 3-hour action-packed show, re-live the classic tunes in a party atmosphere and enjoy the Clubland experience which is set to bring all those amazing times back. Clubland began as a series of compilation albums in 2002 an...Hallé & Anna Meredith - ANNO
Hallé & Anna Meredith - ANNO
Aviva Studios, Manchester
The Halle comes to Aviva Studios for the first time with Anna Meredith's atmospheric composition ANNO The Halle presents an immersive work by powerhouse composer Anna Meredith. A recontextualisation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, ANNO takes the...The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Europe's most popular Banksy exhibition lands in Manchester, opening from the 13th March 2026 at Depot Mayfield. Step inside the mind of Banksy with an art experience for all, featuring over 200 reimagined works by the acclaimed street ar...Private Lives
Private Lives
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Jill Halfpenny returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play Amanda Prynne. 'I think very few people are completely normal really, deep down in their private lives.' In Noel Coward's savage comedy, there's nothing a cocktail can't cu...Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Contact, Manchester
Trompe l'Oeil is an American drag queen's journey through a surreal Wizard of Oz / 2016 American landscape - with drag kings and queens, jaw-dropping sex fiends and flying bats and trampolines! Not to be overlooked is the show's lyri...Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals)
Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals)
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
40 years since double Brit-Award winners, The Fine Young Cannibals (FYC), stormed into the UK charts with their debut single and album in 1985, lead singer, Roland Gift presents Fine Young Cannibals at 40. As they celebrate 40 fine years, ...Outwards Festival
