WHAT'S ON AT MANCHESTER ACADEMY, MANCHESTER
Manchester Academy is four independent venues all (almost) under one roof, located on campus at The University Of Manchester. The venues are Academy 1,2,3 and Club Academy. The original student union building was built in 1957, the Academy in 1990, with Buzzcocks being the first band to play there. Following a refurb, capacity grew to around 2600 for Academy 1, 950 for Academy 2, 450 for Academy 3, and 650 for Club Academy.
Manchester Academy attracts a varied wealth of local and worldwide artists, including Adele, Nirvana, Blur, Oasis, David Bowie, Bruno Mars, Inspiral Carpets, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga. It is often referred to as one of the UK’s greenest venues, making substantial steps towards minimising environmental impact and improving sustainability.
Enjoy exciting shows, events, concerts and premieres at these four live music venues. Events to look forward to include Ultimate Ozzy UK, The United Kingdolls, Peter Capaldi, Franz Ferdinand, Sigrid, Aston Merrygold, and Dogma. See what's on at Manchester Academy below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Manchester Academy, Manchester
What's On at Manchester Academy, Manchester
Visions Of Atlantis + Warkings
Academy 2
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Hoist yer flags and sharpen your blades!!! This is no ordinary tour... this is ‚PIRATES & KINGS' - where the oceans rise and the battle horns sound! Two mighty forces of Symphonic and Power Metal join together for a spectacular live offen...SABA
Club Academy
Tuesday 10 February 2026
 A successful black independent artist, Saba has rooted his career in an authenticity and musicality that's made him one of this generation's most important and unique voices. The Chicago polymath won critical acclaim in 2018 for his albu...The Beaches
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Named after the Toronto neighbourhood they grew up in, Juno award-winning Canadian indie rock girls The Beaches meld gritty, groovy instrumentals with sharp, specific lyricism as they explore the triumphs and disappointments of mid-20s gro...XLOV
Academy 1
Thursday 12 February 2026
Known as "K-Pop's first genderless concept" group, XLOV is a new K-pop boy group consisting of four members: WUMUTI, RUI, HYUN, and HARU. The group name was created by combining X, meaning unknown, and LOV, meaning unfinished love, by subtr...The Cost
Academy 3
Thursday 12 February 2026
The Cost formed in Valencia, Spain, in 2023 when drummer El Estepario Siberiano, bassist Chris Attwell and guitarist & vocalist Peter Connolly met at their producer's acclaimed recording studio. Chris and Peter performed in a jazz band that...Ashnikko
Academy 1
Friday 13 - Saturday 14 February 2026
North Carolina-born pop provocateur Ashton Nicole Casey, better known by her artist name Ashnikko, is known for blending genres like rap, alt rock, electro-pop and punk. Described by The Telegraph as "one of the most provocative voices in p...Jacek Stachursky
Academy 2
Friday 13 February 2026
Polish Discopolo pop star Jacek Stachursky, known simply as Stachursky to his fans, he's made a name for himself as a talented dance and pop singer. Born in Czechowice-Dziedzice it is estimated that he has sold almost 700,000 records in Pol...Pure Reason Revolution
Club Academy
Friday 13 February 2026
Melding prog and pop through dreamy moods, epic riffs and angelic harmonies, the University of Westminster-formed rockers Pure Reason Revolution drawing on influences like Porcupine Tree, Nirvana, Justice, Kraftwerk, Fleetwood Mac, Talk Tal...Michael Mathers + Eminem Tribute Act
Academy 3
Friday 13 February 2026
An international, highly-rated Eminem Tribute Act. His authenticity earned him a backstage invite to an Eminem concert in 2024. A high-energy live show celebrating the music, style, and legacy of Slim Shady. ...Basketmouth
Academy 2
Saturday 14 February 2026
 One of Nigeria's most famous comedians, Basketmouth has grown from strength to strength with his ever hilarious sense of humour. His accolades in Africa are endless and he his currently seen as the greatest African comedian of all time. ...PRO8L3M
Club Academy
Saturday 14 February 2026
Polish rap duo PRO8L3M - DJ "Steez" and rapper Oskar83 - perform hip-hop and trap music. Founded in 2013 in Warsaw they became known to a wider audience thanks to the 2014 mixtape Art Brut which sampled Polish pop music of the 1970s and 19...Avatar
Academy 1
Sunday 15 February 2026
A mix of Nu Metal, melodic Death Metal and their always expanding dark roots, Gothenburg, Sweden's AVATAR the band, featuring His Royal Highness The King ("Kungen") and his elite backing orchestra offer superior examples of how metal should...December 10
Academy 3
Tuesday 17 February 2026
Introducing December 10, a new pop group formed by Simon Cowell from the Netflix Series Simon Cowell: The Next Act. Positioned as a modern, vocal-driven boyband with a polished sound, strong harmonies, and mainstream chart ambition, they fo...December 10 Manchester Tickets
The Useless Hotline
Academy 1
Thursday 19 February 2026
 Max Balegde and George Clark are set to hit the road in 2026 with The Useless Hotline: Now Hiring! Live Tour, as they search for a new hire on their second tour. Known for their chaotic humour, outrageous dilemmas, and unfiltered advice...La Dispute
Club Academy
Thursday 19 February 2026
Jazz, blues and spoken word influenced post-hardcore band La Dispute create honest and emotional music. The five-piece from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is responsible for some of the most uncompromising, experimental hardcore music of the last...Bandroom3
Academy 3
Thursday 19 February 2026
Bandroom3 are a Manchester-based Chinese music community, a band, and a music brand all in one. They host a diverse array of shows, featuring original works, cover sessions, and themed gigs. They welcome bands and solo artists to apply and ...Infinity Song
Academy 3
Thursday 19 February - Saturday 7 November 2026
When we say family, there is no marketing or hyperbole attached. These are the sons and daughters of Detroit's esteemed Boyd's. Homeschooled academically and musically by parents who founded the Boys & Girls Choir of Detroit, they have perf...Infinity Song Manchester Tickets
Michael Marcagi Manchester Tickets
Kezia Gill
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Saturday 21 February 2026
Derby-based multi-award-winning artist Kezia Gill has the song-writing ability of a country artist, the stage energy of a rock star, and the voice of the blues. With an impressive vocal range, multi instrumental talent and pulling influence...Alex Spencer
Academy 3
Saturday 21 February 2026
First discovered while busking on the streets of Manchester, new indie talent Alex Spencer has already been hailed as one of the UK's most promising songwriters at just 16 years old. Combining infectious guitar lines with his street-savvy v...Kataklysm
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Sunday 22 February 2026
Tapestry Promotions are proud to present:FREEDOM OR DEATH TOUR 2026KATAKLYSM+ special guestsVADERBLOOD RED THRONE...Bar Italia
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Tuesday 24 February - Tuesday 24 March 2026
An exciting new London band inspired by brit-pop ...Airbourne
Academy 1
Wednesday 25 February 2026
All-action Aussie hard rockers Airbourne are back with music cut from the same frayed cloth as classic late-'70s recordings - from an age before technology was driving the show, when it was all about energy, spirit and on-the-spot performa...Heaven Shall Burn
grandson
Academy 1
Thursday 26 February 2026
Accumulating hundreds of millions of streams online, and receiving co-signs from the biggest names in rock and progressive politics, from Tom Morello to Bernie Sanders, Canadian alt-rocker Grandson (aka Jordan Benjamin) is perhaps best kno...Creedence Clearwater Review - Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute
Club Academy
Thursday 26 - Friday 27 February 2026
Creedence Clearwater Review are the UK's premier tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of America's greatest bands who, despite their relatively short career, left an enduring legacy of classic songs written and sung by lead guitaris...SikTh
Academy 2
Thursday 26 February 2026
Formed in 1999, Watford progressive metal forefathers SikTh incorporate many different elements of metal, rock and hardcore include avant-garde metal and mathcore with the complex nature of their instrumental playing abilities compl...SL
Club Academy
Thursday 26 February 2026
South London rapper SLÂ shot to fame, aged just 15, when his first single "Gentleman" became a street anthem, amassing almost 90 million views on YouTube, while his follow-up "Tropical", was certified Platinum despite only peaking at no.73 ...Peter Capaldi
Academy 3
Thursday 26 February 2026
Ater his surprise appearance, joining fellow Scots Franz Ferdinand at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival for their song Take Me Out, actor Peter Capaldi - best known for playing Doctor Who, and Malcom Tucker in The Thick of It - returns to his...Franz Ferdinand
Academy 1
Friday 27 February 2026
Multi-Platinum-selling Mercury Prize, NME and Brit Award-winning, chart-topping Scottish phenoms Franz Ferdinand are back showcasing the world-conquering success of their career to date. The Glasgow-based indie rocker's second single "Take...BOY & BEAR
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Friday 27 February 2026
Australian indie folk band Boy & Bear deliver a trademark analogue warmth fueled by a gritty guitar and synth groove which has seen them top the charts and win multiple awards in their home country. The Sydney quintet boats a powerful urgen...Willow Avalon
Academy 3
Tuesday 3 March 2026
Willow Avalon, a rural Georgia native whose first word was "Elvis," grew up surrounded by gospel and country music. She began playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at age 12, quickly turning to songwriting as a means of escape a...Willow Avalon Manchester Tickets
Lebanon Hanover
Academy 2
Wednesday 4 March 2026
Sunderland-formed post-punk duo Lebanon Hanover - Swiss vocalist and guitarist Larissa Iceglass and British vocalist, bassist and synthesist William Maybelline - met through the music social media website Last. fm, where they traded 80s mu...Less Than Jake
Academy 1
Thursday 5 March 2026
Nearly 30 years into an already impressive career which includes 8 studio albums, tours with Descendents, blink-182, Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg, Bad Religion, and more, ska-rockin' maestros Less Than Jake has never been a band to res...Calum Bowie
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Thursday 5 March 2026
Calum Bowie is an Edinburgh based singer-songwriter from Banchory in Aberdeenshire whose presence among the Scottish music scene has grown exponentially, with his captivating melodies and authentic lyrics fuelling his uplifting music, his c...Punk Rock Factory
Academy 1
Friday 6 March 2026
High energy, punk rock powerhouses Punk Rock Factory make easy work of their special brand of punk covers - including a UK no.48 album consisting entirely of Disney classics - gaining an online following of over a million fans across the m...Naethan Apollo
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Friday 6 March 2026
Meet Naethan Apollo, a storyteller and world-builder on the verge of something legendary. With over 1.4 million followers on TikTok, 250K+ on Instagram, and over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify, Naethan Apollo is already a total...Hot Mulligan
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Saturday 7 March 2026
Michigan's youthful and relentless Hot Mulligan write songs for people to sing as loud as possible, combining elements of emotional rock and fierce pop-punk riffs. Their music is the cathartic outcry for growth from a generation of forward-...The Smiths Ltd + Clint Boon (DJ Set)
Academy 2
Saturday 7 March 2026
Formed in 2009, the ONLY Smiths tribute band from and based in Manchester have a unique selling point and an authenticity that is hard to beat. Committed to getting the same energy that Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce h...Hot Mulligan Manchester Tickets
Tankus
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Saturday 7 March 2026
Where can I buy tickets for Tankus?Tickets for Tankus can be purchased safely and securely from Eventim UKWhen is Tankus playing?Tankus is playing at -Slay, Glasgow on 5th March 2026Manchester Academy 3 on 7th March 2026Green Door Store, Br...sombr
Manchester Academy, Manchester
Thursday 12 March 2026
Join 20-year-old singer-songwriter, producer and Indie rock breakout star sombr on his European headline tour after a year of chart-topping new music. A New York-native, sombr - born Shane Boose - started making music in his bedroom while ...Stiff Little Fingers
Academy 1
Friday 13 March 2026
During the first wave of U.K. punk rock, plenty of bands sang about a world full of violence and chaos, but Stiff Little Fingers didn't have to imagine a dystopian world - formed in Belfast in 1977 at the height of "The Troubles," police br...Mamas Gun




