What's on in Manchester and surrounding area
What's on in Manchester and surrounding area
Monday 25 May 2026
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...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...Go Your Own Way - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Go Your Own Way - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Go Your Own Way is a brand new spellbinding show featuring the music from the legendary multiple Grammy Award Winning Fleetwood Mac. Their rock n roll legacy is beautifully performed by a highly talented and acclaimed ensemble of musicians ...Even These Things
Even These Things
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
An epic story of Manchester and Ireland by multi award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey premieres at the Royal Exchange Theatre, 30 years after an IRA bomb devastated the heart of the city. Three centuries. Three moments in time. In 1846...Pinkpantheress
Pinkpantheress
O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
With a UK no.2 single and three Top 30 albums to her name, Bath singer and TikTok star PinkPantheress serves up garage influenced songs which are frequently short in length and include samples of music from the 1990s and 2000s. Spanning ...Top Secret - The Magic of Science
Top Secret - The Magic of Science
Blackburn Empire Theatre, Blackburn
Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that will capture the imagination Join Top...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...Simply Dylan - A Tribute to Bob Dylan
Simply Dylan - A Tribute to Bob Dylan
The Strines Nightingale, Stockport
As straightforward as the title suggests: no frills, no gimmicks, no pretense; Simply Dylan is John O'Connell's personal exploration and celebration of the rich and diverse work of Bob Dylan.O'Connell, formerly of Groundpig, has had his nam...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 ...Gozzle's Wetland Adventure
Gozzle's Wetland Adventure
WWT Martin Mere, Burscough
Discover a season of firsts this spring, on a fun-filled wetland adventure with Gozzle the gosling. This spring, the WWT are teaming up with Macmillan Children's Books to explore the wonderful world of wetlands with Gozzle the gosling, from...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...Roy Walker
Roy Walker
The Garden Chorlton, Manchester
A night of hilarity with "TV's own" Roy Walker, the star of Catchphrase, The Comedians and Phoenix Nights. The veteran Irish comic, who fled the Troubles in Belfast and moved to Manchester in the 1970s, worked the local Working Men's Clubs ...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...Harmony's Music Club - Carnival of the Animals
Harmony's Music Club - Carnival of the Animals
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
This family-friendly concert has been a hit with audiences of all ages, offering a joyful, accessible, and artistically rich introduction to classical music....Hatched
Hatched
Creatures Comedy Club, Manchester
Be part of a warm supportive crowd for new stand-ups among a line up of baby comedians in their first year on the circuit. ...Saturday Night Comedy Showcase
Saturday Night Comedy Showcase
Creatures Comedy Club, Manchester
A flagship show featuring four amazing comedians with a resident host, presenting a mix of up-and-coming talent and international headliners. ...LOWRY 360
LOWRY 360
Lowry, Salford
A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of LS Lowry's iconic work, Going to the Match, in the UK's first free permanent immersive experience. Created in collaboration with Barcelona's renowned Immersive studi...moviEscape - SAWtopsy
moviEscape - SAWtopsy
Moviescape Stockport, Manchester
Inspired by the hit SAW movie franchise, SAWtopsy at moviESCAPE, Stockport's leading Escape Room offering, is a gory and ominous room with dim, atmospheric lighting, however it does not feature any jump scares - well none that are delibe...Tuesday 26 May 2026
Waitress
Waitress
Palace Theatre, Manchester
"Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie" (The Times) as Carrie Hope Fletcher (Calamity Jane, Heathers, The Addams Family) stars as Jenna in hit musical comedy Waitress!Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of so...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...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...Bluey's Big Play
Bluey's Big Play
Lowry, Salford
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey's Big Play is a brand-new thea...Jasper Carrot & Alistair McGowan
Jasper Carrot & Alistair McGowan
Lowry, Salford
Comedy legends Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan join forces to split the bill and your sides with a night of comedy stand-up and impressions. The two masters of comedy present a show of pure laughter and entertainment that is not to be m...Korea National Contemporary Dance Company - Voyage + Hakkō
Korea National Contemporary Dance Company - Voyage + Hakkō
Lowry, Salford
Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) returns with a contrasting double bill which showcases the talent and precision of the company's dancers, including the latest work from choreographer Young-doo Jung since his 2025 Olivie...Even These Things
Even These Things
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
An epic story of Manchester and Ireland by multi award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey premieres at the Royal Exchange Theatre, 30 years after an IRA bomb devastated the heart of the city. Three centuries. Three moments in time. In 1846...Pinkpantheress
Pinkpantheress
O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
With a UK no.2 single and three Top 30 albums to her name, Bath singer and TikTok star PinkPantheress serves up garage influenced songs which are frequently short in length and include samples of music from the 1990s and 2000s. Spanning ...Spitfire Girls
Spitfire Girls
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
INSPIRED BY REMARKABLE TRUE EVENTS"It's built for us, isn't it? The Spitfire. Built for women." New Year's Eve, 1959. Decades after answering the call, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of ...XS Malarkey
XS Malarkey
53two, Manchester
XS Malarkey is a not-for-profit comedy club, hosted every week by Toby Hadoke, and eagerly maintained by a group of minions who do his bidding on a regular basis. Despite our low door price, we put on shows with professional comedians and ...XO
XO
Manchester Academy, Manchester
XO are a British girl group consisting of members Summer Askew from Liverpool, Shali Bordoni from Hong Kong, Zoe Miller from Essex, Emmy Statham from Derby and Reanna Sujeewon from London. They were formed by Polydor Records in 2024 after r...Northern Soul: Still Burning (15)
Northern Soul: Still Burning (15)
HOME, Manchester
A new documentary charting the history of Northern Soul from its birth at the world-famous Wigan Casino. Following on from 2012 documentary Keep on Burning - The Story of Northern Soul, this new film further explores the cultural phenomeno...Douglas Stuart
Douglas Stuart
Contact, Manchester
Booker Prize-winning novelist Douglas Stuart discusses his profoundly moving new novel John of John, set on the Isle of Harris. Returning home after his art school years on the mainland, John-Calum Macleod is drawn back into a tightly boun...The Library of Enchantment
The Library of Enchantment
Z-arts, Manchester
Ever wanted to step inside a story? The Library of Enchantment is a fun-filled thrilling family-friendly escape room, full of seafaring adventures, time travelling tricks and a pesky old bookworm who's always up to meddlesome mischief! Can ...Gozzle's Wetland Adventure
Gozzle's Wetland Adventure
WWT Martin Mere, Burscough
Discover a season of firsts this spring, on a fun-filled wetland adventure with Gozzle the gosling. This spring, the WWT are teaming up with Macmillan Children's Books to explore the wonderful world of wetlands with Gozzle the gosling, from...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...The Bridgewater Hall Building Tour
The Bridgewater Hall Building Tour
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Take a look behind the scenes at The Bridgewater Hall, and learn more about Manchester's iconic international concert venue. The entertaining and knowledgeable tour guides will lead you through the building's history, its acoustics and arch...Behind the Scenes Tours
Behind the Scenes Tours
Stockport Plaza, Stockport
Enjoy a tour of Stockport's magnificent 1932 Art Deco Super Cinema and Variety Theatre. Many of the greatest stage and screen stars of yesteryear and the modern day have appeared in person on stage or on the giant silver screen at The Plaza...
Wednesday 27 May 2026
Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift
Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
Murder comes to the countryside in the theatrical world premiere of the critically acclaimed television favourite Midsomer Murders. When well-loved spinster Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger's Drift, her frien...Waitress
Waitress
Palace Theatre, Manchester
"Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie" (The Times) as Carrie Hope Fletcher (Calamity Jane, Heathers, The Addams Family) stars as Jenna in hit musical comedy Waitress!Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of so...Calum Scott
Calum Scott
AO Arena, Manchester
After rising to fame on the 2015 season of Britain's Got Talent, singer/songwriter Calum Scott was able to parlay his success into a recording career as a soulful pop artist. The Hull-bred musician's compelling version of Robyn's "Danci...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...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...Bluey's Big Play
Bluey's Big Play
Lowry, Salford
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey's Big Play is a brand-new thea...What's Love Got To Do With It - A Tribute to Tina Turner
What's Love Got To Do With It - A Tribute to Tina Turner
Lowry, Salford
After a sensational 2025 that saw over 60,000 Tina Turner fans across the UK singing, dancing, and having the time of their lives, What's Love Got To Do With It? is back and bigger than ever for 2026! This electrifying tribute show celebrat...Big Thief
Big Thief
Aviva Studios, Manchester
Brooklyn indie rockers with folk roots whose songs search for a deep level of self-acceptance, grounded on dried-out, cracked desert dirt. Big Thief's music, rooted in the songs of Adrianne Lenker, paints in vivid tones characters and visc...Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
O2 Apollo, Manchester
Celebrated Grammy award-winner Ray LaMontagne commemorates the 20th anniversary of the release of his seminal debut album, Trouble, in 2025 with a special remastered vinyl edition and tour performing the album in its entirety for the first ...Lulu
