Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Jeff Goldblum leads the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra in a jazz and big band performance at Manchester's Palace Theatre.
THECITYBRIEF
Manchester
What's On in Manchester – Events This Week & Things To Do
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Manchester’s rhythm unfolds across spaces like the Northern Quarter’s street art, Curry Mile’s bold flavours, and Greengate’s modern skyline. It's a city built on music, resilience, and reinvention. But with events scattered from MICC to The Lowry Centre, pop-ups in Moss Side, and festivals at Freight Island, it’s easy to miss what truly matters. We focus only on the top local stories, seasonal highlights, and hidden finds, from Salford’s student energy to Garrett Hall Fields’ quiet charm. No scrolling. Just your city, sharpened for busy lives.
A peek inside recent issues
Events in Manchester This Weekend
English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake
English Youth Ballet performs Swan Lake at the Palace Theatre Manchester.
The Musicals Party (Manchester)
The Musicals Party returns to Manchester, featuring songs from popular stage musicals.
One Direction Party (Manchester)
Fans can celebrate the music of One Direction at this themed party event.
Mind Over Matter
A 140 BPM vs 175 BPM DJ set at The Bag Factory raises funds for Mind Charity.
Ramona Club x Kurlz
Ramona Club x KURLZ hosts free nightly dance events at Ramona Manchester on Fridays and Saturdays.
Events in Manchester This Week
Women's t20 Cricket World Cup
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will be hosted at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.
Harry Stachini & Clementine Bogg-hargroves | Creatures Tour Show
Comedians Harry Stachini and Clementine Bogg-Hargroves perform solo show previews at Creatures Comedy Club.
Valerie June
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Valerie June performs live at Band On The Wall in Manchester.
Billy Bibby (Catfish And The Bottlemen)
Billy Bibby, lead guitarist of Catfish and the Bottlemen, performs live at Band On The Wall in Manchester.
Litbm : Saves The World | Sketch Comedy || Creatures Tour Show
LITBM performs their character-driven sketch comedy show at Creatures Comedy Club.
Play For Planet #1
Live music gigs at The Castle Hotel support local green space regeneration and showcase local talent.
Explore Events by Category
Looking for something specific in Manchester?
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Upcoming Events by Category
Culture & Arts
Muslims in The Medieval European Imagination: With Saaleha Iqbal
Saaleha Iqbal explores medieval European depictions of Muslims in 12th-century written texts at Chetham's Library.
Universally Manchester Festival
The Universally Manchester Festival offers interactive science, arts, music, and heritage activities for all ages at the University of Manch
Still Grain - Photography Exhibition
Still Grain presents a photography exhibition and creative launch benefiting the Stroke Association.
Lord of The Dance: 30th Anniversary
Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary celebrates three decades with a touring performance at Palace Theatre Manchester.
Family & Kids
Publife26
PubLIFE 2026 returns at The Church Inn in Oldham as a family-friendly 90s-themed festival.
Fitness & Outdoors
Cross Club Social 2026
Manchester's largest run club hosts a social event for fitness enthusiasts and runners.
Food & Drink
Miss b's White t & Denim Brunch, The Old Skool Soul Edition
Miss B's Catering celebrates 12 years with a Caribbean-themed brunch and soul music.
Manchester Pub Crawl
A pub crawl explores five Manchester venues with drink deals and free shots.
Nightlife & Music
Northern Notes - a Gig For Teenage Cancer Trust
A music gig at Grafton Arms celebrating diverse musical talent to support Teenage Cancer Trust.
30&Overit (Manchester)
30&Overit is a night for adults featuring R&B, hip hop, and dancehall music.
Kieran Lawless' Complete History of Ireland || Creatures Tour
Comedian Kieran Lawless performs a stand-up comedy show on Irish history at Creatures Comedy Club.
Ben Silver || Work in Progress || Creatures Comedy Club
Comedian Ben Silver performs new material at Creatures Comedy Club as part of a stand-up work-in-progress show.
Ben Silver || Work in Progress || Creatures Tour Show
Comedian Ben Silver performs new material in a live stand-up show at Creatures Comedy Club.
Shopping & Markets
Celebrate National Piercing Day at Accessorize Manchester Arndale
Accessorize Manchester Arndale offers a free piercing and waterproof hoops to celebrate National Piercing Day.
Do as You Please Pop-up Record Store
Do As You Please hosts a pop-up record store featuring electronic music genres.
Featured Places in Manchester
Bar
11 Central11 Central is a bar located just outside the city in Salford Quays.
View Info →Food & Drink
1761 Restaurant1761 Restaurant is a dedicated dining spot on Deansgate in Manchester.
View Info →Airport Lounge
1903 Lounge1903 Lounge is an airport lounge in Manchester Airport Terminal 2, located on the upper level just past the Bridgewater Tap pub.
View Info →Food Truck
2 Kitchen's2 Kitchen's is a food truck based in Stockport, Manchester.
View Info →Student Union Venue
532532 Bar + Kitchen is a student-run campus bar and kitchen on Oxford Road in Manchester.
View Info →Manchester Places And Events Guides
Things to do in Manchester
You can find live music in venues near Oxford Road, linked to university facilities like Sugden Sports Centre and Manchester Aquatics Centre. The Northern Quarter features independent bars, street art, and clubs such as the Deaf Institute, while Gay Village remains central for LGBTQ+ gatherings with drag acts and community events. Food festivals appear on Curry Mile, known for Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek, and Lebanese eateries. Markets happen regularly in City Centre and Salford, where The Lowry Centre supports student life near MMU campuses.
Manchester Central Library, renovated at a cost exceeding £150 million, hosts theatre performances in its basement space, alongside reading rooms. Outdoor events take place in Irwell River Park and Castlefield Bowl, an industrial site repurposed as a music venue. Seasonal highlights include the St George’s Day Parade on April 23rd.
Events are organised under Nightlife & Music, Culture & Arts, Family & Kids, Food & Drink, Fitness & Outdoors, and Shopping & Markets in The City Brief. Regular festivals like Parklife take place in Heaton Park, highlighting summer activity. Manchester International Festival appears biennially, transforming the city into an open-air gallery of world premieres.
Common Manchester Questions
What kinds of events happen in Manchester during the week?
You can find theatre performances at Urbis and The Co-operative Insurance Society Tower, food festivals near Deansgate, markets like Piccadilly Market, and cultural exhibitions hosted by Manchester Central Library’s reading room and basement theatre.
Where do most events take place in Manchester?
Most events occur across central areas such as City Centre, Northern Quarter, Deansgate, Greengate, Oxford Road, and Salford. These neighbourhoods include commercial hubs with venues like Piccadilly Market and John Rylands Library; cultural spaces including Urbis and Manchester Central Library’s theatre; and historic sites such as Castlefield Bowl and the former railway station now used for exhibitions.
Are there family-friendly things to do in Manchester?
Yes, families can enjoy green spaces like Irwell River Park for outdoor time. Cultural options include interactive experiences at The Co-operative Insurance Society Tower’s basement venue or the reading room within Manchester Central Library.
What nightlife and music events happen in Manchester?
Nightlife and music thrive across Manchester, particularly in areas such as the Northern Quarter, Gay Village, Deansgate, Salford's student zones, Fallowfield, and Hulme. Events range from live acts at The Birdcage to clubbing near Ordsall Hall.
How can I find events happening this week or this weekend in Manchester?
To discover what’s on during the current week or over the coming weekend, check our 'this week' and 'this weekend' listings. These curated guides list updated event details across all categories including Family & Kids, Nightlife & Music, Culture & Arts, Food & Drink, Fitness & Outdoors, Shopping & Markets; you can also filter by venue or neighbourhood for a personalised plan.