Things to do in Manchester and the North

Unmissable things to do in Manchester and the North

Discover acclaimed music and stand-out exhibitions, groundbreaking theatre, family, cinema and literary events in Manchester and the North.

We are so grateful to National Lottery players, The National Lottery, DCMS and Arts Council England for supporting our freelance writers during this crisis.

Music Until 14 April 2021, from £5

The Hallé – The Event Horizon

The Hallé are joined by poet laureate Simon Armitage, virtuoso saxophonist Jess Gillam and Former Hallé Assistant Conductor Jonathon Heyward.

Literature 10 February 2021 7:00 pm, from £3

Protest: Stories of Resistance with Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake

Housmans Bookshop and Comma Press have joined forces to host two online events featuring readings from the Protest anthology by renowned British actors Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake.

Theatre Until 31 July 2021,

Everything that rises must dance with HOME

Produced by Complicité for Homemakers: Join a virtual gathering of women for an online dance project celebrating female movement throughout history.

Classical Music Until 25 March 2021,

The Hallé Winter Season 2020/21

The Hallé returns to the stage for a streamed Winter Season packed with world premieres, Manchester originals, the familiar and the new.

Classical Music Until 27 May 2021, FREE

Psappha 2020/21 Concert Season

Psappha’s 2020–21 season explores the sharpest and smartest sounds in contemporary classical music, presented in concert and streamed online for free.

Music 21 February 2021 7:00 pm,

Jon Gomm at Brudenell Social Club

Jon Gomm, one of the country’s best acoustic guitarists, is performing a socially-distanced live show at Brudenell Social Club.

Literature 27 January 2021 7:00 pm, from £4

Cranford For Beginners Online Talk with Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Join Libby Tempest, Chair of the Gaskell Society, for an introduction to the novel Cranford, a well-loved classic of Victorian literature.

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Music Until 17 May 2021,

NQ Jazz Live – Postponed

NQ Jazz have teamed up with The Stoller Hall and The Yard to bring us dozens of COVID-safe jazz events featuring established and emerging artists.

Exhibitions Until 31 January 2021, from £5

The inaugural Cooper Prize picks up where the prestigious and long-running South Yorkshire Open left off, and invites submissions from artists at all stages in their career, be they established professionals and amateurs or emerging recent graduates and students.

Activity 2–4 April 2021, from £12.4

Flying Scotsman at East Lancashire Railway

Calling rail enthusiasts big and small! Celebrate steam’s golden age with a trip on the Flying Scotsman this Easter. Locomotive No. 60103 really is the stuff of legends! Not least because it was the world’s first steam train to officially travel at 100 miles per hour, subsequently securing its pivotal place in rail history.

Literature 16–18 February 2021, FREE

Manchester In Translation 2021 online conference

The annual Manchester In Translation conference – part of the global International Mother Language Day celebrations – heads online for three days in 2021, with a series of free masterclasses and talks for budding translators and those with a passion for languages.

Literature 29 January 2021 7:00 pm, FREE

Each Sharper Halo double book launch online

Join poets Kyle Lovell and Maria Sledmere as they co-launch their new pamphlets, alongside readings from four guest readers, including Nell Osborne of Manchester’s very own premier avant reading series No Matter and contributor to Manchester Review of Books.

Cinema Until 31 March 2021, from £3.49

American Utopia – Streaming on Amazon Prime

In his wildly popular Broadway show American Utopia, David Byrne reflects on human connections, life and how on earth we work through it.

Families 2–4 July 2021, from £16

Zog

Enjoy Zog live at The Lowry in an incredible new adaptation which is packed with lively songs from Joe Stilgie and lots of fire-breathing fun.

Festivals 1–18 July 2021, from £12.00

Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original work and special events – a biennial celebration of performance and art.

Culture Guides

Cinema in Manchester and the North

Our guide to cinema features brand new streaming films, classic favourites and a look back at the year’s cinematic highlights.

Dark Days, Luminous Nights at The White Hotel, Salford

Exhibitions

A highly immersive audio-visual experience from Manchester Collective, an outdoor festival about the simple act of loitering, and an exhibition of paintings that upend our sense of order.

Families

Need some inspiration for online activities and creative family fun? Look no further than our top picks online for families across Manchester and the North.

Literature

Lockdown may be looming large, but Live Literature Land has you covered: from book launches and literary salons to online open mics and full-on festivals, activities and events continue virtually.