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 throughout the North.

Exhibitions Until 15 January 2023, FREE

British Pop Archive at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Come along to experience the energy and nostalgia of The British Pop Archive – an exhibition that gathers records, artefacts and memorabilia of UK popular culture from the post-war period to the present day.

Silhouette of people standing in front of an exhibit at Manchester Science Festival 2018

Activity 21–30 October 2022,

Manchester Science Festival 2022

Manchester Science Festival comes with a packed programme of world premieres, inspiring experiences and entertaining events, all exploring one of life’s most crucial questions: ‘What does the future hold for humanity?’.

Exhibitions 13–16 October 2022, from £6

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2022 at Victoria Baths in Manchester

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is back, with gorgeous designs and wonderful workshops, set in the glamour of Manchester’s Victoria Baths.

Jadé Fadojutimi at The Hepworth Wakefield

Exhibitions Until 19 March 2023, from £10

Jadé Fadojutimi: Can we see the colour green because we have a name for it? at The Hepworth Wakefield

This September, The Hepworth Wakefield is giving audiences the opportunity to experience the wonderfully colourful world of Jadé Fadojutimi.

Theatre Until 22 October 2022, from £3.00

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare North Playhouse

Join Not Too Tame for a riotous version of Shakespeare’s best-known comedy. Happening as part of Shakespeare North Playhouse’s Opening Season.

Exhibitions 21 October 2022–21 May 2023, from £6.00

Turn It Up: The Power of Music at the Science and Industry Museum

Prepare to get hands-on, with your ears and hearts open, at a new major exhibition exploring the science of music’s mysterious hold over us and how it drives us to create, perform, feel and share.

Exhibitions 7 October 2022–1 May 2023, FREE

Dandy Style at Manchester Art Gallery

Set in the brand new dedicated Fashion Gallery, ‘Dandy Style’ celebrates all the is most elegant, dramatic and fascinating in menswear.

Dance 13 October–5 November 2023, from £10.00

Free Your Mind at Factory International

Directed by Danny Boyle, Free Your Mind is a Matrix-themed large-scale performance spectacular and the first production at Manchester’s newest landmark arts venue.

Kamila Shamsie. Photo Alex von Tunzelman

Literature 7–23 October 2022, from £5

Manchester Literature Festival 2022

MLF22 runs from 7 to 23 October and presents inspiring live literature and spoken word from international writers and home-grown talent.

Music 11–15 October 2022, from £15.00

The Color Purple at The Lowry

With a soulful musical score and a jaw-droppingly talented cast, this moving musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-prize-winning novel should definitely be on your radar.