Things to Do in Manchester

Creative Tourist

Last Updated 4 April 2018

Spend a day in the city and it rapidly becomes apparent just how much it has reinvented its industrial past into a new, trendsetting present – and an ambitious future. There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester too, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to an exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes.

Discover our top picks

Theatre 16–18 April 2019, from £17.50

Heart of Darkness at The Lowry

This April at The Lowry – imitating the dog will bring their bold and original vision to Joseph Conrad’s timely novel, Heart of Darkness.

Music 23–27 May 2019, from £5.00

Manchester Jazz Festival 2019 – MJF19

MJF returns with a fresh new look, a new festival hub location and more venues across the city than ever before.

Music 21 April 2019, from £11.25

Nina: An Orchestral Rendition at The Niamos Centre

Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Niamos Centre and the 16th anniversary of Nina Simone’s death, The Untold Orchestra will perform her best works.

Music 13 June–6 July 2019, from £12

RNCM Summer Season 2019

Read our picks for the exciting months ahead at the RNCM.

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Cinema 29 March–25 April 2019, from £5.50

Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story at HOME

Manchester native Chris Sievey dreamed of pop-music stardom but belated recognition only came incognito, through his loveably anarchic creation.

Exhibitions 22 March–26 May 2019, FREE

UnDoing at Castlefield Gallery

UnDoing at Castlefield Gallery explores our often conflicted relationship between past and present in architecture.

Theatre 8–9 May 2019, from £10.00

ColetivA Ocupação: When It Breaks It Burns at Moss Side Powerhouse Library

Using dance, live music and performance ColetivA Ocupação tell the real and brutal story of the high school occupations of 2015 and 2016 in Brazil.

Music 25 April 2019, from £12.5

Sibelius | Tippett | Stravinsky at The Bridgewater Hall

Steven Osborne made the definitive recording of Tippett’s masterpiece several years ago – and tonight, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, he joins the BBC Philharmonic to perform it live. Also on the programme, two symphonies by 20th-century pioneers: Sibelius’s brilliant Sixth, and a vital work written by Stravinsky ‘to the glory of God’.

MIF19 David Lynch at HOME Manchester International Festival

Festivals 4–21 July 2019, from £12.00

MIF19 – Manchester International Festival

The complete Manchester International Festival 2019 line-up is now out, and it’s fair to say that we’re more than a little excited by the calibre of this year’s programme.