Now then Manchester – if you were on the ball buying Elton John tickets at first release way back in 2018, it’s the night you’ve been waiting almost five long years for.
And as Elton appears on stage and kicks off his first night at the AO Arena on Wednesday evening, the arena erupts into monumental cheers. Clearly, it’s been worth the wait.
It’s been more than half a century of touring for Elton, and after performing over 300 concerts worldwide in his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, he’s now reached the final UK leg.
Everywhere you look inside the venue you’re surrounded by glitter-clad baseball jackets (true to Elton’s iconic LA Dodgers baseball uniform), flashing LED glasses and bright feather boas.
Tonight, Elton appears with a swoosh of the lights, perfectly perched at his piano, in true Elton style, with signature rhinestone glasses and bejewelled white tails. The grin on his face is enormous – as is ours.
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Bursting straight into ‘Bennie and the Jets’, you’re instantly blown away by the true showmanship and speed at which he can chase the piano chords, still as dexterous now at 76 years old as he was when his career launched in the 1970s.
Playing ‘Candle In The Wind’, we get a glimpse into what could have been his and Bernie Taupin’s inspiration for one of his biggest hits. With his opening line of “Goodbye Norma Jean” we get the beginning of a beautiful montage of the late Marilyn Monroe.
Perhaps Elton isn’t as physically nimble as he used to be, however, his wit and charm are still untouched by the years.
He slams his piano hood at the end of each song and orchestrates the applause.
Besides, you don’t need to bounce across the stage anymore when your grand piano glides you from left to right as the night goes on…
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Elton confesses his love for the city of Manchester, claiming that it always did have the best audiences – and has always remained the same.
This was his 24th show in Manchester, his first in 17 years, and his last ever opening night here.
Signing off in his signature Elton John tracksuit, he glides up into the stars on his showbiz stairlift for what will be his last appearance for so many of his fans.
What a retirement party it was.
Elton John will perform two more shows at the AO Arena Manchester this weekend – final tickets are on sale now with Ticketmaster.
Zayn announces huge Manchester gig on his biggest tour to date
Daisy Jackson
Zayn is heading back out on tour – his biggest-ever solo tour – and has announced a massive show here in Manchester.
The multi-platinum recording artist will be heading out on The KONNAKOL Tour, playing arenas and stadiums across North America, South America, Mexico and the UK.
Zayn has announced the new tour dates in support of his upcoming fifth studio album, which is set for release on 17 April 2026.
The new global tour will kick off right here in Manchester, with Zayn playing a show at the almighty AO Arena in May.
The UK leg will also take him to Glasgow, Birmingham, and The O2 in London, before he heads to cities including Los Angeles, Mexico City, and São Paulo.
He’s just come off the back of his first-ever Las Vegas residency, where he’s been teasing this new material to fans.
Zayn announced his fifth studio album, KONNAKOL, earlier this week, which promises to be his ‘most culturally inspired project to date’.
The lead single from the new pop-forward album, Die For Me, will be released this Friday.
Tickets to The Konnakel Tour will go on general sale on Friday 13 February, with a number of pre=sales in advance including the Zayn VIP Key pre-sale.
ZAYN – KONNAKOL UK Headline Tour Dates
Tuesday 12 May – AO Arena – Manchester, UK
Saturday 16 May – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK
Tuesday 19 May – Utilita Arena – Birmingham, UK
Saturday 23 May – The O2 – London, UK
Featured image: Publicity picture
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Noel Gallagher to be awarded prestigious Songwriter of the Year at 2026 BRITs in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Noel Gallagher is set to receive a special honour at this year’s BRIT Awards.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has just announced that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award, which is an accolade that recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges – with previous recipients ranging from Ed Sheeran through to Charli xcx.
Noel will accept the award in person when the BRITs comes to Manchester for the first time ever at Co-op Live on 28 February.
According to the panel of expert judges, Noel’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for more than 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis, to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.
Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the stage last year in a reunion that many thought would never come to pass. The Oasis Live ‘25 tour became a cultural phenomenon, with 41 electrifying performances in cities across the world – including right here in Manchester’s Heaton Park.
Oasis sold in excess of one million albums in 2025 alone, the only UK artist to achieve such a feat… and the albums didn’t even come out in that year.
Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, but this time around, it’s Noel’s chance to shine in his own right with this important accolade.
The BRIT Awards are coming to Manchester for the first time in its history in 2026 / Credit: ITV / BRITs / Co-op Live
“For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story – bold, brilliant, and always recognisable,” commented Stacey Tang, who is the Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, as Noel’s songwriting honour was announced last night.
“His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28 February from Manchester’s Co-op Live, and audiences at home can watch on ITV live or stream later on ITVX.
Comedian and actor Jack Whitehall will return to presenting duties in 2026 – his sixth time hosting the show.
The Manc -
1st June 2023 
