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Beloved stage musical Billy Elliot to return to Manchester for 2026 Christmas season

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Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 11th February 2026

One of the most beloved stage musicals of the 21st century has confirmed its return to Manchester for the festive season.

That’s right – Billy Elliot The Musical is back.

Based on the highly successful film of the same name, seen by more than 12 million people across five continents, and the recipient of over 80 awards internationally – including 10 Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards – Billy Elliot The Musical is heading back out on tour this year, and making its long-awaited return to one of Manchester‘s most legendary stages.

If you’re unfamiliar with the musical, the show is set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike and follows Billy’s journey from the boxing ring to the ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Billy Elliot The Musical is returning to Manchester this Christmas / Credit: Supplied

Since its debut on stage all the way back in 2006, the show has been massively acclaimed by audiences and critics alike – with 125 boys having now played the iconic title role on stage worldwide.

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The upcoming Manchester production will be brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film, including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling, and of course, they’ll be joined by Elton John who composed the show’s score.

“Creating Billy Elliot the Musical was one of the most joyous and inspiring moments of our careers, so to bring the show back for a UK tour and a season in the West End for the first time in over a decade is both incredibly emotional and exciting,” commented Elton John and Stephen Daldry.

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Tickets officially go on sale early next month / Credit: Supplied

“It’s bold, it’s British, it’s full of heart and the story feels more relevant than ever. We can’t wait for a whole new generation to experience it.”

Billy Elliot The Musical is taking to the Manchester Palace Theatre stage from 2 December 2026 through to 9 January 2027, before it does a run in the West End shortly after, and tickets officially go on sale in early March.

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Tickets go on sale to ATG+ members on Thursday 5 March at 10am, and general on sale begins on Monday 9 March at 10am here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Swedish pop icon Robyn to play huge Manchester gig on European tour this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Robyn

Generational Swedish pop icon Robyn is heading out on a big European tour this summer, and she’ll be stopping off in Manchester.

This is Robyn’s first major tour since 2019, and it will feature 20 dates as well as her biggest ever headline shows – including London’s 20,000 capacity O2 Arena, and three consecutive hometown nights at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.

And, of course, a night at Europe’s largest indoor arena – Co-op Live, here in Manchester.

Having provided some of the biggest moments in pop culture over the last three decades, Robyn is currently in the eye of one of the year’s most celebrated musical returns, as 2026 has seen her announce her ninth studio album, and her first since 2018, titled Sexistential, produced with longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund, and reuniting her with Max Martin for their first co-writes since 2010.

It’s said to be the ‘most ecstatic’ record Robyn has ever made, and is tipped to be the sound of one of contemporary music’s most influential artists ‘coming home’.

This upcoming tour will feature an exciting lineup of special guest openers across the UK and Europe dates – with 808 State and Zhala on the bill for Manchester‘s gig, bringing together a mix of boundary-pushing artists who are either friends of Robyn or among the voices that inspire her.

Robyn – The Sexistential Tour UK & EU 2026

  • Wednesday 24 June – 3Arena, Dublin
  • Friday 26 June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
  • Saturday 27 June – Co-op Live, Manchester
  • Tuesday 30 June – ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium
  • Wednesday 1 July – Adidas Arena, Paris, France
  • Friday 3 July – The O2, London
  • Wednesday 8 July – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
  • Saturday 11 July – Unity Arena, Oslo, Norway
  • Tuesday 14 July – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Thursday 16 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Friday 17 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Saturday 18 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden

Following on from the UK and European tour, Robyn will then head over to the US and Australia for another run of huge dates in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, before the tour draws to a close in Melbourne in Australia on 24 November.

Robyn will bring The Sexistential Tour to Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 27 June 2026, and tickets officially go on sale this week.

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There are two separate pre-sales happening this week before tickets then go on general sale this Friday 13 February – there’s the Co-op Presale, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday 10 February) at 10am, and then the Spotify Presale, which starts on Thursday 12 February at 10am.

You can get tickets when they go live on general sale this Friday at 10am here.

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Price of Manchester Village Pride 2026 tickets confirmed as wristbands go on sale

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Manchester Pride Festival 2023

Wristbands for Pride in Manchester this summer officially go on sale today.

Following last week’s announcement that the iconic Manchester Pride celebrations would, in fact, be returning in 2026 thanks to the creation of Manchester Village Pride CIC, today marks a ‘landmark’ moment as wristbands go on sale, helping to rebuild and reclaim what has always been once of the city’s most important events.

Early bird wristbands are now on sale at just £25, plus booking fee, offering community members access to four days of ‘safe and responsible’ celebrations.

This is set to include a ‘diverse’ programme of events that build on some of the best-loved elements of previous years – a Pride Parade, candle-lit vigil, party with performance and music across various stages, as well as talks, exhibitions, and community activities.

Manchester Pride’s statement in full after performers say they’ve still not been paid
Manchester Pride is returning in 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group | Manchester Pride

Once early bird wristbands sell out, then general release wristbands will go on sale priced at £30 plus booking fee for the full weekend, or £20 plus booking fee for individual day passes.

Options for those on low-income, or those that require additional support, will also be available too.

Under the new direction of Manchester Village Pride CIC, all funds raised through the sale of wristbands and passes will enable the safe delivery of the Summer Bank Holiday Weekend event, and will support LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations, and vital community services.

Any surplus funds will then be legally locked in for public benefit, and a ‘transparency dashboard’ on the Manchester Village Pride CIC website will be updated regularly to show ticket sales, costs, and projected charitable surplus.

Manchester Village Pride CIC has so far received £120,000 in loans from Village venues, which it says reflects the ‘determination’ of local LGBTQ+ businesses to safeguard Pride and ensure it remains rooted in the community that created it.

However, despite this, funds from wristband sales are now required to help start planning and organising the event properly.

“Naturally, given the failure of Manchester Pride Ltd and ongoing impact that this has had on charities, artists, and businesses within our community, we know that everything we do is going to be scrutinised,” admitted Carl Austin-Behan, who is one of the founding board members and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC.

“We are ready to meet that head on with clear open book management, direct and clear language when providing updates, and radical transparency about any funding.

Wristbands have officially gone on sale for 2026’s event this morning / Credit: Manchester Pride

“In the spirit of this transparency, we do need to be clear that we need people to purchase a wristband or day pass.

“Over Pride weekend, the Village becomes a large-scale live event space, with outdoor stages, performances, and street bars. A ticketed entry system allows us to meet essential safety, security, and government licensing requirements, manage crowd numbers responsibly, and provide appropriate stewarding, medical, and welfare support.

“Without this approach, venues would not be legally permitted to host stages or outdoor bars, and the Village simply couldn’t operate in the way people expect during Pride weekend.

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“This is not about restricting access, it’s about keeping people safe, protecting our venues, and ensuring Manchester Village Pride can happen responsibly.”

Manchester Village Pride 2026 will take place over August Bank Holiday weekend between Friday 28 and Monday 31 August.

You can sign up for wristbands online here.

Featured Image – Manchester Pride

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