What's On
What's On
Peter Kay at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Bolton-born comedian and entertainer Peter Kay is performing the final leg of his current UK arena tour with a series of charity shows.
Throughout his career, Kay has written and starred in various TV shows including Phoenix Nights, Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere and Peter Kay’s Car Share.
Alongside this, the Greater Manchester comedian has played a variety of arena shows across the UK, including at Manchester’s very own AO Arena with the likes of ‘Mum Wants a Bungalow Tour’ and the first raft of ‘Better Late Than Never’.
The latter came after the whole Co-op Live delays, if you can remember that.
And who can forget his successful venture as a recording artist collaborating with Tony Christie on ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ or alter-ego Geraldine’s string of singles ‘The Winner’s Song’ and ‘Once Upon A Christmas Song’? But let’s be honest, he’s back doing his garlic* bread and butter.
Gig guide | Peter Kay at AO Arena, Manchester


Peter Kay UK tour dates
- Fri 24 July – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
- Sat 25 July – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
- Fri 7 August – London, UK – The O2
- Sat 8 August – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
And then, of course, we also have his slate of other charity shows set to be played back in his hometown at the famous Albert Halls – for which he recently added even more dates.
You can find out more on that down below.
Are there any tickets left for Peter Kay at AO Arena?
Peter Kay is coming to Manchester city centre on Saturday 8 August, and luckily there’s a handful of tickets still up for grabs, although we expect this event to sell out. Tickets are available HERE.
And, the money from the tickets you purchase will be split between the 12 charities that the British comedy hero has chosen, such as Children With Cancer UK, Teenage Cancer Trust, Breast Cancer UK and more.
What are the stage times for Peter Kay in Manchester?
Anyone heading to the ‘Better Late Than Never; The Final Show’ can expect doors to open from 6pm with Peter Kay set to take to stage at 8pm.
Kicking off the night prompt and early, there’s no warm-up act; instead, the 53-year-old gives fans a usual interval between the first and second half of the show.
Simple as that.
AO Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can laugh your socks off and still get tucked up under the covers before the clock hits midnight.
Getting to AO Arena
Tram
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
@the.manc When are you next heading to the @AO Arena? 😱 #themanc #manchester #aoarena #preshow #entertainment #gigs #music #liveshow ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show
Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
The Last ̶D̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ Laugh*
It’s been well publicised that these will be the local comedy legend’s final ever live stand-up comedy shows, and while it still feels hard to believe, the time has now come upon us and we’re starting to accept that this really might be goodbye.
So, with that being said, if this is farewell, all we can say is thanks for the memories, the giggles, iconic quotes, and for all the smiles you put on faces up and down the country over the past few decades.
Read more:
- Family-friendly LGBTQ+ festival returns to Manchester Pride 2026
- Government announces social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK
- Salford-born Marvel star Benedict Wong gives inspiring speech after receiving honorary degree
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE
Featured Images – BBC/ITV (screenshots via YouTube)/Publicity pictures (supplied)
What's On
Full list of road closures for Manchester Caribbean Carnival 2026 this weekend
Emily Sergeant
One of the best-loved annual events in Manchester’s social calendar is back for 2026 this weekend.
Manchester Caribbean Carnival has brought the Greater Manchester community together for a family-friendly celebration of Caribbean culture, heritage, and music for more than 50 years now, and the community hub of Alexandra Park and the surrounding city streets are set to welcome the massively-popular event once again this weekend.
Launching back in 1972, the annual event has become a staple in the city’s cultural calendar, and is known for showcasing the rich heritage and diversity of the region’s Caribbean diaspora.
Tens of thousands of people gather each year eager to enjoy two days filled with music, traditional bands, dance troupes, steel pans, and a selection of the best food and drink vendors that Manchester has to offer.
Kicking off from 12pm and running right through until 8pm on both days, with some early-morning events also starting at 7am, this year’s Carnival is promising to be just as spectacular as ever.
It also features a fantastic lineup of events and performances to look forward to.
But, in a bid to keep everyone safe throughout the weekend, Manchester City Council has published a list of temporary road closures and traffic management measures set to be put in place, so here’s everything you need to know.
🎊 Heading to Manchester Caribbean Carnival on Saturday and Sunday [8-9 August]?
— Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) August 4, 2026
🚍 On Saturday, rolling road closures will be in place to allow for two parades to take place. If you're travelling by bus, allow extra time for your journey.
🚊On Sunday until 2pm, tram… pic.twitter.com/4LZ08Q3usj
Full list of road closures for Manchester Caribbean Carnival 2026
Saturday 8 August – 7am to 9am
Rolling road closures will be in place on:
- Moss Lane East (Princess Road to Upper Lloyd Street)
- Upper Lloyd Street (Moss Lane East to Great Western Street)
- Great Western Street (Upper Lloyd Street to Quinney Crescent)
- Quinney Crescent (Great Western Street to Alexandra Road)
- Alexandra Road (Quinney Crescent to Claremont Road)
Saturday 8 August – 6am to 4pm
A full road closure will be in place on Claremont Road (Quinney Crescent to Alexandra Road) for the Parade set up and dispersal.
Saturday 8 August – 11:30am to 2:30pm
Rolling road closures will be in place as the parade moves through the area.
11:30am to 12:50pm
- Yarburgh Street (Alexandra Road to Withington Road)
- Withington Road (Yarburgh Street to Moss Lane West)
12:15pm to 1:10pm
- Moss Lane West (Withington Road to Moss Lane East)
- Moss Lane East (Moss Lane West to Princess Road)
12:40pm to 1:35pm
- Moss Lane East (Princess Road to Upper Lloyd Street)
- Upper Lloyd Street (Moss Lane East to Claremont Road)
- Claremont Road (Upper Lloyd Street to Quinney Crescent)
Saturday 8 August and Sunday 9 August – 6pm to 8pm
As visitors leave Alexandra Park, a road closure will be in place on Claremont Road (Princess Road to Quinney Crescent), so you’ll need to allow extra time for journeys through this area.
Read more:
- Council plans 14 weeks of ‘free fun’ for children across Greater Manchester this summer
- Kids can now travel on Greater Manchester buses for FREE all summer long
- Government to slash prices of cinema tickets, bus travel, and LOADS more across UK for kids this summer
Manchester Caribbean Carnival 2026 is happening at Alexandra Park this Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August.
Find more on the event’s website here.
Featured Image – Manchester Caribbean Carnival (via Facebook)