James Arthur is the latest act to announce a massive UK arena tour, and he’ll be paying a visit to Manchester next year.
On the day that Manchester’s newest live entertainment arena,Co-op Live, is set to welcome one of the world’s current biggest pop star, Sabrina Carpenter, another major pop act is set to take to that very same stage around this time next year, as James Arthur has today announced a huge arena tour.
The former X Factor winner is heading out on an 11-date tour of the UK in early 2026, and that includes a visit to our city in mid February.
After performing in some of the UK’s biggest cities in the days prior – including London’s O2, the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, and shows in other northern cities such as Sheffield and Liverpool – the will 37-year-old singer-songwriter will stop off Manchester to close out his impressive tour.
He’ll be performing at Co-op Live on Saturday 21 February 2026.
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The announcement of next year’s UK tour next year’s coincides with the upcoming release of Arthur’s highly-anticipated next studio album, PISCES.
In recent years, Arthur has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in contemporary pop and soul, amassing 11 Platinum hit singles, more 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and two UK number one albums along the way – including his most recent release, Bitter Sweet Love, which was celebrated with a sold-out UK and Europe arena tour, culminating in a historic performance in his hometown of Middlesbrough to an audience of 25,000 fans.
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James Arthur UK arena tour dates 2025
3 February – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
4 February – Glasgow OVO Hydro
6 February – Newcastle Utilita Arena
7 February – Aberdeen P&J Live
10 February – Birmingham bp pulse LIVE
11 February – Bournemouth International Centre
13 February – Sheffield Utilita Arena
14 February – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
16 February – Cardiff Utilita Arena
18 February – London The O2
21 February – Manchester Co-op Live
James Arthur is playing a massive Manchester show on his UK arena tour next year / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
With the upcoming release of PISCES on 25 April, Arthur is said to be ‘diving deeper into his personal struggles’ to create a collection of songs that is ‘as introspective as it is sonically adventurous’.
Tickets to James Arthur’s 2026 UK arena tour, including the Manchester Co-op Live gig on Saturday 21 February, go on pre-sale next Wednesday 19 March at 9am, and then on general sale on Friday 21 February at 9am.
Find out more and get tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Steve Backshall to stop off in Manchester as he takes iconic kids’ show Deadly 60 on first UK live tour
Emily Sergeant
One of the most iconic children’s TV shows of the 2010s is becoming a new stage show set to tour the UK.
Deadly 60 is a BBC and CBBC factual entertainment programme that first began back in 2009, where presenter and British naturalist and explorer, Steve Backshall, travels to different parts of the world in order to find the 60 most deadly animals living on the planet.
The show has run for five series now, with the most recent airing in 2024, and has got young people in their thousands invested in wildlife.
And now, a thrilling new live entertainment adventure inspired by the show is coming to UK arenas this October – including an all-important stop off here in Manchester.
Steve Backshall is taking Deadly 60 on a UK live tour later this year / Credit: Supplied
Deadly Live! is gearing up to be an ‘action-packed, edge of your seat experience’ based on the hugely-popular franchise Deadly, with BAFTA award-winning Backshall at the helm, and will be visiting 10 major UK arenas during the October half term.
Audiences are being invited to join Steve Backshall on an unforgettable journey as he tracks some of the world’s most formidable predators – from big cats and birds of prey, to Dinomania dinosaurs, snakes, and many more.
With daring stunts, mind-blowing experiments, and cutting-edge science, this thrilling live show takes fans across land, sky, and sea in a truly-unique wildlife spectacle.
The Deadly Live! tour is kicking off in Newcastle on Friday 24 October, and will be arriving in Manchester and taking to the legendary AO Arena stage on Wednesday 29 October.
“I’m thrilled to be bringing Deadly Live! to arenas across the UK later this year for the very first time,” commented Steve Backshall as the UK tour was announced. “We’ve got some amazing stunts and incredible experiments planned for this new supersized show for all the family, as we explore animals from 600 million years ago right through to modern day.”
Tickets for the show will go on sale on Thursday 10 April at 10am here.
Featured Image – BBC
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AO Arena announces ‘In Conversation’ event with Luke Una
Thomas Melia
Much loved DJ and musical artist Luke Una is the latest act appearing at the AO Arena as part of their ‘In Conversation’ event taking place in Manchester later this year.
Luke Cowdrey, known more commonly under the name Luke Una, makes up one half of the unforgettable DJ duo, The Unabombers, who were widely respected in the Manchester club scene.
Known for his involvement in pivotal club movements like Homobloc and E Soul Cultura, he certainly knows how to live it large.
Una’s music helped define the underground scene in Manchester during the 1980s and 90s alongside The Unabombers bandmate, Justin Crawford.
The two were known for producing music in the Northern Sulphuric Soul genre and even ran a legendary club night titled ‘Electric Chair’.
Their music tended to blend lots of different sounds from across the globe, including Latin, hip-hop, disco, house and more.
Now, Una is ditching the decks for a mellower event focused all around his music, where he will be sharing stories that have taken place over the course of his expansive four-decade-long career.
All the talks taking place at AO Arena will be hosted by none other than BBC 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins known for his work regularly hosting an early morning radio show and also documentaries too.
Una isn’t the only guest who will be talking all things career and Northern music, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess is also taking part in the AO Arena’s newest talk series ‘Live And In Conversation’ set to take place this month.
The adored DJ is taking to the incredible Manchester venue on 18 May from 6pm to 10:30pm, giving guests plenty of opportunities to learn all about his artistry and skill.
Luke Una is sitting down with Chris Hawkins for AO Arena’s ‘Live And In Conversation’ series, with tickets going on sale HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2025 
