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Strictly Live tour announced for 2026 with a dazzling return to Manchester

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Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd September 2025

Get on your dancing shoes, because Strictly Live is heading back out on tour in 2026.

A new series of the iconic – and massively loved – BBC reality competition show, Strictly Come Dancing, began this past Saturday night, with this year’s cohort of celebrities all being paired up with their professional dance partners ready to take on the exciting new challenge of learning to Ballroom Dance.

But not long after the winner of the new series is awarded the coveted glitterball trophy, much of the Class of 2026 will be heading out on a UK-wide tour.

Cue the theme tune, because the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour is waltzing its way into arenas across the UK next January and February, helping us to start out the new year in spectacular style. 

Get set for a glittering celebration of everything you love about the nation’s favourite TV show, complete with show-stopping routines, stunning group numbers, and breathtaking live music from the iconic Strictly band and singers. 

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Joining the tour, as always, will be a sensational lineup of celebrities and professional dancers from this current series, delivering all the glitz, glamour, and feel-good fun we need to banish those inevitable winter blue.

You can expect the signature charm of judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, alongside the fabulous Janette Manrara who is returning to host, bringing just the right amount of excitement to keep everyone on their toes. 

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The Strictly Come Dancing cast lineup for 2026 / Credit: BBC

It’s time to put this annual entertainment spectacular in your diary and start 2026 on a front foot, as Strictly Live is coming to Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026, and tickets officially start going on sale this week – with two presales before the general sale commences this Friday.

Tickets for the Three+ presale will go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday 24 September), before the AO’s dedicated venue presale begins on Thursday 25 September, and the General Sale starts on Friday 26 September.

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All tickets will go on sale at 10am on their respective days, and you can get your hands on them when they’re live here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Legendary rock band Pixies announce Manchester gig at leading arts venue for anniversary tour

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pixies Manchester Aviva Studio gig tickets

Legendary band Pixies have announced a brand new global tour to mark an incredible landmark anniversary, and will be coming to one of our favourite Manchester venues.

The Boston rock icons are celebrating 40 years as a band in 2026, and as part of the newly announced ‘P40’ world tour, they have revealed a run of European dates and a dedicated leg of live gigs right here in the UK.

In terms of dates here in England, the Manc show is also one of just three, so count yourselves lucky.

With a fandom as die-hard as the one they’ve maintained for going on 40 years, you can expect this one to sell out rather quickly.

The major live plans will see founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering, as well as bassist Emma Richardson, visit Britain, Ireland and beyond – including their very first performance at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.

Seems hard to believe given their legacy, right?

As for the Manchester date, Pixies will be playing at our leading city centre arts and cultural venue, Aviva Studios, located right next to the banks of the River Irwell.

Not only a thriving live music space, but the home of Factory International’s hub here in Greater Manchester, it’s fast become one of our favourite places to watch a gig.

You can find the rest of the P40 UK/EU live shows down below.

Pixies’ 40th anniversary tour UK and Europe dates

  • 20 May – Barbican, York
  • 21 May – Alhambra theatre, Dunfermline
  • 25 May – Aviva Studios, Manchester
  • 28 May – Royal Albert Hall, London
  • 31 May – Live at the Castle, Limerick
  • 2 June – Olympia, Dublin
  • 30 June – Zitadelle Spandau, Berlin
  • 1 July – Parkbühne Clara-Zetkin-Park
  • 2 July – myticket Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt
  • 14 July – Parco Della Musica, Milan
  • 17 July – Maassilo, Rotterdam
  • 18 July – Muziekcentrum, Enschede
  • 19 July – PLT, Heerlen

This announcement comes amid their ongoing worldwide tour, which kicked off back in August and wraps up this November.

Not only is it approaching four whole decades since their formation as a band, but it’s also 35 years since their groundbreaking Platinum-certified third album, Doolittle, and the 20th anniversary of their reunion at Coachella.

Commenting underneath the post, Factory International‘s official account replied: “Cannot wait to welcome you to Manchester.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, 26 September at 10 – get ready to grab yours HERE.

Another groundbreaking group of musicians are celebrating the exact same milestone this year and couldn’t resist booking a Manchester date either.

Influential indie veterans The Wedding Present to embark on 40th anniversary tour

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Travis Shinn (supplied)/Audio North

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Jordan North and William Hanson are bringing their hit podcast to a massive Manchester venue

Danny Jones Danny Jones Help I Sexted My Boss live Manchester tickets

British podcasting pair Jordan North and William Hanson are bringing their beloved comedy podcast, Help I Sexted My Boss, to one of the biggest venues in Manchester.

That’s right, the unlikely but undeniably funny duo are bringing their smash hit pod and YouTube show on the road once again in 2026, after a slate of successful shows last year at the likes of the legendary London Palladium.

Burnley-born North and near-Bristol native Hanson have emerged as a somewhat surprising, albeit almost perfect, double act over the last few years, becoming one of the most popular podcasts in the UK and regularly breaking into the top 100 on the comedy charts.

After plenty of demand for more live shows following the 2024 shows, Help I Sexted My Boss is going on tour once again this coming March.

Confirming just a small handful of UK dates, these are nevertheless their biggest gigs yet, with the team booking some of the biggest arenas in Britain.

In addition to the legendary AO Arena here in Manchester, they’ll also be heading to Wembley, Glasgow and Cardiff – but you already know we Mancs will bring the best crowd.

Announcing details online, the official Sexted My Boss account wrote: “Oh yes, we’re going on tour. Join William Hanson and Jordan North as they bring their hit comedy podcast to arenas across the UK…

“Experience what happens when William and Jordan’s wildly different worlds collide, as they take on the hilarious challenges of modern life live on stage. Expect laugh-out-loud stories, brutally honest moments and lots of surprises.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve listened from day one, you’re new to the podcast, or you’re being dragged along, everyone’s welcome!”

Now, if you’ve never heard this modern take on the classic ‘agony aunt’ fan correspondence format, we don’t think there’s a single clip that sums up this nonsense better than this one…

Be warned, this is a very NSFW listen.

Commenting underneath the post, long-time collaborator and fellow radio hosting peer Siân Welby said, “Seriously, one of the best nights out you can have! Podcast meets panto meets Bongo’s Bingo!”

Pre-sale tickets for Help I Sexted By Boss in Manchester will arrive first for official Three Mobile customers on Wednesday, 24 September, the AO Arena’s own early access window opening the following Thursday – both of which will go live from 10am.

General admission will then be available from the same time on Friday, 26 September. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

There are plenty of laughs coming to the AO over the next 12 months.

Stand-up sensation Mo Gilligan has announced a massive arena gig in Manchester

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

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