At long last, Manchester’s huge new arena, the Co-op Live, is up and running.
The venue has been under construction near the Etihad Stadium for several years, and now the gargantuan space has hosted its first event.
Although the Co-op Live doesn’t officially launch until Tuesday, a test event last night saw Everything Everything and Rick Astley performing to a smaller crowd.
The £365m music venue is the largest indoor venue in the UK, with an overall capacity of 23,500 fans.
Not only has Harry Styles invested in the arena, he’s also consulted on several elements of the build.
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It’s hoped that it will provide the best possible gig-going experience both for artists and fans.
And Harry popped up to say hello at the test event… via screen.
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Other famous faces offering video endorsements included Phil Foden and David Beckham.
At last night’s test event, the first fans through the door were treated to a vast space bathed in blue (that might have something to do with its links to the City Football Group…) and got to see inside the huge arena space itself, which has the largest floor space of any indoor arena.
The Co-op Live isn’t actually quite finished yet – still to come will be 32 bars, restaurants and lounges around and inside the site.
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And last night’s event didn’t go without its hiccups, with many fans finding that their tickets for Rick Astley had been cancelled with just hours to go.
Co-op Live’s launch eventInside Co-op Live in ManchesterInvestor Harry Styles joined the Co-op Live launch by videoInside Co-op Live
Co-op Live said in a statement yesterday: “We’re busy putting the finishing touches on Co-op Live, and we are looking forward to Co-op Live becoming the pre-eminent arena in the UK upon opening.
“As a part of the opening process, we are in the midst of an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures. To enable us to test the spaces effectively, we have made the difficult decision to reduce overall capacity for today’s test event.
“We apologise to affected guests and look forward to welcoming them to The Black Keys.”
After the official launch on Tuesday 23 April, acts lined up in the coming weeks will include Take That, Olivia Rodrigo, The Black Keys and Nicki Minaj.
You can see a full tour of inside the new Co-op Live arena below:
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.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2024 
