Ne-Yo and Akon at Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, tickets, setlist and more

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Ne-Yo and Akon announce huge joint arena show in Manchester

Ne-Yo and Akon announce huge joint arena show in Manchester

It’s finally time for Ne-Yo and Akon to reach Manchester, with three shows planned at the Co-op Live arena.

This is the first time that the two R&B greats have headed out on a joint headline tour, and it’s been all anyone can talk about on social media since the tour began (the inflatable ball crowd surf, hello?!).

Both artists are Grammy Award winners and come with their own formidable back catalogues of chart-topping hits.

For Ne-Yo, that includes songs like Miss Independent, So Sick, and Closer; while for Akon, he’s responsible for huge tracks like Smack That, Lonelty, and Right Now (Na Na Na).

Between them, they’ve shaped and defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture for decades.

This 2026 tour will see the pair performing on the same stage – for Manchester that’s the Co-op Live arena – for a co-headline Nights Like This tour, with a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show.

Ne-Yo and Akon will be at the Co-op Live on Friday 1, Saturday 2, and Wednesday 6 May.

You might have already seen some pretty iconic videos of their tour already circulating the internet, so it’s safe to say you’re in for a treat.

The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.

Are there tickets left for Ne-Yo and Akon at Co-op Live in Manchester?

Good news – yes! There’s still fairly decent availability for all three dates of Ne-Yo and Akon in Manchester.

You can see the latest availability for Friday 1 May HERE, Saturday 2 May HERE, and Wednesday 6 May HERE.

Ne-Yo and Akon setlist for 2026 tour

Judging by previous nights of the tour, the current set list is looking like this…

Ne-Yo

Akon

Ne-Yo

Akon

Songs Ne-Yo/Akon Produced

Akon

Ne-Yo

Akon

Ne-Yo

Encore:

Play Hard (David Guetta cover) – Akon & Ne-Yo on stage

Stage times for Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on 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. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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