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Zayn announces huge Manchester gig on his biggest tour to date

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Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 5th February 2026

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.

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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’.

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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 Emily Sergeant Noel Gallagher on stage

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.

BRITs in Manchester
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.”

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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.

Featured Image – RTP (via Flickr)

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Harry Styles announces one-night-only ‘intimate’ show in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Harry Styles has announced a Co-op Live gig in Manchester

Harry Styles has announced a surprise gig here on home turf – a one night only party to celebrate the release of his latest album.

The pop megastar will be performing a show at the Co-op Live – the arena in which he’s a major investor, but hasn’t yet played.

The rumours of a hometown (ish – he was born in Cheshire) show for the former One Direction star have been swirling for weeks, and now the man himself has confirmed it’s happening.

The gig will take place on Friday 6 March, the same day that his new album is released.

And shockingly, tickets for the intimate (by his standards) gig will cost just £20.

Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is set for release earlier that day, and Harry Styles will perform all the songs live for the first time here in Manchester that very same day.

Details are, at the minute, light on the ground – but he’s hinted at tickets being sold by ‘request’.

In a post in Instagram, Harry Styles wrote: “One Night Only. Manchester. Co-op Live. March 6th.

“Ticket requests begin Friday. More details to follow.”

Fans had been dismayed until now that Harry’s Together Together tour was only visiting Wembley Stadium in London for his UK leg.

But now he’s announced the chance to see him on a comparatively tiny arena stage, I think we might have won?

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Featured image: Instagram, @harrystyles

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