Coldplay have, at last, confirmed that they will perform huge stadium shows here in Manchester next summer.
The British rockers teased that they would visit the city in their recent music video for Humankind, with cryptic clues hinting at new tour dates across Europe.
And this morning – just after completing six sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium – Coldplay have dropped details of more European and UK stadium shows.
The new UK leg of their Music of the Spheres World Tour will include two shows at the Etihad Stadium (on 31 May and 1 June) in Manchester, as well as a date in Cardiff.
Coldplay will also tour across Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
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Their most recent tour has already sold more than four million tickets since it began in March 2022, receiving rave reviews across the board.
Coldplay have also made this tour as sustainable as possible, including kinetic dancefloors and power bikes that allow fans to literally charge the show.
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Tickets for Colplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour 2023 will go on sale at 10am on Thursday 25 August.
The full dates are below.
MAY 2023 WED 17 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra – Coimbra, PORTUGAL WED 24 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – Barcelona, SPAIN THU 25 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – Barcelona, SPAIN WED 31 Etihad Stadium – Manchester, UK
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JUNE 2023 THU 01 Etihad Stadium – Manchester, UK TUE 06 Principality Stadium – Cardiff, UK WED 21 Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – Naples, ITALY SUN 25 Stadio San Siro – Milan, ITALY MON 26 Stadio San Siro – Milan, ITALY
JULY 2023 SAT 01 Stadion Letzigrund – Zurich, SWITZERLAND WED 05 Parken – Copenhagen, DENMARK THU 06 Parken – Copenhagen, DENMARK SAT 08 Ullevi – Gothenburg, SWEDEN SUN 09 Ullevi – Gothenburg, SWEDEN SAT 15 Johan Cruijff ArenA – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS SUN 16 Johan Cruijff ArenA – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Featured image: Stevie Rae Gibbs
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Manchester Marathon found fresh community fund following milestone charitable efforts
Danny Jones
The Manchester Marathon has begun a new community fund following more than a decade of incredible charity efforts.
Known as the Trafford Active Fund for the last 10 years or so, the initiative covers not only the city and its wider boroughs’ annual 26.2-mile long race, but various other sports and activity-based schemes across the region.
Now, though, the fresh Manc Marathon Fund is evolving in partnership with the existing Trafford Moving Fund and MCRactive arm of Manchester City Council by expanding its vital charity work further afield than ever before.
Launching ahead of the 2026 event this spring, runners will once again be behind crucial funding across the Greater Manchester region and beyond.
The new Manchester Marathon Community Fund logo (Credit: Supplied)
For context, back in 2024, the MCR Marathon raised nearly £30 million for the local economy and roughly £3.7m for charities like the Alzheimer’s Society; last April, that figure surpassed more than £4m, and the fundraising numbers only continue to increase with every year.
With that in mind, more than £60k is distributed to various partner programmes that “inspire movement, improve wellbeing, and create meaningful change for local people”.
Moving forward, not only will £1 from every paid entry into the Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half continue to go directly into the Manchester Marathon Community Fund (MMCF).
Andrew Smith, Chief Executive of A.S.O. UK – organisers of the MCR Marathon and Half – said: “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact the Trafford Active Fund has delivered locally over the years, and we’re excited to extend that impact across both Trafford and Manchester City [Centre].
“By broadening our reach, the MMCF will help even more people to get active and contribute to a legacy of movement and wellbeing. Our relationship with Trafford remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing to support the brilliant community projects that make a real difference there.”
Community groups and projects in Trafford or the City of Manchester can apply for funding via the Trafford Moving Fund and MCR Active (dependent on their location).
A panel from each organisation reviews applications and selects projects that best demonstrate lasting impact.
We share stories from funded projects throughout the year, so you can see the difference your event entry makes.
We love how much the North West regularly dedicates its charitable efforts, both socially and physically, towards important causes throughout the year.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied via Manchester Marathon/ASO UK)
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North West water bills to see the biggest average increase of anywhere in the country in 2026
Emily Sergeant
Water bills in the North West are set to see the biggest increase in 2026 on average.
It has been announced that household water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% overall – which works out to around £33 a year, or approximately £2.70 per month – from April, which is said to be two percentage points above December’s official inflation figure… but when you look closer at the North West, that percentage rises from 5.4% to 9%.
The average United Utilities water bill is set to sit at £660 annually in 2026-27, with that being an increase of £57 from the previous year – the largest increase of anywhere else in the country.
Water UK says the nationwide rise in bills reflects the ‘significant investment’ being put towards upgrading water infrastructure.
More than two million households currently receive help with their water bills. An extra 300,000 households are expected to receive support in 2026-27. Find out more: https://t.co/DSDpAmawX8pic.twitter.com/N2LFpjxEQE
Water companies are said to be currently in the process of delivering a £104 billion investment programme to secure the nation’s water supplies, support economic growth, and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
The money raised by water bills can only be used to fund infrastructure that is independently determined to be ‘new, necessary, and value for money’.
The regulator says United Utilities will begin a £3 billion upgrade in 2026 of the 110 km Haweswater Aqueduct, which carries 570 million litres of water every day to 2.5 million people in Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester (or nearly 5% of England’s population), hence water bills increasing at a higher rate to other areas.
North West water bills are set to see the biggest average increase in 2026 / Credit: Raibeart MacAoidh (via Geograph)
“We understand increasing bills is never welcome, but the money is needed to fund vital upgrades to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas,” explained David Henderson, who is the Chief Executive at Water UK.
“While we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult.
“That is why we will help around 2.5 million households – more than ever before – with average discounts of around 40% off their water bill.”
More than two million households currently receive help with their bills through social tariffs, the WaterSure scheme, and other affordability measures, and an extra 300,000 households are expected to receive support in 2026-27, taking the total number to around 2.5 million.
Those who are struggling should contact their water company to see what help is available, as support can often be tailored to individual circumstances.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd August 2022 
