Much-loved American cartoon and global smash-hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender, is coming to Manchester for a special screening live in concert.
The cult favourite Nickelodeon show turned worldwide phenomenon remains one of the most iconic animated TV franchises of all time, with a series of stunning scores that people still listen to on Spotify, YouTube and, crucially, in person to this day.
With that in mind, The Last Airbender In Concert is coming to mainland Europe and the UK, with the beautiful Bridgewater Hall set to host the special live show to celebrate a very important milestone.
You can see a short trailer of how the most recent world tour dates of Avatar Live here:
20 years since we first met Aang and the world of Avatar
With last February marking the 20th anniversary of the show’s original release date, creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, along with lead composer Jeremy Zuckerman, decided to take the show on the road with some exclusive screenings in some major rooms.
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Having boxed off plenty of performances already, Avatar: The Last Airbender heads to Europe later this year, with the shows getting underway at the start of autumn.
And where else to begin but Manchester?
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Heading to one of the most gorgeous theatres, not just in the city centre but the region as a whole, Bridgwater Hall is no stranger to hosting live orchestral adaptations like this.
You see the full list of Avatar live shows here in Britain on the extensive European leg of their world tour down below – we’ve even highlighted the other Northern stops for you.
The Last Airbender In Concert UK tour dates | 2026
5 October 2026 – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
6 October 2026 – Edinburgh Usher Hall
8 October 2026 – York Barbican
9 October 2026 – Sheffield City Hall
10 October 2026 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
11 October 2026 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
13 October 2026 – Swansea Building Society Arena
14 October 2026 – Bath The Forum
15 October 2026 – Portsmouth Guildhall
16 October 2026 – Poole Lighthouse
17 October 2026 – London Eventim Apollo
18 October 2026 – Bristol Beacon
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
It’s hard to believe more than two decades have passed since it first hit screens over in the US in 2005 (21 February and later that same year here in the UK); we still remember sitting cross-legged in front of the telly after school and losing ourselves in this incredible world – and now a new film is on the way, too.
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As well as the heavily anime-esque art style and East Asian influences throughout, the music was always a big part of that experience, so we can’t wait to see how it translates in the flesh.
With that in mind, not to mention the wider Avatar story being continued with the next expansion in Avatar lore, ‘Seven Havens’ – a direct sequel to the original programme – it’s a great time to dive back into the world.
Tickets to see and hear The Last Airbender soundtracked live and brought to life in all its glory here in Manchester, general admission on sale already, with the showing starting from 7:30pm.
And for those parents among you looking to introduce your little ones to the next big animation, we’d start with the new one that’s set right here in our hometown and has just aired.
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Micah Richards reveals dad ‘unexpectedly’ died shortly before going on air for England v Argentina last night
Emily Sergeant
Micah Richards has revealed that his dad died shortly before he went on air for the World Cup semi final last night.
The former right back – who most-notably played for Manchester City for a decade from 2005-2015, and for the England national team from 2006-2012 – was one of the BBC’s pundits providing on-air analysis last night as England faced Argentina in a highly anticipated semi final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night.
The two teams faced off in Atlanta, and while goals came from both sides, it was ultimately Argentina that reigned supreme – securing a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
But while much of the country is grieving the fact that football won’t be ‘coming home’ (well, for another two years at least), Richards is grieving on a deeper level.
He took to Instagram after the loss last night to share with his 1.4m followers that shortly before he went on air, his father Lincoln passed away ‘unexpectedly’ – calling him the ‘proudest parent possible’ in a touching tribute.
“He has left us all too soon,” Richards began in his tribute.
“Hwas my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
“I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else.
“I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.”
Danny Jones -
20th February 2026 
