Manchester’s buzzing music and events scene has burst back to life, and the AO Arena is at the heart of it all.
The huge city centre venue has got some big shows still to come in February, and even more exciting events coming up later in the year.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, why not ‘Say It With Tickets‘ and buy your loved ones the gift of live entertainment.
The AO Arena also has a range of hospitality packages on hand if you want to push the boat out with the best seats and added extras.
You can enjoy a glass of fizz or three in one of its private suites, or watch the show from the best seats in the house with pre-show drinks in the View Bar.
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L.O.L. Surprise! Live
Credit: Publicity picture
For the first time ever, one of the world’s most popular toys will be putting on a live arena show.
The L.O.L. Surprise Live! tour will see characters and holograms dancing and singing on stage.
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The shows have been rescheduled from the original dates in December and January, and will now take place on Friday 11 February at 5.30pm, and Saturday 12 February at 12pm and 3.30pm.
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
If your loved one is more of a sporting fan than a music fan, you can still snap up tickets for this massive boxing match.
Bolton’s very own boxing legend Amir Khan will face off with Kell Brook as their decade-long rivalry comes to a conclusion.
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Thousands of fans will pack the AO Arena and watch from around the world on February 19.
Dave
Multi award-winning rapper Dave will be hitting the stage at the AO Arena in February.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2016, he has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Stormzy, and Burna Boy.
Hot off the back of the release of his chart-topping album We’re All Alone In This Together, Dave will perform on 24 February.
John Bishop is doing two nights at the AO Arena in February.
One of the world’s most successful comedians – and owner of the whitest teeth – will be performing material at the end of the month.
John Bishop will spend two nights entertaining the crowds at the AO Arena with his Right Here Right Now World Tour.
You can catch him on 25 and 26 February.
Further ahead
Appetite for events is well and truly back, so it pays to get tickets booked in advance.
If you’re after comedy, you can see Alan Partridge at the AO Arena on 14 May, Joe Lycett on 20 September or Jason Manford on 15 October.
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Superleague Netball will also return with Manchester Thunder vs Leeds Rhinos on 12 March, and then the Darts will follow on 14 May.
Music-wise, there are shows from Stormzy, Stereophonics, The Wanted, and Royal Blood still to come this spring too.
Head over to ao-arena.com to pick your perfect date, book online or get in touch with the hospitality team for more information on exclusive experiences, call: 07741 194 110 or email: [email protected].
Gigs & Nightlife
Kaytranada announces huge Manchester gig at Co-op Live on new tour
Daisy Jackson
Kaytranada will be performing a huge show in Manchester as part of his newly-announced 2026 European tour.
The Montreal-based producer is set to bring his unmistakable dancefloor sound to the Co-op Live arena this June, marking the only northern date on the UK run alongside London and Birmingham.
From huge hits like ‘BE YOUR GIRL’, to his latest song with Pink Pantheress, Kaytranada’s run has been nothing short of iconic, and his live shows are guaranteed to be non-stop movement from start to finish.
The news follows his co-headline tour with Justice last year, and the release of his album AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!, which features songs including Grammy-nominated SPACE INVADER.
The 10-times-nominated, two-times Grammy award-winning artist will be heading to cities including London, Paris, and Birmingham.
Kaytranada will be supported in Manchester and on all European dates by Uncle Waffles.
Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 13 February HERE, with a pre-sale live from 10am on Tuesday 10 February.
Kaytranada European tour dates in full
1 June – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
4 June – Berlin, DE @ Uber Arena
5 June – Warsaw, PL @ Sektor
9 June – Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
11 June – Munich, DE @ Olympiahalle
14 June – Belgium, BE @ ING Arena
16 June – Paris, FR @ Accor Arena
18 June – London, UK @ The O2
20 June – Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena Birmingham
Swedish pop icon Robyn to play huge Manchester gig on European tour this summer
Emily Sergeant
Generational Swedish pop icon Robyn is heading out on a big European tour this summer, and she’ll be stopping off in Manchester.
This is Robyn’s first major tour since 2019, and it will feature 20 dates as well as her biggest ever headline shows – including London’s 20,000 capacity O2 Arena, and three consecutive hometown nights at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.
And, of course, a night at Europe’s largest indoor arena – Co-op Live, here in Manchester.
Having provided some of the biggest moments in pop culture over the last three decades, Robyn is currently in the eye of one of the year’s most celebrated musical returns, as 2026 has seen her announce her ninth studio album, and her first since 2018, titled Sexistential, produced with longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund, and reuniting her with Max Martin for their first co-writes since 2010.
It’s said to be the ‘most ecstatic’ record Robyn has ever made, and is tipped to be the sound of one of contemporary music’s most influential artists ‘coming home’.
This upcoming tour will feature an exciting lineup of special guest openers across the UK and Europe dates – with 808 State and Zhala on the bill for Manchester‘s gig, bringing together a mix of boundary-pushing artists who are either friends of Robyn or among the voices that inspire her.
Robyn – The Sexistential Tour UK & EU 2026
Wednesday 24 June – 3Arena, Dublin
Friday 26 June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 27 June – Co-op Live, Manchester
Tuesday 30 June – ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium
Wednesday 1 July – Adidas Arena, Paris, France
Friday 3 July – The O2, London
Wednesday 8 July – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Saturday 11 July – Unity Arena, Oslo, Norway
Tuesday 14 July – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thursday 16 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Friday 17 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday 18 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Following on from the UK and European tour, Robyn will then head over to the US and Australia for another run of huge dates in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, before the tour draws to a close in Melbourne in Australia on 24 November.
Robyn will bring The Sexistential Tour to Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 27 June 2026, and tickets officially go on sale this week.
There are two separate pre-sales happening this week before tickets then go on general sale this Friday 13 February – there’s the Co-op Presale, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday 10 February) at 10am, and then the Spotify Presale, which starts on Thursday 12 February at 10am.
You can get tickets when they go live on general sale this Friday at 10am here.
Daisy Jackson -
8th February 2022 
