A huge new wellbeing festival is heading to Manchester this summer, with Gemma Atkinson as a headliner.
The Manchester Wellbeing Festival will take over the enormous space at Manchester Central for a weekend focused on health and happiness.
Taking place over the weekend of 11 and 12 June, the huge event will feature talks, fitness classes and more.
The line-up includes TV personalities, influencers, authors, scientists, doctors, fitness instructors, therapists and yogis.
Dr Alex George. Credit: Manchester Wellbeing Festival
One of the biggest names will be Bury’s Gemma Atkinson, an actress, fitness guru and Hits Radio host.
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Gemma will share advice on how to feel stronger, healthier, more confident and comfortable in your own body.
Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison will also appear to chat about her book The Secret to Happy, followed by a signing.
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Manchester Central. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Women’s Health columnist, author and personal trainer Alice Liveing will kickstart each day of the festival with a strength workout, as well as interviewing special guests.
Another familiar face will be Dr Alex George, formerly of Love Island fame and now a TV presenter, doctor and UK Government ambassador for mental health – he’ll be addressing modern health issues and signing copies of his book Live Well Every Day.
DJ Fat Tony will tell stories of hedonism and self-destruction, as well as of recovery, redemption and friendship, while This Morning‘s agony couple The Speakmans will share secrets to unshakeable confidence.
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Alice Liveing
Dr Hazel Wallace
Dr Hazel Wallace, aka The Food Medic, is joining the bill to discuss female health with her forthcoming book The Female Factor, including advice for women on nutrition, sleep, hormones, PMS, periods and the menopause.
TikTok star and A&E doctor Emeka Okorocha will be offering up simple lifestyle advice for mind and body, and Sober Girl Society founder Millie Gooch will show how to go sober in a world obsessed with booze.
Completing the line-up is Faisal Abdalla (who has trained Harry Styles and Ellie Goulding) with a workout, and Hussain Manawer (who has worked with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Joshua and the Royal Family) with a discussion on surviving depression and grief.
You’ll be able to take on a barre class with Sophie Ritchie’s Disco Barre, or do yoga with either The Kilted Yogi aka Finlay Wilson, Braxton, or Sasha Bates.
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Manchester’s leading fitness studio Blok will host classes to suit every level too.
The brand new Manchester Wellbeing Festival will take place at Manchester Central on 11 and 12 June.
A free snooker fan zone has popped up in Manchester for the 2026 Tour Championship
Danny Jones
We’re sure plenty of you are well aware that this year’s WST Sportsbet.io Tour Championship is happening in Manchester right now, but what many of you may not know is that a completely free snooker fan zone has opened up as part of it.
You don’t need a ticket for any of the actual matches to watch them on the big screen or even play one of your own.
However, it isn’t just the buzz inside the match room itself that the World Snooker Tour has brought on its return to the city centre – even the supporter hub outside is well worth a visit.
Based over at Manchester Central on the Exchange side of the building, while the games themselves are taking place in the main rooms, the foyer and surrounding areas have been turned into a fan park.
Perfect for anyone looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or, indeed, a full day this week – not to mention an ideal activity for kids this coming Easter bank holiday weekend – if you’re a fan of the sport, you’d be a fool not to at least pop your head in.
Running until this Sunday, 5 April, when the tournament itself finishes, snooker lovers have access not only to a bar area with multiple big screens and food and drink, but also numerous free tables for them to play on.
In fact, you quickly turn a few frames into some proper practice if you’re so inclined, as there’s even on-site coaching to be made the most of.
As you can see, people of all ages have already turned up in their droves to soak up the atmosphere.
Once again, the competition is being broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 if you’re happy to watch the games at home, but we don’t need to tell you what makes sitting in a room with a bunch of fellow fans and getting excited together so enjoyable.
If you visit the Manchester Central convention centre before the end of the week, you can even have a go at playing on a proper king-sized snooker table for the full pro-feel experience.
For anyone who wants to grab actual tickets for the matches as well, you can find them HERE.
Beyond The Music moves to MediaCity for the first-time ever
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester arts festival and conference Beyond The Music is back for 2026, but this time it will be heading to MediaCity for a Salford debut.
The long weekender is still a relative newcomer when it comes to the Manc events calendar, but it’s quickly gathered plenty of repute not just in the North West but within the industry as a whole.
Holding just its third edition later this year, Beyond The Music ’26 is set to be the most ambitious yet, spread across the three days and promising an impressive lineup both in terms of live performers, but also speakers, industry experts and wider activities.
With MediaCity and dock10 hosting their inaugural Beyond The Music, it’s another big win for the second city, with Sports Personality of the Year sticking over Salford way for the foreseeable future, along with other events like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards moving to the Quayside.
Much of the BBC’s World Cup coverage is also being hosted at their Salfordian studios and main Northern base this summer, too.
Given that so many big annual dates have now made the switch to central Manchester – the BRITs and the MOBOs, just to name two recent examples – you could say it only makes sense to spread things out across the surrounding boroughs and their equally rich heritage.
Not that you should need reminding, but Salford isn’t just part of the region: it’s a city all of its own right that boasts an immense amount of pride over what is nothing short of a sterling musical history.
As for the 2026 Beyond The Music programme, besides both the local artists and more international creatives than ever, there’ll be keynote conversations, industry showcases, and wider networking opportunities for anyone looking to immerse themselves deeper in this world.
You’ll have to wait a little while longer for a full live music lineup, but watch this space…
Mayor Andy Burnham and friends help launch Beyond the Music at MediaCityUK (Credit: Mark Waugh)
Sarah Pearson, Co-founder of Beyond The Music, said in an official statement: “Beyond The Music’s mission is to seize this moment, to come together and drive meaningful and lasting change in the music and content industry.
“It’s undeniable that the impact and importance of music and content are stronger than ever, but this is not reflected in their perceived value.
“The ethical and economic infrastructure of the music and content industries demands urgent attention and bold reform… It is our responsibility to protect creativity in order to ensure it doesn’t just survive but thrives. Things may feel difficult, but they are still possible.”
Mayor Burnham added: “Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation…
“With its move to MediaCity and a bigger-than-ever programme, Beyond The Music is helping to cement our city region’s place at the centre of the creative economy.”
Taking place between 7-9 October 2026, you can register for early bird tickets right HERE. Roll on an even more extensive festival season than ever.
Daisy Jackson -
27th April 2022 
