VE Day 80 is coming up at the beginning of next month, and Manchester is set to commemorate it with a full day of celebrations.
Victory in Europe (VE Day) – which takes place on 8 May each year, and marks the Allied victory in Europe – resulted in millions celebrating the end of the war in 1945, with street parties, dancing and singing all across the country.
And now, 80 years later, similar events and celebrations are set to take place across the UK.
As well as the planned commemorations set to take place over four days at the start of May that were already previously announced by the Government early last month, Manchester will too be paying tribute to the ‘courage, determination, and sacrifices’ made throughout the conflict with its own set of local events.
Celebrate VE Day 80 by hosting a street party for your community.
Apply for a free road closure for your street on Monday 5 May 2025.
The deadline to apply is 5pm on Saturday 12 April 2025.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) April 4, 2025
Street parties were a common sight back in 1945, where communities came out in force to share the collective joy that the war was over, and now, 80 years on, Manchester City Council is encouraging the people of Manchester to do the same.
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Councillors want locals get the bunting out, bake a Victoria sponge, and celebrate with a street party of their own.
To help facilitate this, during the bank holiday on Monday 5 May, the usual £159 fee for a street closure will be waived by the Council – with a dedicated web page set up to manage people’s applications.
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Manchester is marking VE Day 80 with a full day of ‘meaningful’ celebrations next month / Credit: Jason Garcia (via Flickr) | Becky Fantham (via Unsplash)
All street party applications need to be made by 5pm on 12 April.
On top of these local community events, a range of civic events will also be taking place too, with a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor welcoming veterans and dignitaries to Central Library, as well as an evensong at Manchester Cathedral, followed by a celebratory ringing of the bells.
Residents, businesses, and local education establishments are also encouraged to create pieces of art to hang in their windows, make their own unique commemorative bunting, and so much more to show their appreciation.
“The 80th anniversary of VE Day provides us a valuable opportunity to remember and reflect on the immense sacrifices which were made to ensure that tyranny in Europe was ultimately defeated,” commented Councillor Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“As the decades go on, and the Second World War moves further from living memory, it makes it more important than ever that younger generations learn the lessons of history and keep alive the spirit of those who served our country.
“I am immensely proud to lead the Council during such a meaningful occasion and I would invite all Mancunians to join me in celebration of VE Day 80 this May.”
Featured Image – Travis Leery (via Unsplash)
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The 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester – everything you need to know
Danny Jones
It’s nearly time: the 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester are SO close, and we can barely contain our excitement, so much so that we’ve spent almost as much time trying to decide what we’re going to wear as we have figuring out what time we’re even setting off for Co-op Live.
Heading to the massive indoor arena and our region for the first time ever – this being the first of at least two years the awards will be spending up North – BRITs fever has well and truly gripped the city.
With murals, posters, DJ sets, live gigs and various other events popping up all over 0161, it almost feels like festival season has arrived early.
But with so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of everything, and we intend to soak up every single drop of this huge moment for us Mancs. So, from timings and travel to who’ll be performing throughout the night and more, here’s all the important details you need to know ahead of the 2026 BRIT Awards.
BRITs 2026 guide – all the key info
What time does the BRITs start at Co-op Live and on TV?
This year’s BRIT Awards will air on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service at 8:15pm, and will also be free to watch online via their official YouTube channel for the first time ever.
It will also be the 13th year running that international viewers will be able to tune into the ceremony via the platform.
As for the pre-show festivities at Co-op Live, presenters Tyler West and Charley Marlowe will be hosting the BRITs 2026: ‘Live From The Red Carpet’ livestream, with the broadcast getting underway from 5:30pm onwards.
While an official arrival time for members of the public is yet to be fully confirmed by the venue, doors to the venue typically open at approximately 6:45pm, and as always, we would advise turning up with plenty of time to spare before the show gets going.
Who is performing at the BRITs this year?
Now, most of you already know that the likes of global pop phenomenon and Co-op Live investor himself, Harry Styles, is playing at this year’s BRITs – not to mention an extra special ‘intimate’ gig at the venue, too – as is fellow singer-songwriting superstar Olivia Dean.
That being said, they have continued to trickle out announcements of other acts joining the live music lineup for the 2026 BRITs, including names such as Wolf Alice, Mark Ronson and more.
For instance, they only just announced that popular London-born artist DJ AG will performing a special pop-up set outside Manchester Piccadilly train station on Friday, 27 February from 4-8pm; he’s also teased that some of the acts on the main bill could very well show their faces…
With all that in mind, in case one or two of them might have slipped by you, here is the full list of everyone confirmed to be performing on the night.
Who else is on the live music lineup in Manchester for BRITs Week ’26?
In case you’ve somehow missed the announcements, another big part of BRITs Week as a whole is the raft of very special intimate gigs happening not just here in Greater Manchester but across the country.
Besides the Foo Fighters announcing their own exclusive small-cap show at the O2 Ritz – with War Child UK also helping give away pairs of tickets – these nights are hosted to raise vital funds for the crucial charity that carries out work all over the world.
Teaming up with the BRIT Awards back in 2016, the pair have been generating money for the cause for over a decade now, and the names playing these War Child gigs have only gotten bigger over time.
Arguably the biggest of them all, British pop icon Robbie Williams also joined the list of performers of War Child x DHL charity gigs late on after the initial announcement, to make the comprehensive lineup of BRIT Awards performers truly unbelievable.
Find out who else is on it and which ones are happening in Manchester HERE.
What other events are happening in the city for the BRIT Awards?
Now, besides the pop-up DJ AG set we’ve already mentioned, there are literally TONNES of other bits going on in and around central Manchester to toast their Co-op Live debut.
From the likes of the partnered BRITs ‘FRINGE LAB’ taking place over at New Century Hall – a one-day musicindustry event and live showcase featuring local names like Nxdia, Chloe Slater and more – there is also an entirely FREE music festival happening at the Printworks for the very first time.
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There’s also the dedicated art trail around the city, put together by Manc creatives like Stanley Chow, Kim Thompson and ‘Oskar with a K’, just to name a few.
Oh, AND you’ve got the official ‘A Microdot Design’ exhibit at Piccadilly by Brian Cannon (the man behind Oasis’ Definitely Maybe and countless other bands’ artwork) as well, which has been curated specifically for this year’s BRIT Awards.
Gosh, we really are being spoiled rotten, aren’t we?
Put simply, there’s quite a lot going on this week and even after the ceremony and afterparties have wrapped up in the early hours of Sunday morning. You can see a more extensive list right HERE.
For those of you heading to Co-op Live to watch the BRIT Awards shows in person, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s also worth noting that anyone with a valid BRITs ticket is granted FREE travel from all zones travelling to and from the venue.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
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Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Afterparties and ‘rumours’
Last but not least, we already know that at leastone of the official BRITs afterparties is happening at Soho House on behalf of Sony, but it’s likely that different labels, promoters, artists, and so on will be hosting others at different locations around Manchester city centre.
We do know from when Northern Quarter hosted the Chanel Métiers d’art fashion show that plenty of A-listers went out to various NQ bars and restaurants in and around the event, so we’d wager on a fair few more doing the same on event weekend – especially any famous Mancs.
Not to make you lose your minds too much, but we’ve also heard talk of some rumoured guests turning up for the ceremony itself, so who knows who you might spot walking around this weekend?
All we’ll say is that if you want to catch a glimpse of any of them, be polite and Swift about it…
1 week to go!
That’s right, move over London, it’s our turn💪
The @BRITs take place in Manchester, at the @thecooplive, next Saturday, the first time it’s moved out of London.
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty to return to Manchester for iconic film’s 30th anniversary
Emily Sergeant
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty is heading on a UK tour next year, and will be stopping off here in Manchester.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic British film of the same name, which was released to the world back in 1997, a major national tour of The Full Monty will kick off next year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most famous stages in the spring.
Described as being ‘fast-paced and irresistibly funny’, Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play tells the story of an ordinary group of men who are striving to reclaim their dignity and pride.
The film may be turning 30 years old next year, but the play remains as strikingly relevant today as it ever has, especially resonating powerfully in an era that is marked, once again, by an unfortunate cost of living crisis.
Audiences will get to watch as Gaz and his mates find themselves down on their luck, cast aside, and underestimated, but ultimately determined to fight back… even if it means revealing more about themselves than they ever imagined (wink wink).
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the iconic film, The Full Monty is back by popular demand and the boys are returning to The Opera House!
ATG+ Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 10am Groups Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 12pm General Sale 👉 Thu 12 Mar 10am
“A lot has changed in Britain since The Full Monty appeared thirty years ago,” Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said.
“What hasn’t changed is our need for laughter, compassion and dignity. I’m so delighted the Monty Men are back on the road with all their flaws, jokes and wobbly bits, bringing a bit of much-needed joy to audiences once again.”
So, what can audiences expect? Well, the production will deliver a ‘rollercoaster of laughter and heartbreak’, as crowds are invited to relive the iconic music of the 90s cheering on this unforgettable group of lads as they prepare to put on the show of their lives.
The Full Monty will take to the iconic Manchester Opera House stage from Monday 5 through to Saturday 10 April 2027, as well as dates in other northern cities like Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, York, and Glasgow, alongside many more major UK locations.
Casting is set to be announced soon so keep your eyes peeled.
But in the meantime, tickets are set to go on sale in March – with pre-sales starting on Wednesday 11 March, and general sale starting the day after (Thursday 12 March), both at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Emily Sergeant -
7th April 2025 
