Morrissey is playing just two UK shows in 2020 – here’s how to get tickets

The Manc - 3rd March 2020

What's On

Blue Planet III live in concert is coming to Manchester next year

Daisy Jackson

Blue Planet III live in concert is coming to Manchester next year

The spectacular Blue Planet III will come to Manchester live in concert next year, bringing the hit BBC nature documentary to life with a live orchestra.

The new arena tour will pull together the most breathtaking footage beneath the waves from across the series, curated for a giant Ultra HD LED screen.

Blue Planet III will hit screens later this year, narrated once again by the legendary Sir David Attenborough.

Filmed across four years, it will take audiences everywhere from tropical coral reefs to the darkest depths of the ocean.

When the Blue Planet III Live In Concert show arrives in Manchester, it will be hosted by series executive producer Elizabeth White, who’ll share incredible stories and behind-the-scenes insights from the making of the series.

The score once again comes from Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, with Thom Lukas and Laurentia Editha for Bleeding Fingers Music, performed live by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

The companion live concert is preparing to take audiences even deeper into the underwater world on an epic audio-visual scale.

Specially curated footage from Blue Planet III will be shown on a state-of-the-art 200 sq metre Ultra HD LED screen – one of the largest of its kind used for an orchestral touring screen show and approximately the size of a tennis court.

The brand-new Blue Planet III Live in Concert will kick off here in Manchester before heading to Birmingham, Glasgow, and London.

Executive Producer Elizabeth White says: “Making Blue Planet III has taken us to places we never imagined we’d film. But there’s something about bringing that footage into a concert arena full of people, with the score performed live all around you, that will be truly special.

“This tour is our chance to share the series on a completely different scale, and I can’t wait to be there live, revealing the extraordinary stories behind what audiences are seeing on screen.”

Hans Zimmer says: “There’s nothing like experiencing this score live with an orchestra, especially when it’s paired with the extraordinary visuals of the life underwater. Thom, Laurentia and I are ecstatic that audiences will be able to enjoy our score in this way.”

Blue Planet III Live in Concert will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 21 May 2027 – general release tickets start from £40 and go on sale from 11am on Friday 16 October HERE.

Featured image: BBC Studios

What's On

Full list of locations announced for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – including NEW places

Emily Sergeant

The Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: Supplied, Manchester City Council

The full list of locations for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 has been announced.

Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bringing thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.

This year will see a bigger return of Albert Square, after the headline-grabbing partial return at last year’s event, with the big wheel also set to make a comeback.

There’s also set to be some new locations too for 2026, with Lincoln Square joining in on the action. And there will also be big changes to St Ann’s Square, according to the Council, with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’ bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.

There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre.

And the Council has now revealed the full list of locations where you’ll find stalls this year, including giving a teaser on what types of stalls will be in each location.

Where to find the cheapest drinks at the Manchester Christmas Markets, from beer to mulled wine — Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 locations have been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr

2022 Manchester Christmas Markets — Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 locations have been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr

Albert Square

Albert Square is gearing up to be a must-visit Christmas Market location this year, hosting a packed programme of festive experiences, including:

A 50-metre ferris wheel and a vintage helter-skelter.
A festive pop-up pub with live entertainment (which is new for 2026)
Food, drink, and craft stalls from local and international traders
A glittering Christmas tree with its life-size sleigh
Manchester’s very-own giant Santa sitting high above the markets in front of the Town Hall

The markets will be open here daily from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027, except for Christmas Day.

Lincoln Square

A brand-new Christmas market location for 2026, just a step away from Albert Square.

Here you can enjoy festive refreshments, seasonal treats, and warming drinks from local and international traders – with jerk chicken, homestyle lasagne and pasta, Korean corn dogs, and so much more.