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Strictly Come Dancing Live at Manchester’s AO Arena — tickets, dancers, stage times and more

The stage is set — are you?

Danny Jones - 3rd February 2024

Strictly Come Dancing Live is coming back to Manchester for a double-header this weekend and we can’t wait to be back in the AO Arena.

There are very few things that make us as happy as getting in the mood for a full day of ballroom dancing, pageantry, more than a few glasses of fizz and all-around good vibes.

For anyone who hasn’t soaked up every last detail of the programme or might be tagging along to one of the two dates last minute, we thought we’d put together a quick event guide for you so you know what’s going on and when.

With Strictly Live‘s first Manchester date of 2024 taking place this Saturday, 3 February and then again on Sunday, here’s everything you need to know.

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Are there tickets left for Strictly Come Dancing Live?

You’re in luck: there absolutely is! You can still grab a fair few tickets in the back sections of the AO Arena from £42.50 as well as a handful in the lower tier of seats for around £65 on Saturday, but don’t worry if you’re busy that day, there are plenty of seats still going for Sunday’s showings.

You can even spring for the VIP suites in Electric Lounge if you fancy feeling a bit bougie and having been lucky enough to try it out a couple of times ourselves, we have to admit it’s well worth treating yourself for a special occasion.

You can grab yours HERE.

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What’s the show’s format?

Directed again by Craig Revel Horwood and co., the 2024 Strictly Live Tour showcases all the choreography, live music and sparkle of the much-loved TV series, hosting both an afternoon and evening show on each day.

Seven celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners will twirl and shimmy their way across the AO Arena ballroom floor, ready for the tour judges to provide their wisdom and scores. Just as with last year’s tour, there will also be sign language interpreters for each show.

But it’s the audience who ultimately call the shots, voting for their favourites via text from within the arena, with a champion crowned at the end of every show. Just like the real thing only more compact.

Who’s dancing this year?

Whilst Strictly legends Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood are returning to their judging seats once, with It Takes Two’s Janette Manrara also back as tour host, the lineup for Live performances changes each and every year and, just like show itself, that’s all part of the fun.

Taking the stage this year, the celebrity dancers include actor and model Bobby Brazier, dancing with Dianne Buswell; tennis champion and presenter Annabel Croft with tour partner Graziano Di Prima, journalist and broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy dancing with tour partner Jowita Przystal, as well as fellow presenter Angela Scanlon dancing with Carlos Gu.

Rounding out the 2024 Strictly Live Tour lineup are Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington, along with Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin.

What are the stage times for Strictly Live Manchester?

As for when you’ll get to see all of the glitz and glamour, AO Arena will be opening its doors from 1pm and 6pm for the morning and evening shows, respectively, on Saturday and around 12 noon and then again at 5pm for the Sunday show.

That should give you plenty of time to make your way around the concourse, grab any food and drink you want for the show, as well as some stylish Strictly merch we hope, before finding your seat.

Saturday’s matinee show is due to start around 2:30pm and then reset for the evening show at 7:30pm, with Sunday’s programming kicking off from 1:30pm and then again at 6:30pm.

Parking and public transport for AO Arena

If you’re driving in for the show, there’s a large multi-storey car park based right next to the AO Arena, with access through the car park to the main entrance of the venue.

Trinity Way will be closed southbound between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road for up to an hour as guests leave, but if you’re parking at the Arena itself you’ll still be allowed to exit during this time — just turn right and follow the diversions.

As for getting there via public transport, your nearest stop is Manchester Victoria, with trains and trams going directly into the station where you can then walk directly up the steps and straight into the attached Arena entrance, with plenty of bus stops and taxi bays right outside too.

Read more:

• The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 5 – 11 February 2024
• A brand-new music festival is coming to Altrincham and the lineup is a pure throwback
• Where to watch the 2024 Six Nations in Manchester city centre

And that should just about do you, the only thing left for you to do is get all dolled up and sparkly, sit back and enjoy Strictly Come Dancing Live in Manchester.

The AO Arena absolutely smashed when it came to keeping Mancs entertained last year and you can find out more about all the other big events happening at Manchester’s AO Arena in the first half of 2024 right here on The Manc.

Keeeep dancing!

Featured Images — Marc Brenner/Strictly Come Dancing (via Instagram)