It’s been a long time coming, especially as we have been talking about Christmas here at The Manc for weeks on end now, but the most wonderful time of the year has arrived, and that means there’s absolutely loads of festive events and activities for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 2 – Sunday 22 December
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Christmas Markets are now back open for 2024.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
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Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Bar Hütte
Kampus & Great Northern
Monday 2 December – onwards
Bar Hütte / Credit: Supplied
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
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Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
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Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
Christmas Screenings at King Street Townhouse / Credit: KSTH
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
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Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
Spectrum: A World of Illumination / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new Christmas attraction to get us all in the festive spirit has now opened.
Just outside of Manchester, titled ‘Spectrum: A World of Illumination’, this spectacular never-seen-before trail is lighting up Cheshire with a month-long residency in Knutsford, and will be running every day in December besides Christmas Day, plus a few extra dates in November.
The immersive maze features moving giant candy canes, overhead Christmas-inspired installations like a laser show, and tunnels of light.
Not enough light trails on this list for your liking?
As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, light trails are pretty much a given every time the festive season rolls around, and luckily, there’s plenty of them dotted across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and across the North West this year.
If deciding which immersive experience to head on down to over these next couple of weeks is a tricky task for you though,
The Grotto at the Trafford Centre / Credit: Supplied
The main man is making our northern city his new home at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping centres this winter time.
Running all the way up until Christmas Eve, Santa is swapping the cold air of the North Pole for the cloudy skies of Manchester, as he starts his annual journey around the world by making a visit to our region.
Not only is Santa travelling with his grotto, he’s also giving visitors the chance to experience the world of the North Pole as he brings the chilly destination to the Trafford Centre.
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester, and it’s recently been announced that it’ll be sticking around until the new year.
Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Wicked The Musical / Credit: Jennifer DiNoia / Limited Engagement
Hold space for this one in your diaries… because Wicked The Musical is landing in Manchester from this week, and will be taking over the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the festive season.
Sure, there may be a major motion picture adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande currently on in the cinema right now, but if you’re keen to see the beloved musical production on stage in the way it was originally intended, then you can head on down to the Palace Theatre over the next couple of weeks to see the story of Elphaba and Galinda live.
Of course, this has been one of the hottest tickets in town for quite a while now, but there’ll still some last-minute seats left to get your hands on, so keep your eyes peeled.
Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto is back for 2024, and the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again this year.
Running on the Designer Outlet’s Big Wheel every Thursday to Sunday throughout December, the ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Looking for something else to do at Cheshire Oaks this month? There’s plenty of other festive events happening in the run-up to Christmas.
With alpine lodges, festive drinks, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and of course, a helter skelter, The Winter Village is now open at Cheshire Oaks.
Christmas films like Home Alone, The Grinch, and The Polar Express will also be screened in the lodge, and plus, did you know that Cheshire Oaks is home to the UK’s largest Christmas tree, that you can actually go inside?
Find out more and grab tickets to any events here.
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Lightwaves 2024
Salford Quays
Thursday 5 – Sunday 22 December
Lightwaves 2024 / Credit: MediaCity | Laszlo Toth
Lightwaves Salford is back this week.
Presented by Quays Culture and free for all to attend, this year’s Lightwaves Salford will feature 14 illuminated artworks along a 2km fully-accessible trail around MediaCity and Salford Quays, and the mesmerising immersive experience will include installations of different scale using light, sound, and technology.
The full experience will run from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 December, with a special extended run of the showstopping water based ‘Monad’ artwork overlooking MediaCity’s iconic Piazza until 22 December.
Put Big Light On Festival / Credit: Bolton Council
A festival full of fantastic immersive light art installations is set to shine on Bolton this weekend.
Back by popular demand after proving to be such a success during its inaugural year in 2023, with the first-of-its-kind event attracting more than 50,000 visitors, the Put Big Light On Festival is back for another year of festive magic.
The festival will take place right across Bolton town centre from this Thursday through to Sunday, and this year’s lineup feature magical’s creations from a diverse range of artists.
This is your chance to see some of Henry Orlik’s work live never before.
Fine art and sculpture company Winsor Birch is hosting a very special private art event presented by BBC’s Antique Roadshow Specialist, Grant Ford, at the stunning Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire this weekend, prior to a major 2025 art exhibition that’ll be heading to New York.
Highlights and masterpiece original paintings from the reclusive British surrealist that have not seen in decades will be showcased
Featured Image – Bolton Council | Skate Manchester | Jennifer DiNoia / Limited Engagement
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 5 – 11 January 2026
Emily Sergeant
Well hello there 2026, it’s nice to see you.
That’s right, we’ve said goodbye to 2025 and it’s now our first full week of a brand-new year. Of course, with a new year comes a whole load of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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VOGUE: Inventing the Runway
Aviva Studios
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 January 2026
VOGUE: Inventing the Runway / Credit: The Manc Group
This is the history of the runway, told like never before.
Ready to lose yourself in the world of fashion shows past, present, and future? VOGUE: Inventing the Runway has now opened down at Aviva Studios
This spectacular show uses Vogue’s remarkable archive and fashion network to create an experience that brings together the industry’s leading voices.
From Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood, to Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Virgil Abloh, and many many more, you’ll get to be immersed in the journey of fashion on the runway from its origins right through to the modern day.
Looking to escape the elements and have your mind boggled this winter? Sounds like a trip to Museum of Illusions is on the cards then.
It’s time to let your competitive side out – get ready to experience the city’s most unique attraction like never before. Race through the vortex, create the best mirror image, and complete the brain gym the fastest to win the dazzling trophy at the end.
Whether you’re team building with your work lot, or taking your mates for a bit of healthy competition, it’s a great one to have a go at.
A huge gaming event is happening in Manchester at the moment.
With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP at the Science and Industry takes ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming, with everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more.
Power UP is taking place each weekend only throughout this month, with each ticket including unlimited play all day.
Have you seen that Vue Manchester Quayside has had an ‘Ultra Lux’ upgrade?
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and the Quayside cinema is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have been installed across seven screens, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house, as each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests, a personal table for snacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler, and even a back and legs that recline independently.
The Great British Rail Sale / Credit: Northern | Transpennine Express
The Great British Rail Sale is returning for 2026 this week, and train ticket prices will be slashed by up to 50% or more.
Millions of discounted train tickets for half term activities, weekend getaways, and even commuting will be up for grabs next week, as the week-long rail sale – which runs from 6 to 12 January 2026 – will give passengers the chance to save well over 50% on many advance and off-peak tickets.
The reduced fares can be used to travel on thousands of popular routes between 13 January and 25 March 2026.
Fancy making the most of all the January dining deals on offer over these next couple of weeks?
The time has come again for Manchester’s restaurants and bars to slash their prices in a bid to entice customers to keep eating and drinking out all throughout January, and that means hundreds of places are offering up half-price scran, added freebies, or two-for-one offers this month.
There’s loads of offers beyond Manchester city centre too, as suburban gems are getting in on the action in 2026.
So whether you’re looking for a date night for less, an affordable family dinner, or a cheap eat after work with your mates, we’ve got you covered.
Read our massive round-up of January dining deals here.
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Queen By Candlelight
Manchester Opera House
Friday 9 January
Queen by Candlelight / Credit: Supplied
This is you chance to experience Queen as you’ve never heard them before.
This legendary concert – which has played across the world, and including here in Manchester already back in 2021 – will be taking to the Manchester Opera House stage, and featuring some of the most iconic songs of all time – including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’, and many more.
Be prepared for an incredible night of Queen anthems, performed by a live cast of West End singers and accompanied by an incredible live rock band.
The first Stockport Vinyl Record Fair of 2026 is happening this weekend.
Taking place inside the Greater Manchester town’s Guildhall several times a year, the Stockport Vinyl Record Fair is a celebration of all things vinyl, and is known for being a fantastic event for music fans, but more-specifically, music fans.
You’ll want to get yourself down to Stockport Guildhall this Sunday from 10am – 4pm if you want to see tonnes of traders with vinyl records and CDs in abundance.
Could a trip to the theatre could be on the cards this year?
Greater Manchester has firmly earned itself a spot as a place for world-renowned touring theatre productions to make a stop off at.
This beloved industry has now well and truly bounced-back post pandemic – with the region’s three main theatres, Palace Theatre Manchester, Opera House Manchester, and The Lowry, all having welcomed some absolute show-stopping productions in 2025.
Our region’s theatre events calendar is already jam-packed with award-winning musicals, family-friendly plays, inventive dance productions, and so much more in 2026, so we’ve rounded up some of the best shows to see and grab tickets for this year.
If there’s one thing Manchester is known for across the world, it’s music.
Our region is not only a historic musical hub in and of itself, having been the birthplace of so many legendary famous names, but it’s also a major UK stopping point on many global artists’ tour schedules too, thanks to the city’s various sizes of stage and venues.
This means there’s a jam-packed schedule of gigs happening all throughout 2026 – with something for everyone, no matter your taste in music.
Read our picks for 10 of the best gigs happening in Manchester this year here.
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What else is there to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2026?
Oh, so much. So so much.
The next 12 months are shaping up to be another monumental year for Manchester, with absolutely loads of huge developments, events, and reopenings on the horizon. Expect major global events like the BRITs and The MOBO Awards, huge openings like The Medlock Hotel at the expanded Etihad Stadium, and the relaunch of venues like Manchester’s popular Cat Cafe, and The Spinners Rest (formerly known as The Shamrock).
We’ve rounded up some of the best things to look forward to throughout the year here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group | Supplied | Unsplash
What's On
The biggest theatre shows coming to Manchester in 2026
Danny Jones
The last 12 months were great for the arts in our city, and we have every faith that 2026 will be just a good if not better, especially when you look at some of the theatre shows coming to Manchester city centre this year.
From all-time favourites to never-before-seen in our region, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into this year as countless talents get ready to tread the Northern boards.
Let’s not waste any more time, shall we?
10 big theatre productions coming to Manchester | 2026
1. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
We’re going to start off with one that started over the Christmas period and a timeless tale by C.S. Lewis. That’s right, in case you hadn’t heard already, the most famous book in The Chronicles of Narnia has been remagined for the theatre and is as stunning as it sounds.
Currently on at The Lowry in Salford Quays until 11 January, you can see the much-loved winter fairyland fantasy brought to life like never before. Find out what we made of right here.
Childhood memories brought to life like never before. 🤩
In a rather fitting take on one of the most iconic moments in music history, the stage adaptation of the real experiences behind Live Aid and the performances that made it such a legendary event is still helping people relive the time and raise money for charity.
Helping mark the 40th anniversary since July 1985, when the world united in song, it’s also worth noting that 10% of the sale of all tickets will be donated directly to the ongoing Band Aid Charitable Trust. Read more down below.
Oh yes, another beloved bit of 1980s pop culture; those who’ve seen the throwback kung-fu classic will know how perfect this family-friendly film will know just how well this story will suit the stage, and anyone who hasn’t is in for a real treat…
The well-choreographed, kinetic, fight-based romp already had plenty of rhythm, so we can’t wait to see how it translates with a full-blown soundtrack. Find out more and get ready to grab your tickets HERE.
4. CATS
From one legendary franchise to another, the one and only CATS will also be returning to Manchester city centre in the summer, landing at our very own Palace Theatre.
This one needs no introduction, really; with an open-air residency at none other than London’s Regent Park, it really is in a world of its own. You can see dates, times and ticket options right HERE.
Credit: Press shot (supplied)
5. Dirty Dancing
Sticking with the 80s nostalgia, another firm favourite and major Hollywood movie was Dirty Dancing. From the timeless theme song, ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’, to the late Patrick Swayze’s smooth movies and lines like “Nobody puts ‘Baby’ in a corner”, you already know all the beats.
That being said, the musical version has gone on to find a passionate, multi-generational fandom of its own. Also coming to the Palace – you find all the details below.
We’re very lucky here in Manchester to be treated to some of the biggest theatrical IPs on the planet, and the smash-hit West End production of the 1977 Broadway staple Annie might just be one of the quintessential examples.
A timeless ‘dramedy’ about an orphan being taken in by a rich family, most people know the plot and, indeed, the songs even if they don’t realise what it’s from. Grab your tickets now.
Oh hell yes. Following the year that WAS Oasis, their reunion hasn’t just sparked Britpop making a comeback in general, but even the return of 90s fashion and the aesthetic as a whole.
With that in mind, when we heard about a brand new play about the rivalry between the Burnage brothers and the Blur boys from down south, it was always going to be on our radar. Find out all the info down below.
Speaking of throwbacks, how about some more noughties nostalgia? The musical version of cult favourite US teen comedy, Mean Girls, is finally coming to Manc audiences.
Making its Northern debut in February 2026 at the recently refreshed Manchester Opera House, we can expect this one to go down well with multiple generations. You can book your seats HERE.
Now true theatregoers and/or bookworms will know how much of a cult following this novel turned play has, and even if you’ve never heard of it before, it’s well worth crossing off your list.
A mix of whodunnit tropes and the familiar coming-of-age synopsis, we’d say you can guess plenty of what’s to come, but we assure you there’s plenty of surprises in store…
And for a slightly more ‘adult’ finish to proceedings, those after something a bit more cheeky can book themselves on to see the first-ever Manchester edition of ‘The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody‘.
Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like: a somewhat naughty and comedic spin on Star Wars, involving the sexier side of the force, if you will. Award-winning and also promising plenty of laughs, it’s turning Depot Mayfield into a sexy space theatre from late spring until August. Look below to find out more.
The award-winning '@empirestrips Back', a #StarWars burlesque parody show, is coming to Manchester. 😅
Emily Sergeant -
28th November 2024 
