A new month is here, the days are getting lighter, and spring is on the horizon, so of course, we’re really not short of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester – with everything from 360° walk-through projection shows and pie festivals happening this week.
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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The Festival of Pie 2026
The Black Friar
Monday 2 – 28 February
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The Festival of Pie 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group
Did someone say £10 pie? The Festival of Pie is back at The Black Friar is Salford, and in case you didn’t know, that means delicious handmade pies are yours for a bargain price all month long.
Pick from the classic meat and potato, or opt for something a little different like garlic, chicken and leek, mushroom keema and onion bhaji, and our personal favourite, the truffle dauphinoise. Plus, you can add sides like mash and peas for just £3.
The deal is available all day Monday and Tuesday, and 12pm-6.30pm Wednesday to Friday, so don’t miss out before it’s too late.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Monday 2 February – 26 March
LUMINISCENCE / Credit: Supplied
Manchester Cathedral has been lit up with a ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection show this winter.
Combining 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special, visitors are now invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling.
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LUMINISCENCE pays tribute to Manchester’s rich cultural heritage through specially arranged orchestral renditions of iconic anthems – with the setlist including songs by Oasis, The Verve, Joy Division, and Elbow, just to name a few.
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.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
LOWRY 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
Manchester’s swankiest postcode has a brand new resident, and just days after quietly opening its doors, it’s already looking pretty popular.
Kouba is a brand-new Lebanese spot serving everything from brunches and coffees, to Middle Eastern grills and shisha. It’s an all-day, beautiful restaurant with a menu of freshly-cooked, halal food, and it’s going to be absolutely rammed.
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.
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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.
Horrible Histories – The Concert / Credit: BBC / Supplied
For the very first time, your favourite songs and characters from the BAFTA Award-winning CBBC TV series Horrible Histories will be appearing live (and dead) on stage in our city.
Taking to the Manchester Opera House stage, featuring a live band performing the sensational TV songs, including guest appearances from Charles II, Dick Turpin and a bunch of Vikings that we couldn’t stop barging through the stage door, this is one show you don’t want to miss.
A brand-new dessert spot has opened its doors (or should that be windows) in Ancoats this week, and there’s just one thing on the menu… tiramisu. Layr is a hole-in-the-wall for dessert, with three different tiramisu flavours on offer – pistachio, matcha, and classic.
These perfectly-portioned puds are all freshly-made, alcohol-free, and halal.
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Bubble Planet Experience
Depot Mayfield
Saturday 7 February – onwards
Manchester will welcome a ‘dreamlike world’ filled with giant colourful bubbles this week when Bubble Planet Experience arrives.
Bubble Planet Experience has already been visited by more than four million people in cities across the globe, but now it’s time for its first trip to Manchester, where it’ll pop up inside Depot Mayfield, and visitors will be able to explore 10 themed rooms, each one offering a different surreal landscape that will ‘blur the boundaries between dream and reality’.
Tim Burgess – Live and In Conversation / Credit: Supplied
Tim Burgess returns to AO Arena by popular demand, once again, for Q&A-Sides with Chris Hawkins.
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Fans of the iconic musician are in for a treat, as you’ll be treated to an intimate evening of acoustic music and conversation.
This setting offers a unique opportunity for fans to connect with The Charlatans frontman, as he reflects on his storied career, musical inspirations, and personal anecdotes, so expect candid stories, unforgettable music, and more.
Read our full interview with Tim and get your last-minute tickets here.
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Featured Image – Supplied | The Manc Group
What's On
Two nights of Noah Kahan at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, and more for 2026 tour
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Noah Kahan isn’t just gracing Mancunians with his presence once this autumn, we’re lucky enough to host him for two nights of his world tour.
The two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter is heading back to the UK for his biggest tour to date, two years after his last appearance in our city when he played to a packed-out Co-op Live.
Noah Kahan has taken the world by storm in recent years following the release of his acclaimed third album in 2022, Stick Season, which sat in the UK album chart for three years. He has almost 15 billion global streams, sold nearly 12 million albums, and earned 22 Platinum and Gold certifications to date – he’s not doing half bad, is he?
This tour is in support of his fourth studio album, The Great Divide, which is said to build on Kahan’s signature storytelling, encapsulating his thoughts on grappling with success, identity, family, distance, and unspoken truths.
Not only does Kahan provide us with the best music to cry it all out to, he also founded a mental health non-profit, The Busyhead Project, which has raised over $13 million in support of its mission to increase awareness around the importance of mental health.
Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
Noah Kahan will be playing at AO Arena next week / Credit: Publicity Picture
Noah Kahan at AO Arena, Manchester
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide UK & Ireland Tour Dates
Thursday 5 Nov – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Friday 6 Nov – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Monday 9 Nov – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Tuesday 10 Nov – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Friday 13 Nov – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Saturday 14 Nov – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Thursday 19 Nov – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Saturday 21 Nov – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Sunday 22 Nov – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Are there any tickets left?
Sadly, both Manchester dates are now fully sold out, but keep your eyes peeled on any resale sites, as you could still be in with a chance to secure some last-minute tickets.
Click HERE to access these tickets via the Ticketmaster general sale or verified resale.
What are the stage times for Noah Kahan in Manchester?
Doors are set to open at 6pm. However timings for both support act Bella Kay and then Noah Kahan are yet to be announced, though Kahan should be on stage around 8-9:15pm, judging from previous gigs.
Be sure to keep your eyes on their Instagram accounts, as well as the AO Arena website, for further information, as stage times are typically announced on the day of the show.
One thing we know for certain is that the show will finish before 11pm, due to AO Arena‘s curfew.
Who is supporting Noah Kahan at the AO Arena?
For both Manchester dates, Noah Kahan will be supported by Bella Kay.
Bella Kay is a 20 year-old Texas-born singer-songwriter. These dates will be some of the largest performances of her career to date, following the release of her debut album, My Reckless Abandon, back in July.
Similarly to Kahan, her album is an exceptionally honest account of her journey through self-acceptance.
Noah Kahan on stage / Credit: Raph PH (via Flickr)
Expected setlist for The Great Divide Tour 2026
As always, we cannot confirm the exact setlist as everything can depend on the city or differing tracks for multi-night venue runs, but this is an expected The Great Divide Tour setlist:
American Cars
Doors
All My Love
Deny Deny Deny
Staying Still
Haircut
Downfall
She Calls Me Back
Dashboard
Dial Drunk
Willing and Able
Porch Light
Orbiter (Extended)
Pain Is Cold Water
Maine
Paid Time Off
The View Between Villages (Extended)
Northern Attitude
The Great Divide
Orange Juice
New Perspective
End of August
Homesick
Stick Season
Getting to AO Arena
Tram
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena andVictoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through 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.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – prices for beer, mulled wine, bratwurst, and more
Emily Sergeant
It’s timeeeeee… Manchester Christmas Markets are officially open for 2026.
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 sees an even bigger return of Albert Square, and there’s also some new locations too for 2026. Lincoln Square has joined in on the action, and there’s also some big changes to St Ann’s Square – with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’, bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There’s a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre, but we know there’s one question on everyone’s lips… ‘what’s it gonna cost me?’.
We’ve been running around the markets this morning checking out all the prices on things like beer, mulled wine, bratwurst, and more, so without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
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Average food and drink prices at Manchester Christmas Markets 2026
Mulled wine – £6.50
Beer – £7
Prosecco – £7
Hot chocolate – £5
Bratwurst – £8
Albert Square
Bratwurst King on Albert SquareThe North Pole pub at Albert Square
Emily Sergeant -
30th January 2026 
