What's On

Trafford Centre’s FREE emergency services day is returning with 50 vehicles, live demonstrations, and more

PSA, you can also meet Fireman Sam.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th July 2026

Dozens of emergency services vehicles, live demonstrations, meet and greets, and more will be heading to the Trafford Centre this summer.

Back by popular demand, now that schools across Greater Manchester have broken up for the summer holidays, the North West’s biggest celebration of the emergency services back at the Trafford Centre early next month – offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the lifesaving work carried out across the region every day.

Running from 10am through to 4pm, this free family-friendly event promises a full day of excitement, education, and entertainment.

Visitors can expect around 50 emergency service vehicles, live demonstrations, and interactive displays.

The Trafford Centre’s FREE emergency services day is returning next month / Credit: Supplied

Taking place on car parks 10 & 11 outside The Great Hall, the event will welcome personnel from more than 50 organisations throughout the region – including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), and Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

ADVERTISEMENT

There will also be representatives from the British Army, RNLI, and many more.

Both modern and vintage vehicles will be on display to give visitors a fascinating insight into how the emergency services have evolved over the years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Families can also enjoy a host of additional attractions while they’re there, including meet-and-greets at intervals with Fireman Sam, free face painting, fairground rides, ice cream vans, balloons, and live performances from local choirs.

There’ll be 50 vehicles, live demonstrations, and loads more happening / Credit: Supplied

The event will be officially opened at 10:20am with a short ceremony led by Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Kate Green, alongside other local dignitaries.

“Our annual Emergency Services Day is a brilliant day out for all ages, and a great way to say thank you to our amazing emergency services and support our everyday heroes,” explained Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at Trafford Centre.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re proud to host such an inspiring day here at Trafford Centre.”

Read more:

Emergency Services Day 2026 is taking place at the Trafford Centre from 10am on Thursday 6 August, and you can find out more here.

What's On

Strictly Come Dancing Live to return to Manchester as part of 2027 UK tour

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Strictly Come Dancing Live is set to return in 2027 for a spectacular new UK arena tour.

Hot on the heels of last weekend’s dazzling launch show for the 2026 BBC series, audiences are invited to get their dancing shoes on and their ’10’ paddles at the ready, as a new lineup of celebrities and professionals will be taking to the dancefloor for 29 shows across the country – including three shows in Manchester.

Head judge Shirley Ballas will be hitting the road, alongside fellow judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood, with Janette Manrara also presenting.

Directed by Craig Revel Horwood himself, Strictly Come Dancing Live takes the magic of the BBC TV show and turns it up to another level.

Expect jaw-dropping group dances, breathtaking routines, stunning costumes, and live music from the legendary Strictly band and singers, all brought together in a first-class arena production. 

As always with the Strictly Live Tour, there is one very important decision to be made at every show – which couple will lift the Glitterball Trophy?

And that decision is not in the hands of the judges. The judges are there to critique and provide their invaluable opinions on each dance routine, but they do not hold the power, as this lies with the audience instead, who can vote using their mobile phones to decide who is the winner.

Strictly Come Dancing Live is returning to Manchester as part of its 2027 UK tour / Credit: Supplied

The tour kicks off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 22 January for the first of five shows, and will then cha-cha-cha its way across the UK, visiting other major northern cities like Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Leeds, before arriving in Manchester at the start of February.

Strictly Come Dancing Live will take to the AO Arena stage on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027, with two shows happening on the Saturday.

Read more:

Tickets officially go on sale this week, with venue pre-sales beginning at 10am on Thursday 24 September, before general sale starts on Friday (25 September), also at 10am.

Get yourself some tickets when they go live here.

Featured Image – Johan Persson (via Unsplash)

What's On

Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Niall Horan announces massive Manchester arena show

Former One Direction member now-soloist Niall Horan is making his return to Co-op Live as part of his UK shows: ‘Dinner Party Live On Tour’.

Known for his work alongside One Direction bandmates Harry, Louis, Liam and Zayn, Horan has since started a solo career and continued to have a large fanbase.

His singles include ‘Nice To Meet Ya’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Drive Safe’ and ‘This Town’ with the latter amassing over 1 billion streams since its release in 2017.

Collaborating with the likes of pop artist Anne-Marie, Myles Smith, Maren Morris, the Irish-born musician’s style fuses both acoustic and country sounds.

Niall’s most recent LP Dinner Party dropped earlier this summer with the album title inspired by his initial encounter with his long-time girlfriend.

Gig guide – Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester

Niall Horan UK tour dates

  • Tue 22 September – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Wed 23 September – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Fri 25 September – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Mon 28 September – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Tue 29 September – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Fri 2 October – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat 3 October – London, UK – The O2

Are there any tickets left for Niall Horan at Co-op Live in Manchester?

If you’ve got ‘Slow Hands’ then you better get booking tickets to Niall Horan’s upcoming concert at Co-op Live in Manchester now as they’re selling pretty quickly.

You can find tickets for both seated and standing options starting from £50.75 HERE.

Niall Horan setlist for 2026 UK tour

Although the official setlist for Niall Horan’s upcoming Dinner Party Live On Tour is yet to be revealed, here’s the tracklist for his most recent LP of the same name:

  • Tastes So Good
  • Dinner Party
  • Monochromatic
  • She Gets It From Her Mother
  • Better Man
  • Little More Time
  • Flowers
  • Boys Are Fun
  • Fighting Over Nothing
  • Pretty
  • Die If I Don’t
  • End of an Era

What are the stage times for Niall Horan in Manchester?

Doors for Niall Horan open from 6.30pm and expect to fall in love with singer-songwriter flowerovlove who will take to the stage just before.

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you have a ‘Little More Time’ to lie in before the clock hits twelve.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, 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 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

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.

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:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

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.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

More What's On

Affiliate

‘Queen of Christmas’ Mariah Carey announces huge Manchester arena gig this December

Art & Culture

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 21 – 27 September 2026

City Centre

Giant inflatable monsters descend on Manchester again next month for their BIGGEST celebration to date

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches