Manchester Comic Con is back for 2023 and while we’re sure you’ve heard this one before, it really is looking bigger and better than ever.
Taking place over at Bowlers Exhibition Centre Arena in Stretford, Mancs will once again get a taste of the world-famous comic book and pop culture convention right here on our doorstep.
Bringing together some of the best from movies, TV and gaming right now, not to mention welcoming a fair few big names through their doors, it’s going to be a brilliant weekend.
As if 2022 wasn’t a great turnout already, this year’s event is selling out fast and with all this stuff to do, it’s no wonder. Here’s what you can expect from Comic Con Manchester 2023.
Special guest appearances
Last year’s MCR Comic Con saw the likes of Zachary Quinto, Lord of the Rings‘ Gimli himself, John Rhys Davies, The Walking Dead‘s Chandler Riggs (a.k.a. ‘Corrrral’) and more, but this year is looking stacked with ever more famous faces.
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The names confirmed for 2023 include Chuck and Shazam! star Zachary Levi, The Walking Dead‘s Lauren Cohan, Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan; comedy legend Seth Green, Chace Crawford and Jessie T Usher from the hit Amazon show, The Boys, My Name Is Earl‘s Ethan Suplee and countless others.
You can see the full list HERE but, to be honest, that’s more than enough to convince us to come along.
As for the main attractions on the day itself (you know, other than the pretty celebrities), they’re really pulling out all the stops this year.
From a giant Transformers Megatron, a ‘Do not open, dead inside’ TWD door photo prop, the Tardis from Doctor Who, Del Boy’s sofa and Reliant Regal from Only Fools and Horses, to Hopper’s truck from Stranger Things, a Lord of the Rings hobbit hole and many more, there’s loads to choose from.
There’s even a Star Wars-themed Cantina Space Bar where you can grab yourself a drink, not to mention some top-notch scran from Mama’s Kitchen just round the corner. Don’t mind if we do.
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Credit: Comic Con Manchester (via Instagram)
Live music, entertainment and more
But it isn’t just things to look at and pose with for a photo, thanks to lead sponsors brsk — the superfast fibre broadband firm based in Greater Manchester — Comic Con Manchester 2023 will also have a massive video game zone for you to play some top titles against your mates and others at the event.
Beyond the other games available on the day, brsk have also put together their own virtual reality experience for this year’s convention. You know how we love a bit of VR.
You’ll also be able to enjoy fairground rides, get your hands on plenty of official merch (which we’re sure will complement your undoubtedly dynamite cosplays perfectly), as well as the chance to grab signed action figures, memorabilia and more courtesy of Action Force Toys.
Last but not certainly least, the event will be treated to a live performance from Yorkshire band, Lina and the Lions, who are absolutely experts when it comes to playing these cons and don’t just play some proper good tunes but fully immerse themselves in the culture.
Speaking ahead of this year’s event, brsk’s Regional Head in Manchester, Gareth Cornelius, said: “For us, building a connection goes far beyond our broadband” — which is already providing over 260,000 UK homes with high speeds of up to 900Mbps, by the way.
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“At brsk, we believe that sponsoring an event like Comic Con Manchester, in partnership with the team from Bowlers, is an important opportunity to get to know and support the community in which we operate. Also, having fun is part of our company’s culture and what’s more fun than a day of superheroes and cosplay?”
Comic Con Manchester 2023 at the BEC Arena runs from 9am-6pm on Saturday, 29 July and runs right through until Sunday with the same opening times.
You can grab entry tickets to the full weekend and the afterparty events, or if you simply want to grab a photo and an autograph with some of the famous faces, you can do so HERE.
We hope to catch plenty of you there and we expect to see you in your best cosplay, of course!
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
One of the most iconic literary and film sagas of the 21st century is celebrating 20 years since the first book was published next year.
And to celebrate this milestone moment, you’ll be able to watch the first film live in dozens of cities across the UK surrounded by the beauty of more than a thousand candles while a live orchestra plays the soundtrack to accompany.
That’s right, Twilight in Concert is coming to Manchester.
Undeniably one of the most successful young adult film franchises of all time, with five films (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2) to its name, The Twilight Saga has impressively grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
The films were adapted from author Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed literary series that won multiple awards over its time, sold more than 160 million copies worldwide, and was translated into 49 different languages.
But no matter whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, Twilight In Concert promises to be an unforgettable event for fans of the belovedfranchise, two decades on.
Set in an enchanting candlelit setting, TwilightIn Concert offers fans a unique opportunity to re-live the film that started it all, while musicians take the stage to perform the beloved score in perfect synchronisation with the original movie presented in its entirety on a cinema-size screen.
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians / Credit: Supplied
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians to transport you on a journey deep into the heart of Forks.
Twilight in Concert will be stopping off at 12 other major UK cities on its tour, including other northern hubs such as Sheffield, York, and Liverpool, as well as arriving at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 February 2026.
Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more and get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
A brand new grunge and hard rock festival is kicking off in Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester grungers, hardcore heads, and fans of all things rock, pay attention because there is a brand new festival coming to the city centre – and it has possibly the best name for a live music event we’ve heard in some time.
Ahem… let us introduce you to Broken Knees Fest.
Yes, donning a name that feels increasingly more relatable the closer we get to the wrong side of 30, Broken Knees Festival 2025 marks the inaugural edition of Manchester’s newest series of rock and grunge gigs, helping spotlight rising artists across the genres from within two crucial grassroots venues.
Very loud music inside tightly-packed, small-capacity rooms? It’s a winning formula that never fails. It’s about time we broke a sweat – here’s hoping the knees just about hold out.
Hosted in the heart of the Northern Quarter, which continues to thrive as a creative hub for new music and art of all forms, the festival will be debuting at small-cap favourites Gullivers and Castle Hotel just across the road.
As you can see, the lineup is full of up-and-coming talent within the guitar-driven space, but you can bank on more than a few bringing their die-hard fans to fill the place out to the rafters.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer punk, hardcore, grunge or another specific sub-genre found somewhere in between the ever-sprawling rock spectrum, there’s something to suit all alternative tastes at this one.
With the likes of Bohmen, Mavis, One Dimensional Creatures and Smother headlining the first-ever iteration of the festival across four stages, you can expect plenty of energy and even more noise.
Set up by the events group of the same name, Broken Knees Promotions, who help platform rock and alt acts across Greater Manchester and beyond year-round, this is more than just a festival: it’s a grassroots celebration through and through.
Best of all, if you’re interested, you don’t have to wait long because it’s kicking off next month.
Gigs go off in here. If you know, you know… (Credit: Audio North)
Broken Knees Fest 2025 is happening on the weekend of 21-22 June, and you’ll be glad to hear that, as a brand new event, prices have been kept nice and low.
The early bird window had prices starting from just £12, and although this tier has now sold out, day tickets are still only £15 while a full weekend pass will set you back £25.
Until then, why not dive into another load of new Manchester music? We round up artists from all genres each month; we’ll also confess to leaning slightly more towards the heavier stuff from time to time.