Musicians, stand-ups, poets and singers are all coming together for a live event this April – raising vital funds for five of Manchester’s favourite night-time venues.
‘Manchester’s Last Big Night In’ promises an evening of music, comedy and special performances – including sets from Justin Moorhouse; Happy Monday’s vocalist Rowetta; North Manchester band Scuttlers; and renowned poet Tony Walsh.
Legendary record-spinner Clint Boon will also round off the event with a one-hour DJ set.
Performances will be streamed from a quintet of locations across the city – including Frog & Bucket, Tribeca, Bar Pop, Matt & Phred’s, and 42s nightclub.
Hosted by Manchester media agency 1214 Media, Manchester’s Last Big Night In will take place on Saturday 10April – with proceeds going towards five night-time venues that have struggled during the pandemic.
Shaz Irshad, Director at 1214 said: “The lockdown has affected society in many ways, keeping us apart from our family and friends.
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“Let’s say goodbye to these sad times and raise some funds for some iconic Manchester venues as they live stream waves of love and laughter from home grown talent.”
Jessica Toomey, Managing Director, Frog & Bucket added: “Manchester was locked down longer than any other English city and deserves to come out of it with a big bang.
“What better way to celebrate than championing home grown talent and raising vital funds for some great venues.”
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Local Manchester artists Loveartpix and Suli Irshad have created bespoke merchandise that can be bought in conjunction with the fundraiser – with 100% of profits going towards the cause. These limited edition t-shirts can be purchased via the event page on 1214 Media or directly through Suli’s website.
You can get involved in Manchester’s Last Big Night In by visiting the Crowdfunder page where a minimum donation of £5 guarantees full access to the whole event.
A prize draw worth over £1,000 is also up for grabs.
Gladiators Live Tour to make ‘triumphant’ return to Manchester on UK arena tour
Emily Sergeant
The Gladiators Live Tour will make a triumphant return in 2026.
Following its explosive debut in 2025 and overwhelming fan demand, the Gladiators Live Tour is set to head out on a UK tour later this year, bringing the iconic phenomenon back to arenas nationwide for an electrifying new run of shows, and making a stop off in Manchester, of course.
Audiences will, once again, have the chance to experience the action-packed spectacle featuring the stars of the hit BBC reboot series on an epic scale.
The 2025 live tour thrilled audiences nationwide, selling over 200,000 tickets and proving the arena spectacular is ‘bigger, bolder, and more electrifying’ than ever, and that energy is only set to continue this year when the show returns to Manchester’s popular AO Arena.
GLADIATORS, READY!
Following its epic debut in 2025 the triumphant live show brings the energy to Manchester on 14 & 15 Nov!
This adrenaline-fuelled event sees the legendary Gladiators storm back into the arena to face fearless contenders in a heart-pounding live adaptation of the smash-hit television phenomenon.
Expect iconic fan-favourite events, breathtaking stunts, epic head-to-head battles and the unforgettable Eliminator finale.
Featuring stars from the hit BBC series, audiences are being told to expect a truly immersive, high-octane experience, as arenas are transformed into modern gladiatorial battlegrounds complete with purpose-built sets, spectacular lighting, and cinematic staging.
The Gladiators Live Tour 2026 kicks off in Aberdeen on 10 October, before heading to other major cities like Glasgow, London, and Birmingham, as well as northern locations like Leeds and Newcastle, and of course, Manchester’s AO Arena for two nights on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November.
Tickets officially go on sale this Friday 27 March, with two shows per day available, and you can grab them when they go live here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
An official and completely FREE Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026
Danny Jones
Yes, last year’s newest and official Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026, promising more positive pre- and post-race vibes than the first time around.
Here’s hoping for some lovely sunshine to go along with the atmosphere on 19 April.
Set to host the city centre’s runners and spectators for just the second time, Circle Square’s Symphony Park will be home to the 2026 Manc Marathon fan park, complete with independent pop-ups, big screens to watch all the action on, plus plenty more.
Best of all, it’s completely free to enter all day long for participants and those of you cheering your loved ones along, as well as being an ideal all-ages spot for families to relax and enjoy.
Located just moments from the finish line, just outside the University of Manchester along Oxford Road Corridor, you simply follow it down towards the tall Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech buildings.
Circle Square itself hosts many events and activities all throughout the year, and they couldn’t resist getting back in on the raceday party once again, as more legends are set to take part than ever.
For context, 2025 saw more than 35,000 sign-ups, but this April is expected to see a whopping sold-out crowd exceeding 42,000 – a record number for the annual event.
With that in mind, finding a place to fit all of them and the countless fans who come along to cheer them on from the sidelines is paramount, so it’s a good job the Symphony Park x MCR Marathon fan zone will be open from 9am on the day.
Here are some more scenes from the last edition:
Credit: Jody Hartley (supplied)
Although more are set to be revealed nearer the time, visitors can expect “a lively schedule of entertainment, food and drink pop-ups, family-friendly activities and special offers from our community of independent businesses and brands.”
Set to close around 5pm as the hordes of runners will doubt either head home for a long bath, leg rub or straight to the pub for their victory pints, we can assure you lots of time will be spent on the square.
The Manc -
25th March 2021 
