What's on

Christmas with Elvis!

Performance Space

Join us for a Rock 'n' Rolling Christmas Celebration with Manc Elvis and his Magical Band. Manchester’s premier Elvis tribute act present an evening packed with greatest hits and Christmas classics to get you up and dancing all night! Including... That's Alright Mama, Merry Christmas Baby, Jailhouse Rock, Santa Bring My Baby (Back to Me), […]

£6

Day of Music

Henry Watson Music Library

A day of varied musical performances from local artists, including a choir, a soprano, a solo clarinettist and a dancing new wave legend.

Empire Windrush: In Conversation Event

Performance Space

Join editor, Onyekachi Wambu, ‘In Conversation’ on the topic of his recently-published, ground-breaking anthology,  ‘Empire Windrush’, presenting some of the best and most significant writing - poetry, fiction, journalism, essays and memoir - of the Black experience in Britain. Onyekachi Wambu is a Nigerian-British journalist and writer. He has directed television documentaries for the BBC, […]

Reimagined City Workshops

Henry Watson Music Library

Join us for percussion and singing workshops. Part of a weekend of International Migrant Day activities, showcasing migrant culture through art and music. Suitable for all ages. Free - drop in

Snowflakes and Symmetry Workshop

Archives+ Ground Floor

Mathematician Katie Steckles and illustrator Hana Ayoob will help you design your own mathematically accurate snowflake artwork, incorporating design ideas from traditional shapes and patterns. All materials and equipment will be provided. Free - book tickets here

Classic Christmas Film Marathon!

Performance Space

Have we got the ultimate selection box for you! Escape from the shops and join us for a magical day of festive films. Suitable for families. Free - drop in - please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Book launch: Selected Plays by Cathy Crabb

Performance Space

Selected Plays by Cathy Crabb Monday 22nd January  6pm at Manchester Central Library No need to book tickets. FREE entry. Everyone welcome.  Doors open 5.40pm. Celebrating twenty years of productions, award-winning playwright Cathy Crabb has selected eleven of her works for staging. Filled with humour and emotional resonance, these texts explore themes of family, trauma, neurodivergence, […]

Ros Atkins – The Art of Explanation

Performance Space

We are delighted to welcome Ros to Manchester Central Library, where he will be discussing his book in conversation. Explanation - conveying meaning - is an art. And the BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins, creator of the viral 'Ros Atkins on...' explainer videos, is something of a master of the form. In this book, Ros […]

Word Central

Performance Space

Word Central open mic poetry and spoken word. Presented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries and hosted by Tony Curry. With special guest Lisa O'Hare. Lisa O'Hare was a 2023 BBC Words First finalist and is co-host of Verbose. Her work has been featured on BBC Radio Manchester and in the UN Women UK's virtual Safe […]

Probably the Hardest Music Quiz in the World!

Chief Librarian's Office

40 horribly hard music questions. Get them all right and win the Super-Duper Mega Mystery Prize! Play on your own or as part of a team (max 4 members per team). No need to book, everyone welcome. FREE ENTRY. For more info please message your quiz host: alan.lynch@manchester.gov.uk

Chinese New Year Celebration

Ground Floor

Bowen Education will provide dance and musical entertainment at 2pm followed by traditional Chinese crafts. Suitable for families. This event is free, but please consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme if you can, online, or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Sunday Funday – Chinese New Year

Join us for a spectacular Chinese New Year celebration of the Year of the Dragon. We will have amazing crafts, performances, workshops amongst other exciting activities. Suitable for families. This event is free, but please consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme if you can, online, or at one of our cash […]