What's on

Our Town Hall – Portraits of a Workforce

First Floor Exhibition Hall

Our latest first-floor exhibition comes courtesy of the team currently working on the Our Town Hall Project to repair, renovate and refurbish Manchester's iconic Town Hall. Extraordinarily little is known […]

Chapters in Change

Ground Floor (Oculus Area)

The images in this display, in the oculus area on the Ground Floor, are from TiPP projects working in partnership with regional Youth Justice Services. They capture movements of creativity […]

Tony Lloyd Exhibition

Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

An insightful exhibition in memory of Sir Tony Lloyd (1950-2024) - a popular politician who represented three different constituencies in the Greater Manchester area for a total of 36 years […]

aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition

Wolfson Reading Room

In 2024, Manchester was crowned the first ever European Capital of Cycling, recognising the city’s commitment to making cycling safer and more accessible for all. As part of International Women’s […]

Women’s Community Festival 2025

Performance Space

International Women’s Day (IWD) is returning to Manchester as a celebration of women’s empowerment, equality and contributions to the city at Manchester Central Library on Saturday 8 March. Led and […]

Mandarin Storytime

Children's Library

Bring the family along to join in our Mandarin and English Storytime. We will share the stories in Mandarin then English and it will be a chance for the children […]

IMLD 25: How to Make a Tank Disappear – Screening

Performance Space

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in one Ukrainian village, a story took place that spread around the world. Even the Polish president tweeted about it. Local Roma […]

Recurring

Little Reads

Children's Library

Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs, play and craft to explore children’s picture books. Most suitable for children […]

Teen Book Club

Teen Library (Lower Ground Floor)

Age 13 -16 and love books? Want to read more and chat about books? Join Central Library Teen Book Club! Discover your next favourite read, share recommendations and join book […]

Emma Barnett

Performance Space

'I am writing this because I think another woman will need to read it.' Broadcaster, author and journalist, Emma Barnett joins us to discuss her honest, relatable and funny new […]

Recurring

Little Reads

Children's Library

Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs, play and craft to explore children’s picture books. Most suitable for children […]