• The Great Hall Exhibition

    Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

    Manchester Town Hall closed in January 2018 and work then began on a labour of love: a once-in-a-lifetime chance to repair, protect and update this architectural masterpiece for future generations. The Great Hall […]

  • Read to the Beat: School Holidays Programme

    School’s out and the Summer Reading Challenge is in! Join us at Central Library and discover a jam-packed programme of free activities for the whole family! From Lego clubs to […]

  • Ukraine Today Exhibition

    First Floor Display Cases

    This documentary photography exhibition presents the work of Ukrainian photographer Olena Melnykova, a member of the volunteer team Auto Angel Lviv, who regularly takes part in humanitarian missions to eastern […]

  • In Her Colours

    First Floor Exhibition Hall

    View the 2026 Women Into Visual Arts and Enterprise exhibition celebrating the creativity and talent of women artists from Nigeria and Salford, plus the finalists from their local women’s arts […]

  • New Chapters

    Wolfson Reading Room

    UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design students from The Manchester College have developed a personal body of work inspired by books selected from Manchester Central Library. The boards on […]

  • Sunday Funday – Manchester Day 2026

    Ground Floor

    We're celebrating Manchester Day at Central Library! This year's Manchester Day celebrates our city’s cultural links with Barcelona. Following Manchester’s appearance at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival in 2025, artists from […]

  • Crime Central

    Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library. Another bumper author panel in August! We bring you Natalie Chandler, Tim Payne, May Rinaldi and […]

  • Race Centre Summer School

    Performance Space

    Come along if you are between 15-19 years old, of any background, and interested in anti-racism, local histories, creative practices. There will be 8 sessions (one morning and one afternoon […]