Spring Crafts
2026-04-17 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Lower Ground Floor
Join us at Central Library for a spring-themed craft session suitable for families. All materials provided, just bring your creativity! Suitable for ages 5-11.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Little Reads
2026-04-18 11:00 - 11:30 | 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 aged 2 – 6, but all family members are welcome.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Teen Book Club
2026-04-18 11:00 - 12:00 | 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 themed activities.
This activity is for ages 13-16 year olds only.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online.

Family Film Club
2026-04-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Enjoy a special edition of the Central Library’s legendary Family Film Club! Bring the family for an afternoon of themed crafts and a family classic on the library’s huge screen. Screenings start at 1.30pm – drop in from 1pm. Most suitable for under 12s.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online.

Ukrainian Storytime
2026-04-18 13:30 - 14:00 | Children’s Library
Привіт! Join our monthly Ukrainian storytelling sessions! Learn new words, listen to stories in Ukrainian and English and have fun! Suitable for children aged 4 to 7.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

LEGO Club
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:00 | City Library
Do you love Lego? So do we! Drop in, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. From castles to spaceships, the possibilities are endless! No need to book in advance. First come first served. Suitable for ages 4 and above.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Arabic Storytime
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:00
Join us in Central Library’s Children Library to hear stories and sing songs in Arabic and English.

Learn new words and make new friends! Suitable for children aged 4-7. Free – just drop in.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Talk English Circles
2026-04-21 12:30 - 14:30 | Ground Floor (Handling Tables)
Come along to Talk English Circles at Manchester Central Library to practise speaking English and meet other people.
Learn English, build skills and step into ESOL with this programme funded by Economic Activity Trailblazer and Manchester Adult Education.
Open to all levels.
Book your free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986065030971?aff=oddtdtcreator
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Crime Central
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:30
Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library.

APRIL’S BUMPER GUEST AUTHORS ARE ISABELLE BROOM, LUCY ANDREW, HEIDI AMSINCK AND JAMIE WEST!!
Bringing the best from all over!
Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!
Go behind the scenes!
Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.
Meet your favourite authors!
With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.
Tickets are ‘pay what you can’ and range from £2 to £6 plus booking fee.

Conversation Club
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:30 | Ground Floor (Handling Tables)
Would you like to improve your English conversation skills? Join our friendly group to practice your English and meet new friends. Suitable for adults.
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

BIG BOOK QUIZ!
2026-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Celebrate World Book Night with us!

It’s World Book Night, so how could you miss the ultimate book quiz at Central Library.
Join us for an evening celebrating your love of reading with quizzes, party games, prizes and the odd surprise challenge! Our cafe will also be open serving snacks, cakes and a range of coffees, beer and wine all evening.
Tickets available here!!

Polish Storytime
2026-04-25 11:00 - 11:30 | Children’s Library
Join our fun and interactive storytelling session in Polish! We will listen to stories in Polish and English.
Suitable for children aged 4–7.
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

Spanish Storytime
2026-04-25 12:00 - 12:45 | Children’s Library
Hola! Come and join María at the Spanish Story Time monthly sessions, where you can listen to a story in Spanish and learn phrases and vocabulary, whilst having fun. We end each session making a simple craft related to the story.
Suitable for children aged 4-7
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation to support our cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

The Fleecers: Live!
2026-04-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
One of the hottest emerging talents in the North West, The Fleecers, will be performing live in the Henry Watson Music Library this Spring.

A group of prodigiously talented music students aged 14-17, The Fleecers formed in Cheadle Hulme in 2025. In their short time together, the rising indie-rock four-piece have since been making ripples around the region with a series of shows in clubs, pubs, and house parties.

Already getting a formidable reputation for their passionate live shows, the band’s energising covers of classics by the likes of Oasis, Radiohead, The Verve, Stereophonics, and others have gone down a storm with audiences.

Recently the band released their debut single “Home”, an irresistible indie-rock belter recommended for fans of The K’s to The Royston Club, The Courteeners to Arctic Monkeys. With their fan base surging, the track has already hit over 50,000 streams and counting. Listen to “Home” here: “Home” – The Fleecers

They may be The Fleecers by name, but this pay-what-you-can show at Central Library promises to be worth every penny… Catch them here on Saturday 25th April while you can.

Book tickets here or click on ‘Book Now’ below and ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries to support future activities.

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love: Richard Houghton in conversation
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:00
‘Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love’ is a people’s history of the biggest rock band in the world. And on Thursday 30 April, its author Richard Houghton will be talking all about it, in the Henry Watson Music Library.
This extraordinary book tells Zeppelin’s story in the words of over 750 fans, as recounted by concert goers, roadies, promoters and others who encountered the band across their 12-year career.
Led Zeppelin were formed in 1968 by Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page, who recruited singer Robert Plant, drummer John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham and John Paul Jones. From there, Led Zeppelin toured North America relentlessly in the early part of the seventies, regularly smashing concert attendance and box office records, playing the legendary songs ‘Whole Lotta Love’, ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and ‘Rock & Roll’ at shows that fans now recall as the best they ever saw.
Packed with memories going back to Robert Plant’s earliest performances, this book charts Zep’s concert career in all its glory and infamy – from the earliest Zeppelin shows, to the five nights at London’s Earls Court in 1975, Knebworth Festival in 1979, and 2007’s epic O2 reunion show.
Richard Houghton is the author of over 20 books about music, specialising in people’s histories that tell the story of an act in the words of fans. He has compiled authorised ‘fanthologies’ on Jethro Tull, Simple Minds, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Stranglers, Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays), Fairport Convention, The Wedding Present and The Ukrainians. He lives in Manchester, UK.
Providing a fresh take on the enduring band that has sold over 300 million albums worldwide, hear Richard Houghton in conversation about ‘Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love’

Book tickets here or click on ‘Book Now’ below and ‘pay-what-you can’. All donations go to Manchester Libraries to support future activities.

Attila the Stockbroker: Fiery Words for Hellish Times
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Punk poet, latterly dub poet, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Attila the Stockbroker exploded into public consciousness in 1982-3 via two John Peel sessions and a Melody Maker front cover, and is now celebrating 45 years earning a living doing what he loves.
Fiery Words for Hellish Times is his most topical and incendiary publication yet. As the news goes from awful to worse, these are poems to make you laugh, cry, get angry, and above all, think!
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
https://flapjackpress.co.uk

People’s Infrastructure: Everyday Life in Changing China
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join us for Manchester Confucius Institute’s second public talk linked to our 20th anniversary exhibition , Building China: People’s Infrastructure
This talk moves from the visual culture of the 1950s and the institutional landscapes of the 1970s to contemporary studies of markets, parks, sidewalks, and sites of urban redevelopment. Across these moments, infrastructure is approached as something maintained through labour, inhabitation, and routine use. Attention shifts between rural and urban settings, historical transformation and present conditions, to show how social life and material systems remain closely intertwined. ‘People’s infrastructure’ offers a lens for understanding continuity and change in China’s recent past and present.
After the talk, there will be an opportunity to visit the Manchester Confucius Institute’s 20th anniversary exhibition, Building China: People’s Infrastructure, on the Lower Ground Floor of the Central Library (exhibited from 1 March until 30 May 2026).
Free – booking required via Eventbrite here or via ‘Book Now’ below
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About the speaker:
Deljana Iossifova is Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies and lead the Urban Studies Lab at the University of Manchester, where she also acts as Academic Director of the Confucius Institute. She was trained as an architect at ETH Zurich and holds a PhD in Public Policy Design from Tokyo Institute of Technology, which she obtained following years of professional practice in East Asia. Her research examines the dynamics between architecture, everyday life, urban transformations, and global environmental change.
The Manchester Confucius Institute Public Talk Series:
Manchester Confucius Institute public talks are free, informal and informative lectures aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese culture and language.
Find out more about the Manchester Confucius Institute.

'Malc's Boy'. Shaun Wilson in conversation with Tony Walsh.
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Hailed by David Keenan as “fierce, funny, poignant and real”, Malc’s Boy is being tipped as one of the most exciting debuts of 2026!

Brutal, beautiful, and darkly funny – a groundbreaking portrait of fathers, sons, and northern masculinity.
Malc’s Boy charts a son’s struggle and friendship with his father amidst a legacy of toxic masculinity and violence. Shaun grows up in Wigton, a small market town on the fringes of the Lake District, as the son of Malc, a prominent publican with a fearsome reputation. More concerned with establishing himself as an artist than making a name for himself in the town’s hierarchical pub scene, Shaun rebels against his father’s expectations. But when Malc is attacked by an old enemy, Shaun is forced to confront his father’s past and escape the life he’s been expected to lead.
Shaun Wilson was born in 1980 and raised in Wigton, Cumbria. In 2022, an early draft of Malc’s Boy won a Northern Writers’ Award, with an excerpt published by Granta. His work featured in Kit de Waal’s working-class anthology Common People published by Unbound, leading the acclaimed Kerry Hudson to tip him ‘for big things’ in The Observer.
He has featured at various book festivals, on BBC Radio, and recently completed a placement at Semiotext(e). He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Northumbria University and is currently an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at the Universities of Northumbria and Teesside.
Tony Walsh, the Longfella, is one of the UK’s most widely acclaimed professional poets; a writer and performer of remarkable breadth and depth, whose inspiring words regularly reach and inspire audiences of millions.
Manchester-Irish, working class and entirely self-taught, his powerful writing and electrifying performances have made him a regular on television and radio, much in demand for a huge range of high-profile occasions, and renowned internationally for the now iconic performance of his poem “This Is The Place” in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
Tickets are £3 entry or there is a book and ticket bundle for £12.99.

Manchester Literature Festival presents Tayari Jones
2026-06-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
One of the most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction Tayari Jones discusses her highly anticipated new novel Kin. Born days apart, Vernice and Annie share loss and friendship. Growing up in segregated America, their paths diverge, until danger forces Vernice to risk everything. An exploration of love, loyalty and motherhood, powerful.
Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester and supported by Library Live.
Booking tickets here Tayari Jones | Manchester Literature Festival or ‘Book Now’ below

Choirs Manchester - Live Performance
2026-06-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Come along to the Henry Watson Music Library for some exceptional choral music from: Choirs Manchester.
Choirs Manchester are a collective of choirs running in Chorlton and Withington. They are all about singing to feel good and love nothing more than performing their original arrangements of current and classic tunes. They have performed yearly at the renowned Manchester 10k, at Refuge, Manchester and are consistently part of local community events in South Manchester such as Chorlton Arts Festival and for the charity Emmeline’s Pantry.
Choirs Manchester are led by the talented Sarah Adams, who among her many other accolades has conducted the Manchester’s Survivors’ Choir and performed alongside Take That. As a singer/songwriter of her own accord, she has also performed in reputable venues across the city such as Band on the Wall, Manchester Academy, Bury Met, Deaf Institute and been part of the ‘Live at Lunchtime’ series at Bridgewater Hall.
Speaking about Choirs Manchester and their concerts, Sarah says:
“I pride myself on creating a relaxed, no pressure environment that is all about singing to feel good and my ability to encourage a sense of community during a session. It is an empowering activity, not just for an individual but also for connecting people as a group.”
This June, take a seat in the historic music library, sit-back, watch, listen, and immerse yourself in their uplifting vibe.
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Manchester Literature Festival presents Natalie Haynes
2026-06-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Bestselling author and broadcaster Natalie Haynes returns to Manchester Literature Festival to discuss her powerful new novel No Friend to This House – an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea.
Based on Euripides’ classic tragedy, No Friend to This House explores love, vengeance, power and survival, as Medea faces an impossible choice that will change the course of her and her family’s lives. Known for her bold and compassionate retellings of Greek mythology, Natalie brings fresh life to this ancient story, placing one of literature’s most misunderstood women centre stage.
Join us to see experienced broadcaster Natalie Haynes discuss her enduring passion for the classics and why these ancient stories continue to resonate so powerfully today.
‘It’s superb: sharp, funny, inventive, powerfully humane…she is one of the most brilliant women in the media.’ Katherine Rundell
‘Muse, sorceress, high priestess, Haynes is all of these, but above all she is the consummate storyteller.’ Adam Rutherford
‘an illuminating and often thrilling work of feminist reclamation…Haynes creates an account of her maligned protagonist that is powerfully affecting in its complexity.’ Guardian
Natalie Haynes is a Sunday Times bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster. She is the author of novels The Amber Fury, The Children of Jocasta, a feminist retelling of the Oedipus and Antigone stories; A Thousand Ships, a retelling of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective and Stone Blind, a re-telling of the Medusa story. Her non-fiction books include The Ancient Guide to Modern Life; Pandora’s Jar about the women in Greek myths and Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth.
She has written and presented eleven series of BBC Radio 4’s Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics and is celebrated for bringing Greek myth and classical history to a wide contemporary audience.
A Manchester Literature Festival event supported by Library Live.
Booking tickets here Natalie Haynes | Manchester Literature Festival or ‘Book Now’ below

Music Q&A: ‘It's Time the Tale Were Told - A People's History of the Smiths'
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
‘It’s Time The Tale Were Told – A People’s History of The Smiths’ is the story of one of the UK’s most influential indie bands and Manchester’s greatest musical exports.
Featuring the words of over 500 fans of the band, this joyous new book has been collated by author and journalist Iain Key, plus publisher Richard Houghton (Spenwood Books) will be coming to Central Library to tell us about it. From memories of their earliest club shows through to the last ever gig at London’s Brixton Academy, this is a portrait of The Smiths as painted by the fans.
With personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and first-hand accounts of more than 100 gigs, readers will get a front row view of the indie music legends. Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, The Smiths’ 1985 album Meat Is Murder topped the UK album charts and their other three studio albums reached No 2. The band broke up in 1987 and turned down all invitations to reunite.
Iain Key is a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene from many years in the late ’80s and ’90s.A journalist for the tastemaker music site Louder Than War, Iain has written over 500 pieces including music, book and gig reviews. Iain has also produced weekly music shows for the last 4 years for Louder Than War Radio, focussing on both new music and interviews with new and established acts. Iain has also edited People’s Histories of The Clash and Billy Bragg for Spenwood Books.
Iain will be speaking to the publisher of Spenwood Books, Richard Houghton, Expect an intimate, in-person talk, Q&A and book signing with the author.

Tickets are ‘pay-what-you can’ – available via Eventbrite here or clicking the ‘Book Now’ button below, simply ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries.

LOVE STORIES etc Festival
2026-07-17 10:00 - 2026-07-18 20:00 | Performance Space
#LoveStoriesEtc romance festival is returning for a third year to Manchester Central Library on 17th and 18th July 2026 for two packed days of exciting author panels, industry expert led workshops, and creative sessions!
The schedule for Friday 17th July includes…
‘How to Boss Booktok’ with Ash Jayy from The Picture of Romance
‘What Can an Editor do for You?’ with freelance editor Caroline Hogg
A writer’s advice session hosted by the Romantic Novelists’ Association
‘How to look Professional Online on a Budget’ with Branding Expert and Photographer, Claire Gardner from The Authors Lounge
A Book Bedazzling Party
Kindly sponsored by Vinci Books. Escape to the sun with a Sublime Retreats’ romance by Joy Skye!
A Booklovers tour of Manchester
A Silent Reading Social Event
Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World with Bella North
On Saturday 18th, we’re spoiling you with a bumper Author Day including –
Rosie Walsh, Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, Kate Lord Brown,
Cal Speet, Rachel Hore, Jessica George,
Cressida McLaughlin, Kiley Dunbar, Rufaro Faith Mazarura,
Liz Fenwick, Holly Hepburn, Chloe Seager,
Bella Osborne, Jill Mansell, Kirstie Pelling,
Rachel Wood, Libby Page, Beth Moran, Megan Clawson
Bianca Gillam, Matt Cain MBE, Ellis Hunter
Jack Strange, Tessa Bickers,
Catrin Cadogan, Roxy Dunn,
Rosie Storey and Georgia Stone!!
We’ll be announcing even more names very soon!

Stereo Listening Booth - LIVE!
2026-07-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
A special matinee show from the Manchester electronic act LIVE from the Henry Watson Music Library.

Ellesmere Port resident Patrick Oakford and Manchester’s Travis Eagle write and perform original electronic / dance / trance / club soundscapes under the name Stereo Listening Booth.
Reviewing the debut album ‘Disko Noir’, Louder than War magazine described the experience as ‘somewhere between a less sleazy Soft Cell and more interesting New Order’.
The band’s mission statement is a simple one: ‘nothing ruled out, nothing ruled in’.
Stereo Listening Booth will be performing live at selective venues throughout the year, with an exclusive performance right here in the Henry Watson Music Library at Central Library.
Special guests TBC – watch this space.
Book tickets and make a donation on Eventbrite here or ‘Book Now’ below
All donations go to the Manchester Libraries Trust (registered charity number: 1150161).

Watch / listen to “99 Otago St” here:

The Puppet Folk Experience!
2026-08-20 19:00 - 20:00
The Puppet Folk Experience is a joyful live show combining acoustic music and beautifully crafted puppetry.

Manchester Libraries are so excited to welcome the wonderful Puppet Folk Experience to Central Library this August. It’s going to be the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational show!!
The Puppet Folk Experience is a joyful live show combining acoustic music and beautifully crafted puppetry.
Musician Andy and puppeteer Liam bring songs, characters, and playful storytelling together in a performance full of humour, nostalgia, and warmth. Featuring lively banjo-led music and an ensemble of expressive puppet characters, the show celebrates the charm of classic puppetry and musical storytelling.
The Puppet Folk Experience delights audiences young and old with a performance that is heartfelt, imaginative, and full of fun.
Doors opem 6.30pm
Performance starts 7pm
Cafe and bar will be open all evening.
Tickets are only £5 plus booking fee. There is also a buy 4 tickets for the price of 3 offer!
