• 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 aged 2 - 6, but all family members are welcome. Free – just drop in. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural […]

  • Crochet and Chat Club

    Recurring
    Ground Floor (Handling Tables)

    Do you want to learn how to crochet and make new friends? Why not come along to our new monthly group? 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.

  • Teen Book Club

    Lower Ground Floor

    Aged 12 – 16 and love reading? Join our teen book club. We don’t have a set text we simply come together to chat about what we have read over the last month. At the same time, we might do a craft, zine making, make a reading journal or bookmark etc. We are a friendly […]

  • Gig: MCR Folk Scene Showcase

    Henry Watson Music Library

    Come along for a free afternoon of folk music taking place in the Henry Watson Music library. Bringing together established acts within the Manchester folk scene, expect a showcase of some of its best talents including... Jack Twaites - An introspective singer-songwriter influenced by Folk music across the spectrum, his single 'In the Folds' was […]

  • Comic Book Swap

    Lower Ground Floor

    Comic Book Swap with zine and comic strip making for ages 11 plus. Come and swap your comic books and stay to make a Zine, chat to other comic book fans and find out about our collections. Bring your comics to swap, stay to make a zine, or your own comic strip and chat to […]

  • Italian Kids present La Pimpa

    Performance Space

    Join Italian Kids for a fun-filled afternoon and celebrate La Pimpa, the beloved Italian children's book character created by Altan. Enjoy themed crafts, stories and games! Italian Kids is an association of Italian-speaking parents who meet regularly to allow their children to make new friends, play, sing and practise Italian together. Free entry - book […]

  • Home Educators Book Club

    Chief Librarian's Office

    Home Educators are invited to bring their young people aged 12 - 16 to our monthly teen book club. This is a relaxed club where we will chat about what we have been reading over the last month. We will sometimes set themes, but for this first club of the new term we will chat […]

  • Talk English Circles

    Recurring
    Lower Ground Floor

    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. Free - book your free place here or click 'Book Now' below Please […]

  • Our Town Hall Heritage Evening Lecture with Hankinson Heritage

    Performance Space

    Manchester Town Hall closed in 2018 for major restoration to repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work includes conservation of many original heritage features. The Heritage Lectures in Central Library shine a light on some of this fascinating work and the next one – on Tuesday 22 September – will focus on […]

  • Crime Central

    Performance Space

    Calling all Crime Fiction fans... Not long now until the next Crime Central!! This month, Rob Parker is welcoming Remi Kone, Alis Hawkins and MRG Davies to Central Library! 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 […]

  • Photo Exhibition: What Makes a Great Coach?

    First Floor

    Hosted by the charity Women in Sport, this photo exhibition celebrates everything women bring to coaching. Still in 2026, women are still undervalued and underrepresented in sports coaching. Women in Sport's research has found that 30% of female coaches report being bullied (twice as many as men) and are 18% less likely to say their […]

  • Generations of Love: A Queer Up North Panel Event

    Performance Space

    Join Manchester Histories and Queer Up North for a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring how queer culture can build community, connect generations and sustain radical creative practice. Reflecting on the legacy of Queer Up North, the conversation will consider what the festival built, what it inherited, and what we can learn from it today. The panel […]