What's on

Supertato Party! with Sue Hendra

Performance Space

Come party with Supertato, Katy Ashworth, Pia’s Pet Party & Wild Science Animal Encounter. Plus make a party badge and Party Animal mask with Hya Arts!  There’s a birthday bash at the supermarket, and you’re invited! Join Supertato creator Sue Hendra for silly stories, veggie fun and make your very own veggie superhero to take […]

Recurring

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 themed activities. Free - just drop in

Manchester Literature Festival presents Jung Chang

Performance Space

International bestselling author Jung Chang brings us Fly, Wild Swans, the long-awaited sequel to her iconic memoir Wild Swans—a book that defined a generation and remains banned in China. Fly, Wild Swans picks up where Wild Swans left off, tracing Chang’s life and China’s transformation from the end of the Mao era to Xi Jinping’s […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents Marcus du Sautoy

Performance Space

In this fascinating talk, celebrated mathematician and leading scientist Marcus du Sautoy invites us to explore his new book Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity and rethink the boundaries between art and mathematics.  From prehistoric stone circles to Zaha Hadid’s sweeping curves, to Shakespeare’s rhythms and Radiohead’s musical experimentation, Marcus discusses how symmetry, prime numbers, fractals […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents How to Get Published with Kate Mosse

Performance Space

Have you dreamed of a writing career but don’t have the confidence to give it a go? Or feel that there are too many barriers to the publishing world to getting your work published? Join bestselling novelist and Discoveries Chair of Judges Kate Mosse for an inspiring talk about her journey and the Women’s Prize […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents Feminist History with Kate Mosse

Performance Space

Join us for an inspiring evening with internationally bestselling author and Founder Director of the Women’s Prizes Kate Mosse, as she shares insights from her groundbreaking new non-fiction book, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year.  This richly illustrated collection celebrates 366 remarkable women and girls - one for every day of the year […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents Hannah Ritchie

Performance Space

Join us for an energising and empowering evening with bestselling author and data scientist Hannah Ritchie, one of the most refreshing new voices in the climate conversation.   In her surprisingly hopeful new book, Clearing the Air: A Hopeful Guide to Solving Climate Change in 50 Questions and Answers, she answers big climate questions with clarity […]

Get Online Week

Get Online Week is coming to Central Library! Join us for an afternoon packed with digital discovery, hands-on help, and exciting tech experiences — all part of Good Things Foundation’s annual campaign to help everyone unlock the benefits of being online. Activities include: Ground Floor: Digital Marketplace Explore a buzzing hub of stalls offering free advice, […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents WritersMosaic: Mona Arshi, Karen McCarthy Woolf & Roger Robinson

Performance Space

Nature writing has seen a powerful resurgence in recent years, but we must ask—whose voices are being heard? And who is being welcomed into the landscape?  In this thoughtful reading and conversation, John Siddique of WritersMosaic hosts acclaimed poets and co-editors Mona Arshi and Karen McCarthy Woolf and T.S. Eliot Prize-winner Roger Robinson. Together, they […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents Creative Connection

Performance Space

A brilliant celebration of creativity and inclusion bringing disabled and non-disabled students from Manchester and Salford together to create, build connection and celebrate the songs they have developed with professional musicians over the week. Come and join us for this joyous day presented in partnership with Create.  Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by […]

Manchester Literature Festival presents John Murray Proof Party

Performance Space

DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES LIV LITTLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. You’re invited to our first proof party with John Murray Press and Dialogue Books!   Be among the first to hear from three exciting new voices as they give us an exclusive sneak peek into their 2026 novels and writing. Then […]

Make Cress Heads for Green Libraries Week!

Lower Ground Floor

Come and celebrate Green Libraries Week with us at Central Library. Pick up free seeds from our seed library and get creative making your very own cress head to take home. A perfect blend of gardening and crafting! Suitable for families. Free – just drop in Please consider making a donation if you can online or at […]