Library Live

Full Volume Podcast: Christmas Edition
2025-12-19 - 2026-01-18 | Online
Step into Christmas with Manchester Libraries for the final Full Volume podcast of 2025.
Back for one last hurrah before the year is out, presenter Alan Lynch and co-host Gary Parkinson have a nostalgic look back at what was a magical year for Manchester Libraries. Reflecting on the successful launch of the podcast and the litany of special guests who appeared on the show, Gary and Alan also chat to a whole host of staff from across our libraries to get their highlights. Elsewhere Danny Middleton gives us a sneak peak of events coming up in the New Year, whereas Head of Libraries, Galleries, and Culture Neil MacInnes gives us his exclusive insight.
Meanwhile, ascending folk artist Hannah Brine gets a grilling on her favourite Christmas songs following her recent concert at the Library. Plus, we have nostalgic reflections from three Central Library staff who worked in the building during the 1970s and beyond.
There’s also plenty of What’s On Tips, a book review of Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol”, and much more to enjoy on this December edition of Full Volume: The Manchester Libraries Podcast. ***** ‘Full Volume: The Manchester Libraries Podcast’ takes listeners behind the shelves of our city’s much-loved libraries. Presented by the Central Library’s own Alan Lynch, every month the podcast lifts the lid on a treasure trove of insider tips, exclusive interviews, book reviews, and much more. Receiving rave reviews and overwhelming support from listeners, the podcast has so far featured special guests such as celebrated authors and poets Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Mosse, Jackie Kay, Tynah Matembe, and Kimberly Whittam, Manchester City Council photographer Barrie Leach speaking about his exhibition ‘Our Town Hall: Portraits of a Workforce’, folk musician Cole Stacey, legendary Manchester artist and illustrator Stanley Chow, Manchester’s Lord Mayor, Councillor John Hacking, BBC broadcaster and esteemed newspaper columnist Emma Barnett, International Women’s Rugby player Libby Andrew, plus Manchester City Council’s Head of Libraries, Galleries, and Culture Neil MacInnes OBE more. ‘Episode 11: Christmas Edition’, the new episode of ‘Full Volume: The Manchester Libraries Podcast is on all major streaming services now.
Turn it up, and tune in – now: Full Volume: The Manchester Libraries Podcast by Manchester Libraries | Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music | PUSH.fm
Watch out for a new episode in the new year…

Funny Stuff – Exhibition
2026-01-12 08:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 UTC | Ground Floor
A creative and humorous response to grief, memories and the stuff we accumulate, hoard and hate to let go, from Manchester comedy legend, Lipservice Theatre Company.
Sue Ryding is one half of legendary comedy duo LipService. In 2022 her comedy partner Maggie Fox died and Sue was left with a shipping container full of stage props, costumes, wigs, hats, shoes, sheep, you name it. This exhibition looks at all the “stuff” we accumulate, hoard and hate to let go.
In this humorous and creative response to grief, Sue struggles to part with a life sized stuffed sheep, a badger onesie, some ruby slippers, a sinking bog, Charlotte Bronte’s knickers and a host of soft toys.
Touring anecdotes are combined with archive footage from LipService shows. We follow the stories of things Sue has already given away, the wicker horse that appeared every night in an improvised panto, the vintage suitcases turned into a sculpture in Stockport, the crazy Chief Exec of the Tall Ships Festival who dresses up as a fish! Not all the items will be making it back up the loft ladder, so the audience is invited to take something home.
Sue is aiming to end up with “the right stuff”, a small selection that captures the essence of LipService Theatre to go into a national theatre collection. Help Sue on her journey of letting go.
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

Manga Appreciation Club
2026-01-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Are you a manga fan? Never read a manga before but want to see what the whole fuss is about? Either way, this group is for you! Share your passion, meet new people and join themed activities.
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

Book Launch: Forbidden Waters by Rob Parker
2026-01-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join us to celebrate publication of the second in Rob Parker’s Cam Killick series: Forbidden Waters!

We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Rob Parker’s Forbidden Waters on the 15th of January at Manchester Central Library! Rob will be in conversation with Luca Veste, author of The Bone Keeper.
Doors: 5.30pm, starts: 6pm.
Tickets are £4. Admission is free when purchasing a copy of the book in advance.
About Forbidden Waters:
It starts with the knife. Found at the bottom of a hidden lake in the Norfolk Broads, covered in blood and heart tissue so fresh the water hasn’t yet washed it all away. What salvage diver Cam Killick has found is a murder weapon from a very recent crime – but how do you solve a murder without a body?
The remoteness of the setting is itself a clue. Only a handful of people know the location of the lake, let alone how to access it. But no sooner have Cam and DS Claire Rogers started working through this ready-made suspect pool than one of them disappears.
The ripples from Cam’s discovery have disturbed a dangerous predator, one who knows the water even better than Cam himself. The question now is what they want – and how many more people will die before Cam can stop them?
About the author:
Rob Parker is the author of Far From The Tree, the No. 1 bestselling thriller for Audible Original and the first instalment in the Thirty Miles trilogy, as well as eight novels for independent publishers. He is the host of both Crime Central Manchester, a monthly showcase of emerging crime writing talent and blockbuster bestsellers, and the Blood Brothers podcast. Rob lives in Warrington with his wife, three children and their dogs, and was inspired to write The Troubled Deep by years of holidays in the Norfolk Broads – during which he has never, he is pleased to say, found a dead body. Forbidden Waters is the second in the Cam Killick series.
If you cannot make the event but would like a dedicated copy of the book, please email events.manchester@blackwell.co.uk or call 0161 274 3331.

My Voice Travelling Exhibition
2026-01-19 08:00 - 2026-02-20 17:00 | First Floor
Manchester Central Library and The Fed’s My Voice Project are proud to announce the launch of the My Voice Travelling Exhibition – a powerful public showcase of Holocaust Survivor life stories that have shaped Greater Manchester.

The exhibition forms a key part of the Sanctuary Through Story: Inspiring Unity After Hate initiative and brings to life the extraordinary testimonies of Survivors who rebuilt their lives in Greater Manchester. Their stories – rooted in courage, resilience, gratitude and hope – offer visitors a deeply meaningful educational experience.

The exhibition helps people of all ages explore:

The dangers of prejudice and antisemitism
The importance of empathy, respect and moral responsibility
How diversity strengthens communities
Why rejecting hate is essential for a safe and cohesive Manchester

This launch is especially significant following the Heaton Park Synagogue terrorist attack, offering a space where communities can come together, reflect and reinforce Manchester’s commitment to unity, understanding and compassion.

The Travelling Exhibition will ensure these vital lessons reach people of all ages.
Free – please drop in

Talk English Circles
2026-01-20 12:30 - 14:30, 2026-01-27 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.
Every Tuesday, 12.30-2.30pm
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

Boardgames Club
2026-01-21 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-28 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-11 17:00 - 19:00
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided – just bring yourself.
Free, no need to book – 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

Bridge of Sunflowers - Exhibition
2026-01-24 08:00 - 2026-02-26 17:00 | Ground Floor and Reading Room
Drop by the Reading and Ground Floor Oculus area to see this compelling exhibition composed of artwork by young Ukrainian artists from the city of Lviv. This unique collection explores the impacts of the ongoing conflict, as well as the hopes and dreams of those living through it.
Participants were supported by the Sunflower Dreams Project, which showcases the work of Ukrainian children in exhibitions across the European Union, the United Kingdom and North America. The project was created and is supported exclusively by a team of multinational volunteers.
Creative responses from young people in Manchester can be viewed alongside the artwork. These are the outcome of workshops run by creative arts charity Never Such Innocence (NSI), who give children and young people a voice on conflict. The workshops were led by expert practitioners – author Nik Perring and artist Alex Hinge. All of the work on display is responding to NSI’s international competition theme for 2025/26 – ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’.
This exhibition is a collaboration between the Sunflower Dreams Project, Never Such Innocence and Manchester Libraries.
Free please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

The Temperance Movement: What Did #QuitLit Look Like 100 Years Ago?
2026-01-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Long before today’s sober-curious conversations, Bookstagram posts, and bestselling quit-lit titles, people were already using words, stories, and literature to challenge drinking culture.
This talk explores the original temperance movement, which emerged as a powerful social force in the Northwest before sweeping across Britain and beyond. Drawing on historical examples, it looks at how early temperance advocates used novels, pamphlets, tracts, and personal stories to influence public opinion, reshape attitudes to alcohol, and support people in rethinking their relationship with drink.
By revisiting these early forms of “quit lit”, the talk reveals striking parallels between 19th-century temperance literature and today’s modern sober narratives – showing that storytelling has long been a central tool in movements for change.
Whether you’re interested in social history, literature, wellbeing, or the contemporary sober movement, this session offers a fascinating perspective on how the past continues to shape present-day conversations around alcohol.
Chaired – Yvonne Norris (Researcher, PhD, MMU)
Speaker – Dr Annmarie McAllister – expert and a leading scholar on the temperance movement
Alongside a guest panel including leading voices from present-day sober communities from across the Northwest.

French Storytime
2026-01-31 13:30 - 14:00 | Children’s Library
Join us for French Storytime to listen to stories in French and English, learn new words and make new friends!.
Suitable for children aged 4-7
Free – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

K-Queer: Intimacies of the Invisible
2026-01-31 14:30 - 16:30 | Performance Space
Join South Korean queer writer Kim Bong-gon for a talk and Q&A exploring themes of intimacy, invisibility and queer life through contemporary Korean literature.
Kim Bong-gon emerged at a moment when previously marginalised voices were reshaping South Korean literature. In 2016, the same year Han Kang’s The Vegetarian and Cho Nam-joo’s Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 ignited global conversations about gender and power, Kim Bong-gon became South Korea’s first openly gay novelist, introducing semi-autobiographical fiction that centred around the everyday life, desire, and interiority of a gay man.
His debut Auto won the Dong-A Ilbo New Writer’s Prize in 2016 and led to nominations for the Lee Hyo-seok Literary Award and the Munhakdongne Young Writer’s Award.
Free- booking required by emailing your full name, phone number, email address and number of seats required to k.queer.org@gmail.com

Town Hall Lectures: 'Wooden it be nice' - Restoring our Doors and Floors
2026-02-03 13:00 - 19:00 | 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 3 February – will focus on the work of the woodworking expertise of Swift Crafted, with a presentation by Operations Director, Paul Smith. Restoring the doors and panelling throughout the Town Hall’s many rooms and timber flooring too, Find out more about their trade, their work and some of the features they’ve discovered in and around the Town Hall.
Wooden it be nice – restoring our doors, panelling and timber floors:
Paul Smith, Swift Crafted’s Operations Director, will present this lecture. From the history of carpentry and passing on traditional woodworking skills, through the tools of the trade and how they’ve approached the work they’ve undertaken on the Town Hall’s doors, panelling and timber floors to bring these beautiful features back to their stunning best; this lecture definitely ‘wooden’ be one to miss.
The lectures are free to attend and either session can be booked below:
Session One – 1pm to 2.15pm
Session Two 5.30pm to 6.45pm

VR Headset Experiences
2026-02-04 11:00 - 2026-02-07 19:00 | Ground Floor
For three weeks in February, Manchester Libraries will be hosting state-of-the-art VR headsets and a feast of FREE digital experiences.
Get ready for brand new immersive experiences with David Attenborough, and Laika – The First Dog In Space. Plus, Wallace & Gromit, The Berlin Blitz, Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’, meditation experiences, and more.
Manchester Libraries are one of nine library services in England to take part in Digital Spaces, an innovative collaboration to enhance digital engagement and accessibility in libraries. This ambitious new programme is in association with Arts Council England, BFI, awarding National Lottery funding and The Space.
After a resoundingly successful debut last summer, which saw hundreds of Manchester residents dive into virtual realities, Manchester Libraries are delighted to confirm that the headsets will return for a series of FREE public drop-in sessions at Manchester Central Library (4-7 Feb), Abraham Moss Library (9-14 Feb), and Wythenshawe Forum (17-20 Feb).
Across the three weeks, visitors to these libraries will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an array of awe-inspiring virtual worlds featuring some familiar faces, plus leap into some brand new experiences too. Amongst the thrilling programme of VR offerings, the experiences on offer will include:

**New** Hold the World with Sir David Attenborough: Embark on a ground-breaking interactive VR tour of the Natural History Museum in London with the most iconic of guides. Sir David, who was filmed by more than 100 cameras and digitally recreated as a lifelike SD hologram for the experience, acts as a private guide, imparting his expert knowledge on rare objects from †he museum’s collection, including a blue whale, a stegosaurus, and more. Get hands-on with rare specimens from its world-famous collection, and experience priceless artefacts coming back to life.

Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway: Step into the shoes (and paws) of the legendary Aardman duo as they blast-off on a cracking new adventure that will take you from the familiar sights of West Wallaby Street to the strange surroundings of deep space. An interactive treat – all in glorious VR-O-Rama!

**New** Laika – Witness one of the most poignant true stories in history with Laika, an immersive VR short film from BAFTA and Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia. Adapted from Nick Abadzis’ acclaimed graphic novel, Laika will transport you to the dawn of the Space Age as it tells the story of an unwanted stray dog who became Earth’s first space traveller.

The Philharmonia Virtual Orchestra – The Lark Ascending: Experience a mesmerising 360-degree performance of Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece featuring Nicola Benedetti.

Monoliths: Explore England’s northern landscape through the voices and spoken word of three women, in this poignant XR experience by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust.

Berlin Blitz: 80 years on from VE Day, travel back in time to experience this especially tense period of WWII history from a seat in the cockpit of a Lancaster Bomber. Hold tight.

Phase Space: Escape from the hustle and bustle of life, with this calming, restorative and meditative experience. Feel calmer and more in control in just 7 minutes.

The VR headset experiences arrive as part of Manchester Libraries recently announced participation in the new Libraries Digital Network, a ground-breaking collaboration with eight other library services, including: Bradford, Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Leeds, Newham, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Sunderland. This innovative network is the first of its kind, uniquely combining local relevance with national impact. It aims to empower our local community and is supported by comprehensive training for our colleagues, who will guide our networks on exciting digital journeys.
The Digital Spaces VR headsets will be freely available to the public to experience in a series of open drop-in sessions throughout February.
Come along to a session at these dates and times as follows:
Wednesday 4 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Thursday 5 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Friday 6 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [9.00 – 11.00]

Drop-In Session [12.00 – 14.00]

Drop-In Session [15.00 – 16.45]

Saturday 7 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [14.00 – 16.00]

Monday 9 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 10 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 11 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Friday 13 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Saturday 14 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 17 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 18 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Thursday 19 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Friday 20 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

All sessions are 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
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
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 on a ‘pay what you can’ offer.

Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds: Artist talk and UK book launch
2026-02-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Performance Space
Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds by Alan J. Ward is an artist book in the fullest sense: a work conceived, shaped, and authored through artistic practice. Developed through sustained collaboration with the community of Grandpré in the French Ardennes, the book traces stories held within German WWI postcards and transforms them into a living archive of memory, material culture, and shared authorship.
The launch will take the form of an illustrated conversation moderated by an arts commissioner familiar with Ward’s practice. Ward will be joined by a small panel of academic, artist, and language collaborators, alongside voices from Grandpré. Together, the discussion will weave local histories with contemporary perspectives, while reanimating the enduring connection between Manchester and Charleville-Mézières, the departmental capital.
With the support of Alliance Française, a special display of selected artefacts from Archives+ and the North West Film Archive has been assembled specifically for the evening. These materials document the shared histories between Manchester and the Ardennes, and sit alongside the themes explored in the book.
The evening will conclude with a question-and-answer session, offering the audience an opportunity to engage directly with the panel, followed by the chance to purchase signed, discounted copies of the artist book.
Free – reserve a seat via eventbrite here

Manchester Poetry For All
2026-02-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
A free event, suitable for budding listeners of poetry or those keen to try out some of their own poetry.
Listen to a selection of Manchester Writers from a 2025 publication Bards across the Pond with USA and UK writers in February
If you would like to read a poem, book your seat via the links below then send an email to wright727@myyahoo.com. with your request and any questions. Reading spaces are limited.
Free – reserve a seat via this meetup link or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

Timeless Cyprus: A Workshop for Children Aged 6-14
2026-02-07 14:30 - 16:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Join us for a theatrical–narrative journey through art, memory and home. In this workshop, children and young people will explore the world of Cypriot artist George Pol. Georgiou. Guided by the artworks, children explore everyday elements that appear in Georgiou’s paintings — chairs, houses, horses — and transform them into symbols of feelings, stories and lived experiences. A simple chair may become a keeper of memories; a house, a feeling of belonging; light, both the sun of Cyprus and the hope we carry within us. Through movement, narration, observation and creative play, participants encounter the artist and his work not as distant museum objects, but as living stories filled with light, memory and emotion.
The event includes a screening of The Myths of Cyprus by Mark Kassinos, starting at 3.30pm. Check out the full programme below:
2.30-3.30pm: Workshop
3.30-4.30pm: Film Screening: The Myths of Cyprus by Mark Kassinos, produced by The Press and Information Office in Cyprus.
Suitable for children aged 6-14.
Free – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Architecture for the People? Film Screening
2026-02-09 18:30 - 19:45 | Performance Space
Join us for a film screening and discussion exploring Manchester’s urban history and development from the 1940s to today.

Organised in collaboration with The Modernist and the current exhibition at Central Library, Architecture for the people: the works of Manchester City Architect’s Department (1902-2003), this Manchester Urban Film Series screening and discussion will revisit Manchester’s urban history and development from the 1940s to today.
We’ll be screening the 1947 documentary from the North West Film Archive collection, A City Speaks, which was a promotional film sponsored by the city council. As the BFI description summarizes: “Urban utopia beckons in this idealistic vision of postwar Manchester – fascinating to revisit as Northern Powerhouses and city devolution return to the agenda…Under the soaring, sweeping direction of Paul Rotha, it takes in themes of industry, energy, leisure and housing, present, past and future.”
We’ll use this as our starting point to reflect on Manchester’s historical urban development and the role of government within that as well as the resonances, challenges or opportunities of the dramatically transformed landscape we face today. With a resurgence of interest in “new municipalism” and public ownership, “it is worth remembering,” as the exhibit notes, “how much of the city’s operations were governed from the town hall. Manchester Corporation once controlled gas and electricity undertakings, tramways and trolleybuses, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries and more. The City Architect’s Department designed for all of these.” What can we learn from these efforts today?
Check out the exhibit up at the Central Library until February 28, 2026: Architecture for the people: the works of Manchester City Architect’s Department (1902-2003)
Free – booking advised.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library.

Shakespeare and Manchester: A Victorian Powerhouse Exhibition
2026-02-12 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
For the first time, this exhibition tells the story of how seven personalities transformed Manchester into a global centre of Shakespearean theatre in the Victorian era and reveals present day evidence of the city’s innovative engagement with the works of Shakespeare.
Free – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Meet Your Muslim Neighbours: Explore Islam Exhibition and Event
2026-02-14 11:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us and the Meet Your Muslim Neighbours team for a special one-day community led event and exhibition about Islamic culture and Muslim people, at Central Library on Saturday 14 February, 11am-4pm.
Filled with free activities for all ages, including henna painting, interactive word hunts, Arabic tea and coffee, costume dressing, arts and crafts, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Delve into the richness of Islamic culture with informative stands exploring foundational beliefs and scientific contributions. Engage in meaningful conversations and build bridges of understanding and unity. Don’t miss this enriching experience for the whole family!
Find out more about the day here: Meet Your Muslim Neighbours: Explore Islam Exhibition and Event – Manchester Libraries Blog
Did you know…at Manchester Central Library and our neighbourhood libraries, we have a broad selection of books on Islamic culture which are free to borrow if you have a library card? You can browse our collection online here or at this event and find out how to join the library free here or on the day (just bring along some ID with your home address on to sign up on the day).
Free- please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online here

Chinese New Year Celebration - Saturday Family Activities
2026-02-14 12:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion.
Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, Confucius Institute, Manchester Chinese Centre, and more!
12 – 12:15pm: Short live performance by Bowen Education
12 – 4pm: Crafts by Bowen Education

Free arts and crafts workshops for children
Children’s artwork display: Special exhibition of student creations for Chinese New Year
Hanfu photo booth: Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station: Have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy

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

Chinese New Year Celebration - Sunday Funday
2026-02-15 11:30 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion.
Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, Confucius Institute, Manchester Chinese Centre, and more!
11 – 11:30am (on St Peter’s Square): Lion dance performance!
11:30am: Central Library doors open
Central Library Performance Space (Ground Floor)
12 – 1:30pm: Bowen Education – Stage performances by local schools and community groups – including dance, music, and other creative interpretations of Chinese culture and traditions
2 – 4pm: Performances and Workshops for Children with Manchester Chinese Centre
Central Library Ground Floor (near café)
12 – 4:00pm Cake decorating with Sarah Cook Stars
Central Library Lower Ground Floor
12 – 4pm: Family Craft Workshops with Central Library, Manchester Chinese Centre and Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with local artists Caroline Coates, Mandy Cleveland, and friends! Expect lantern making, paper horses, and much, much more.
12 – 2pm: Bracelet making with Confucius Institute
2 – 4pm: Crafts by Bowen Education

Free arts and crafts workshops for children
Children’s artwork display: Special exhibition of student creations for Chinese New Year
Hanfu photo booth: Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station: Have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy.

Is it all a bit too exciting? Why not take a moment away from the crowds in our quiet space in the Music Library (First Floor), 11:30am – 4pm.
Free event – drop in (note – face painting £2)
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Word Central with special guest Zena Barrie.
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Zena Barrie.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 3rd February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.
N.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe.
Performance slots are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
Our first special guest of 2026, Zena Barrie, lives in Manchester and is the founder and co-director of Camden Fringe. She co-hosted the award-winning spoken word night Verbose, and ran the Gtr Manchester Fringe for a few years, the King’s Arms Pub and Theatre in Salford, and the Etcetera Theatre in Camden, as well as working in a wide variety of roles at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her novel, Your Friend Forever, was published in 2021, and her book of short stories, Two Similar Looking Men with Umbilical Hernias, illustrated by Claire Robinson, was published in 2025.

Daily Drop in Lego Workshop
2026-02-18 10:00 - 2026-02-21 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Love Lego? Pick your favourite bricks and build your own creations – from castles to spaceships and everything in between! Come and let your imagination run wild in the world of Lego, with Bricklands. Suitable for all ages.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free, no need to book – 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
2026-02-18 11:00 - 11:30 | Children’s Library
Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun and 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.
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

Crochet Club: Family Edition!
2026-02-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Calling all budding crafters! Join this relaxed crochet session and get creative with yarn. All materials are provided – just bring yourself! Most suitable for children 10+.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free – Booking required – Reserve your place here or click on ‘Book Now’ below
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
