Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library. AUTHORS APPEARING IN JUNE ARE LIZZY BARBER, LIV MATTHEWS AND CHARLOTTE DUCKWORTH! 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 […]
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT 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 […]
Get ready to move and honor the powerful women who came before us with a dance experience full of soul and stories. Dance has long brought people together and is a key part of the Baganda People of Uganda. This workshop explores how dance can challenge authoritarian rule, focusing on how Baganda dances strengthen community […]
On June 12th, the photo-documentary exhibition, ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’, is at the centre of an extraordinary event being staged at Manchester Central Library as part of Manchester’s Festival of Libraries. Produced by internationally acclaimed photographer, Nick Sidle, covering the period 2000-1, in the aftermath of the 1999 Kosova war, the exhibition tells an uplifting […]
This June, Manchester Central Library hosts the showcase for SNE Studios Storytelling & Moving Image pilot – a programme delivered in partnership with St Peter’s RC High School and Manchester City of Literature. Over eight weeks, students from St Peter’s have worked alongside professional creatives to understand the power of storytelling and narrative voice, get […]
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 […]
Join us for a fun and interactive craft session for children aged 4-7. We will be celebrating Polish Heritage Month by creating cardboard radios, and much more! We'll provide all the materials, just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Free – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at […]
Join us for a unique event celebrating Mieczysław Fogg, Poland's legendary crooner on the 125th anniversary of his birth. Dive into the vibe of 1930s cabaret and discover how his music became a symbol of wartime resistance. With stories from cultural researcher and journalist Juliette Bretan, a visual journey through his inspiring life and melodies […]
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 […]
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. Tuesday 19th May, 6.00pm – 7.45pm Doors open 5.40pm and free entry. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Cathy Shaw. Our special guest Cathy Shaw’s poems tend to be either gut wrenchingly sad or laugh out loud funny. Based […]
Calling all space explorers - join us for a special edition of our Family Film Club! Bring the family for an afternoon of themed activities as we celebrate the arrival of Planetarium Go! in Manchester. Most suitable for under 12s. Visit librarylive.co.uk for more information. Free – just drop in Please make a donation to […]
Join the Manchester Lit&Phil and MACFEST for a vibrant evening celebrating the power of words to bridge cultures, spark understanding, and illuminate the rich tapestry of our city. We bring together a distinguished panel of poets, whose award-winning works span continents, traditions, and lived experiences. Through live readings and personal reflections our guest writers will […]
From dedicated performance spaces to stairwells, screens, nooks and domes, Central Library might directly inspire your next event or intervention. Contact us to arrange a tour.
