The Best Things To Do In Manchester This Summer (2024)

While it feels like summer hasn't quite begun yet (hello sunshine, are you there?), things are hotting up in Manchester with the arrival of a season of events, from music and comedy festivals, to international sports tournaments.

If you're thinking about a summer mini break, why not make it a staycation in Manchester with CitySuites? While you're not exploring the city, you can relax in our luxury spa pool or enjoy a drink at our bar during Happy Hour. Look into your dates here.

Check out our list of what's happening in Manchester this summer...

Concerts at Coop Live

When: Various dates, summer 2024

Where: Coop Live, Manchester

The newly opened Coop Live's summer season of shows is one of the most star-studded line-ups we've ever seen. From The Killers, to Justin Timberlake, to Stevie Nicks – and everything in between, there is something for every music fan this summer. 

The venue itself is incredibly fresh and modern, with 32 food and drink outlets, and Wi-Fi available throughout the venue. If attending a concert from CitySuites, guests can easily get the tram from Piccadilly Gardens to Etihad Campus, or take a short taxi to Coop Live. 

Some key dates in the summer 2024 line-up:

June

• Thursday 27th & Friday 28th: Liam Gallagher

July

• Friday 5th: Megan Thee Stallion
• Tuesday 9th: Stevie Nicks
• Wednesday 10th: Kings of Leon
• Saturday 13th: Travis Scott

August

• Thursday 8th: Justin Timberlake
• Sunday 11th: Arijit Singh
• Tuesday 13th: Noah Kahan
• Tuesday 27th: Niall Horan

Tickets & full line-up here.

Aladdin: The Musical

When: Monday 24th June to Sunday 7th July

Where: Palace Theatre, Manchester

From the producers of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Frozen, the spectacular Disney Broadway and West End musical ALADDIN is here in Manchester.

This exuberant production, based on the 1992 animated film, is filled with unforgettable magic, comedy, breathtaking sets and dazzling costumes.

Disney's Aladdin is recommended for a general audience. We recommend the production for ages 6 and up.

Book your tickets here!

The Importance of Being Earnest

When: Monday 24th June to Saturday 20th July, 2024

Where: Royal Exchange Theatre

Oscar Wilde’s legendary, quintessential comedy, directed by Josh Roche, receives a dazzling makeover at the Royal Exchange Theatre this summer.

This timeless tale of identity, opulence and sharp-tongued wit follows the lives of the rich and ridiculous, all looking for something to do, someone to love and somewhere to belong.

For Jack and Algernon, being young and rich isn’t easy. Tired of the never-ending soirees and penthouse shindigs, they escape their anxious existence (and Lady Bracknell) in the pursuit of love, real love, like, proper adult, IRL love, all under the guise of the ever-enigmatic Ernest.

But love isn’t as easy as it seems. After all, Cecily and Gwendolen have standards, not to mention a peculiar passion for the name of Ernest… Book your tickets here.

Janelle Monáe

When: 2nd to 4th July, 2024

Where: Factory International / Aviva Studios, Manchester

Janelle Monáe is back with a three nights of electrifying but intimate nights of music at Factory International.

One of the most celebrated artists of the modern era, Monáe fuses a blend of genres – soul, funk, hip hop and new wave – with big concepts and slick pop productions.

A 10x GRAMMY®-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, performer, actor and fashion icon, Monáe is known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound. In 2023, she released the highly anticipated The Age of Pleasure following a string of celebrated albums – Dirty Computer (2018), The Electric Lady (2013) and The Archandroid (2010).

More info & tickets here.

Life of Pi

When: 2nd to 6th July, 2024

Where: The Lyric at The Lowry, Manchester

Due to popular demand, the spectacular production of Life of Pie is returning to The Lowry for one week only this summer. 

Winner of five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, the production involves "jaw-dropping visuals" and "world-class puppetry", and is fun for all the family. If you don't know the story, based on the Man Booker Prize winning book of the same name, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat after an epic storm in the Pacific Ocean with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger.

Book your tickets here.

Sounds of the City – Castlefield Bowl

When: 4th to 13th July, 2024

Where: Castlefield Bowl, Manchester

A staple part of the Manchester music scene, Sounds of the City is back in July 2024 featuring a range of acclaimed artists, with Avril Lavigne opening the event on Wednesday 3rd July. Other artists performing include The National, The Saw Doctors, Tom Grennan, Jungle, and Hacienda Classical, who will close the event on Saturday 13th July.

Castlefield Bowl itself is an outdoor ampitheatre style venue at the end of Deansgate, just a 20-minute walk from CitySuites. Fingers crossed the rain holds off! Tickets available here. 

Hairspray The Musical

When: 16th to 27th July, 2024

Where: Palace Theatre Manchester

The feel-good classic is back in Manchester this summer. Featuring some of musical theatre’s biggest hit songs, Welcome to the 60s, You Can’t Stop the Beat, Good Morning Baltimore, and many more. Hairspray is a hilarious, joyous, and inspiring musical for all.

Hairspray has wowed audiences in The West End and on Broadway and still packs a punch with its message of tolerance and the fight against racial discrimination.

Cricket at Old Trafford 

When: Various dates, July & August 2024

Where: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

The Hundred

When: 25th July to 11th August, 2024

The Hundred is an action-packed, unmissable cricket competition that fuses world-class cricket with blockbuster entertainment.

Combining a short, fast format of cricket, with each game lasting less than three hours, The Hundred is making cricket more accessible and reaching a broader audience. It’s simple: 100 balls per team, most runs wins, so every ball counts.

The Hundred features eight teams from seven cities, with men’s and women’s competitions taking place side by side: Welsh Fire (Cardiff), Southern Brave (Southampton), Northern Superchargers (Leeds), London Spirit, Trent Rockets (Nottingham), Oval Invincibles (London), Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix. Each teams features some of the best international and domestic cricketers from around the world, including England Men’s & Women’s World Cup winners.

Old Trafford will host the following games:

Thursday 25 July: Manchester Originals v Welsh Fire, Emirates Old Trafford, women 15:00, men 18:30
Monday 29 July: Manchester Originals v Trent Rockets, Emirates Old Trafford, women 15:00, men 18:35
Tuesday 6 August: Manchester Originals v Oval Invincibles, Emirates Old Trafford, women 11:30, men 15:00
Sunday 11 August: Manchester Originals v Northern Superchargers, Emirates Old Trafford, women 14:30, men 18:00

England v Sri Lanka Men's Test Match

When: 21st to 25th August, 2024

England play host to to Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in an unmissable Test Match from 21-25 August. Matches are expected to start at approximately 11am each day. 

England v Australia, Men's IT20

When: 15th September, 2024

After an unmissable Ashes summer in 2023, Australia are returning to Emirates Old Trafford once again in 2024. The two cricket giants face each other in a Men's IT20 that promises to be a thriller.

Peter Kay: Better Late Than Never

When: 26th & 27th July, 23rd & 24th August, 2024

Where: AO Arena

One of Britain’s best loved comedians, Peter Kay, has returned to stand-up comedy after 12years. “It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now” “And with the cost of living at an all-time high, ticket prices are starting from £35. The same price they were on my previous tour in 2010”

Peter’s 2010 tour still officially ranks with the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling comedy tour of all time. Playing to over 1.2 million people.

Manchester Day

When: 27th July

Where: Across the city

Back on 27th July, 2024, Manchester Day will yet again bring a huge amount of festivities held across the city's parks, including Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens. The event is being "revamped" into a bigger spectacle than its yearly counterparts. The announcement made by the council states that the day will "extend into the evening", adding a special night city celebration filled with music, and more! 

Manchester Day is a family-friendly event and free for everyone to attend! 

Pride Weekend

When: 23rd to 26th August, 2024

Where: Gay Village, Manchester

The Manchester Pride Festival takes place across the August bank holiday weekend, bringing together LGBTQ+ people and their allies for celebration, protest, and liberation. While some of the festival – the Gay Village Party – is ticketed, the Parade, which takes place on Saturday 26th August, is free to attend, as is the Candlelit Vigil on Monday 28th. There’s also a free arts and culture programme called Superbia Weekend which celebrates LGBTQ+ life through poetry, art, music, dance, and more.

Tickets available here.

Laughterama

When: 4th to 8th September, 2024

Where: Castlefield Bowl

Manchester’s biggest comedy festival returns to Castlefield Bowl with five nights of astounding open-air comedy, craft beer, street eats and more. Featuring a fantastic compilation of comedy talent including Jon Richardson, Sara Pascoe, Phil Wang, Dara Ó Briain, Ceyla AB, Sophie Duker, and many more phenomenal acts performing live in the heart of the city.

Tickets available here.