The Manchester Arena opened in 1995 and is the main live entertainment venue in the city.
Events here range from rock and pop concerts to comedy, boxing and children’s shows.
It has previously been named after commercial sponsors. Former names include the NYNEX Arena, Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena, and the Phones 4u Arena.
Events - What's On - Manchester Arena
A selection of upcoming shows and events at Manchester Arena are listed below. Tickets can be purchased here.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 29th August 2018 7:30 pm | Justin Timberlake |
| Friday 31st August 2018 7:00 pm | Kevin Hart |
| Saturday 1st September 2018 7:30 pm | The League of Gentlemen |
| Sunday 2nd September 2018 7:30 pm | Barry Manilow |
| Thursday 6th September 2018 6:00 pm | Arctic Monkeys |
| Friday 7th September 2018 6:00 pm | Arctic Monkeys |
| Saturday 15th September 2018 5:00 pm | Giants Live |
| Friday 21st September 2018 6:00 pm | Lethal Bizzle |
| Saturday 22nd September 2018 6:00 pm | The Shires |
| Saturday 22nd September 2018 7:00 pm | Shania Twain |
| Sunday 23rd September 2018 6:00 pm | Jason Derulo |
| Wednesday 26th September 2018 8:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Thursday 27th September 2018 8:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Friday 28th September 2018 8:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Saturday 29th September 2018 4:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Saturday 29th September 2018 8:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Sunday 30th September 2018 1:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Sunday 30th September 2018 5:00 pm | Cirque du Soleil: OVO |
| Monday 1st October 2018 6:00 pm | Kylie |
| Thursday 4th October 2018 7:30 pm | Early Doors |
| Friday 5th October 2018 6:00 pm | Jeff Lynne's ELO |
| Saturday 6th October 2018 6:00 pm | Jeff Lynne's ELO |
| Wednesday 10th October 2018 6:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Thursday 11th October 2018 6:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Friday 12th October 2018 6:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Saturday 13th October 2018 10:30 am | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Saturday 13th October 2018 2:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Saturday 13th October 2018 6:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Sunday 14th October 2018 10:30 am | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Sunday 14th October 2018 2:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Sunday 14th October 2018 6:30 pm | Disney On Ice presents Dream Big |
| Friday 19th October 2018 6:30 pm | U2 |
| Saturday 20th October 2018 6:30 pm | U2 |
| Sunday 21st October 2018 7:30 pm | Noel Fitzpatrick Supervet |
| Friday 26th October 2018 6:00 pm | Enrique Iglesias |
| Saturday 27th October 2018 6:00 pm | Gabrielle |
| Friday 2nd November 2018 6:00 pm | Benjamin Clementine |
| Monday 5th November 2018 7:30 pm | WWE Live |
| Tuesday 6th November 2018 7:30 pm | WWE Smackdown Live |
| Friday 9th November 2018 6:00 pm | Lamb of God |
| Saturday 17th November 2018 6:00 pm | Jess Glynne |
| Saturday 17th November 2018 7:00 pm | Jess Glynne |
| Sunday 18th November 2018 6:00 pm | Culture Club |
| Tuesday 20th November 2018 7:30 pm | The Four Tops and Temptations |
| Thursday 22nd November 2018 6:30 pm | Nitro Circus Live |
| Friday 23rd November 2018 6:00 pm | Florence + The Machine |
| Saturday 24th November 2018 6:30 pm | Midge Ures Band Electronica |
| Sunday 25th November 2018 7:00 pm | Hits Radio Live |
| Monday 26th November 2018 7:00 pm | Ms. Lauryn Hill |
| Thursday 29th November 2018 6:00 pm | Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics |
| Friday 30th November 2018 7:30 pm | Jason Manford |
| Saturday 1st December 2018 6:30 pm | Star Wars Live Orchestra Tour |
| Saturday 1st December 2018 7:30 pm | Star Wars Live Orchestra Tour |
| Sunday 2nd December 2018 6:00 pm | Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds |
| Sunday 2nd December 2018 7:00 pm | Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds |
| Thursday 6th December 2018 7:30 pm | Frankie Valli |
| Friday 7th December 2018 6:00 pm | Madness |
| Saturday 8th December 2018 6:00 pm | The Charlatans |
| Monday 10th December 2018 5:45 pm | The Cadillac Three |
| Tuesday 11th December 2018 7:30 pm | Nightwish |
| Wednesday 12th December 2018 6:00 pm | Def Leppard |
| Friday 14th December 2018 8:00 pm | Josh Groban |
| Friday 28th December 2018 3:00 pm | Peter Pan An Arena Adventure |
| Friday 28th December 2018 7:00 pm | Peter Pan An Arena Adventure |
| Saturday 29th December 2018 11:00 am | Peter Pan An Arena Adventure |
| Saturday 29th December 2018 3:00 pm | Peter Pan An Arena Adventure |
| Monday 31st December 2018 11:59 pm | Test Event- Please Do Not Purchase |
| Wednesday 30th January 2019 6:00 pm | Snow Patrol |
| Saturday 2nd February 2019 6:30 pm | Boyzone |
| Saturday 2nd February 2019 7:00 pm | Boyzone |
| Saturday 9th February 2019 8:00 pm | Professor Brian Cox |
| Tuesday 5th March 2019 7:00 pm | twenty ne pilts |
| Monday 18th March 2019 6:30 pm | Future |
| Sunday 7th April 2019 6:00 pm | Shawn Mendes |
| Friday 10th May 2019 8:00 pm | Bill Bailey |
More events may be listed on the official Manchester Arena website (see the information section at the end of this page).
Box Office & Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online from Ticketmaster or Eventim, the Manchester Arena’s official booking agent. Booking fees apply.
Capacity
The maximum capacity of the Manchester Arena is 21,000, making it the biggest indoor arena in the UK.
The layout and capacity varies with the event being staged. For example, at a boxing match all the seats in both the upper and lower tiers can be available. At a music concert no seats are offered behind the stage.
Other major indoor arenas in the UK include the Echo Arena Liverpool (11,000), the O2 Arena in London (20,000), and Genting Arena (NEC) in Birmingham (15,700).
Location, Directions & Parking
The Manchester Arena is situated at the northern end of Manchester city centre, right next to Manchester Victoria Train Station.
Train & Metrolink
There’s a direct link to the Manchester Arena from Manchester Victoria Train Station and Victoria Metrolink Station. Visitors arriving at Manchester Piccadilly Train Station can walk or catch the Metrolink tram to Manchester Victoria.
Bus & Coach
The Shudehill Interchange is just 400 yards from the Manchester Arena.
Car
To get to the Manchester Arena by car leave the M60 motorway at Junction 17. Then follow the A56 directly to the venue.
Visitors with satellite navigation systems should note that the postcode for the MEN Arena is M3 1AR.
The official onsite car park is operated by NCP. It is a manned, 24-hour multi-storey car park with over 950 spaces. The entrance is on New Bridge Street (turn left from the A56 just before the arena).
Other NCP car parks nearby include Manchester Printworks and the Manchester Arndale.
For details of charges visit the NCP website and search for parking spaces. Use the postcode for the Manchester Arena M3 1AR.
Other Information
Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the Manchester Arena. Furthermore, visitors are not permitted to leave the building to smoke and re-enter. Electronic cigarettes are also prohibited.
Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses are prohibited. Small digital cameras are permitted by most promoters.
Small bags are allowed but may be searched. Large bags and backpacks are strictly forbidden. Patrons are not permitted to bring food, drink, golf umbrellas and banners into the venue.
Nearby Attractions
Tourist attractions and things to do near Manchester Arena include:
- The Printworks (0.2 miles) - State-of-the-art entertainment complex. Cinema, bars, restaurants and more.
- Royal Exchange Theatre (0.4 miles) - Home of Manchester’s leading theatre company.
Nearby Cinemas
Cinemas near Manchester Arena include:
- Vue Manchester Printworks (0.2 miles) - 23-screen cinema at the Printworks. View movie listings and times.
Nearby Shoppping
Places to shop near Manchester Arena include:
- Corn Exchange (0.2 miles) - Dining destination in Manchester city centre.
- Manchester Arndale (0.4 miles) - Large shopping centre in Manchester city centre.
Nearby Restaurants
Restaurants and places to eat and drink near Manchester Arena include:
- Umexushi (0.1 miles)
- Alston Bar and Beef (0.2 miles) - Steakhouse and gin bar at the Corn Exchange, Manchester. Close to Manchester Cathedral, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, the Printworks, and the National Football Museum.
- Mowgli Street Food (0.2 miles)
- Wahaca (0.2 miles)
- Hard Rock Cafe (0.2 miles)
- This and That (0.3 miles) - Unpretentious Indian cafe in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Offers a simple menu that changes daily. Specialises in rice and three curry dishes. Located close to the Printworks and Manchester Arndale.
- Federal (0.4 miles) - Independent cafe offering an all-day brunch, sandwiches, and bagels. Located in the Northern Quarter, close to the Manchester Arndale and Printworks.
- Luck, Lust, Liquor and Burn (0.4 miles)
- The Botanist (0.4 miles)
Nearby Hotels
Hotels near Manchester Arena include:
- Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre (0.3 miles)
- The Works Aparthotel (0.3 miles)
- Travelodge Manchester Central (0.3 miles)
- Premier Apartments Manchester (0.3 miles)
- Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel (0.4 miles)
- Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre (0.4 miles)
- Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre Arena (0.4 miles)
Nearby Transport Links
Transport links near Manchester Arena include:
- Shudehill Bus Station – Shudehill Interchange (0.3 miles) - Bus and coach station in Manchester city centre.
Nearby Train Stations
Train stations near Manchester Arena include:
- Manchester Victoria Train Station (0.1 miles) - The second largest train station in Manchester.
Nearby Metrolink Stations
Metrolink stations near Manchester Arena include:
- Victoria Metrolink Station (0.1 miles) - Metrolink station at Manchester Victoria Train Station.
- Exchange Square Metrolink Station (0.2 miles) - Metrolink station in Manchester city centre.
- Shudehill Metrolink Station – Shudehill Interchange (0.3 miles) - Metrolink station in Manchester city centre.
Map
Map showing location of Manchester Arena.
Details
Manchester Arena
Address and postcode
Victoria Station
Manchester
Greater Manchester
United Kingdom
M3 1AR
Kayleigh says
I have tickets for disney on ice block 103 row T seats 15-19 are these good seats for disney on ice?
victoria jones says
I just been to see barry manalow who was fantastic.I am disabled and would like to say the service was awfull .the staff didnt help me at all we were left to find our own way around .When seated they took my wheelchair away and then pointed out were the toilets and bar was but HOW could i get there because they hed taken my chair.after the show the que for the lifts was awfull there where abled pepole getting the lifts bear in mind they had just been DANCING AND JUMPING AROUND and they are now letting wheelchair users line up fpr alift after the first lift there was no staff to tell us how to get out the building it took myself and other wheelchair useers twenty minutes to get out the building i would not recommend wheelcair users to go there I WILL NOT USE THIS VENUE AGAIN
dan says
I’ve been to the MEN Arena twice and have never left disappointed. I think the floor seats are good. I sat in block f in the floor seats and had the perfect view. I’m going again soon and sitting in block f, but even closer than before.
Abzz says
Thankyou, but i have just bought Miley Cyrus tickets for the MEN, but due to difficult circumstances i had to resell and get some closer to home. I successfully resold, but as we live about five hundred miles away from Manchester, to go up and meet the buyer would be alot, and I recently checked Ticketmaster to see if this "credit card check" was a regular thing, but it seems it’s just a Miley Cyrus thing. It said that the buyer has to present the credit card it was bought with along with the tickets. Obviously, the buyer cannot do that. And some have said it’s just a thing and they won’t check 20,000 or however many tickets to credit cards, and what if the credit card holder cannot be there on the night? Does anyone have a helpful solution that would be appreciated. Thanks 🙂
Dave says
I’ve been to 3 concerts and they’ve never asked to see my credit card. I suppose if you were picking the tickets up at the box office they would do. But if you’ve already got your ticket they don’t ask. If they did the touts wouldn’t be able to sell tickets outside. And there’s always a lot of them.
Abzz says
Can anyone tell me if they check your tickets at the door for proof that you bought them? Do they ask to see your credit card?
kel says
Just got back from the Kylie show and feel like I have just melted in the Arena. Kylie was great but it was far far too hot. The kids were sweating and I had to keep taking them out for air, so we missed some of the show.
They seriously need to sort some kind of air con or if they’ve got it already they need to spend some money to improve it as the heat spoilt it for us all.
Prices of soft drinks were a rip off but you need to buy them as you can’t take your own in. When there are 4 of you with 2 soft drinks each it’s a lot of money.
Ben says
Saw Kylie on 12th July and it was just fab! We booked tickets in block 114 (lower tier, row B), and in my opinion the view could not have been any more perfect! If I go here again I would always try to get this block (or indeed the one opposite (103). I would never book in the upper tier it just looked too high up! The floor seats really are not worth it, as if someone tall is in front of you then you’re screwed. The upper and lower tiers however are not that great for the less mobile having steep steps with no hand rails. Also there is this funny business of people sitting down and standing up. Luckily I was in a block with lively concert goers so had a blast dancing like a looney! I did feel for some as they sat there with their arms folded – come on peeps it’s Kylie! You’ve paid a good deal of money to sit down? Yes it does get hot but then with thousands of people and the fact that most are dancing then you just accept that, just make sure you’ve got a drink handy!
All in all had a great time, and the sound quality to me was great.
ChrisBirchall says
Normally I would relish the thought of sharing a sauna with Kylie. Last night, however, the experience was spoiled for me and the 18,999 other people in the MEN sauna, by the heat and the diabolical sound quality.
Kylie darling: sack your sound engineer.
MEN Arena: (definitely NOT darling) Sort out your air-conditioning. Better still, knock the place down and build a proper arena geared more to customer experience than money-grabbing.
Take a lead from Liverpool’s Echo Arena and Glasgow’s SECC.
Biggest really doesn’t mean best!
debbie says
I recently saw Neil Diamond at the MEN Arena. Very good organisation and sound system excellent. Neil was fantastic! Great idea to have plastic bottles of wine.
p mcgrath says
I went to see Westlife last night 04/06/08. It was a great concert if you wanted to hear it clearly from Cheetham Hill. I love loud music, but the distortion was really bad. The girl group before were clear as a bell. I think the sound mixer needs either sacking or his ears testing.
jackie whittaker says
I went with my granddaughter to see Celine Dion. The show was magnificent BUT as a disabled person the arena is dangerous and not disabled friendly at all. The men in yellow are not very good either. A fight broke out behind us after someone threw beer over the man behind and over me too. The container was plastic, thank goodness as it hit me. I tried to get the staff to come and stop the fight, one man was bleeding. The staff just sat looking at what was going on. All this was due to drink. WHY sell alcohol all through a show like that. You should not serve alcohol at all it always causes trouble. This ruined the most amazing night of my life and it’s a night I can never afford to repeat. All this through greed. You must make a huge profit on the tickets alone.
peter tyrrell curtis says
We just went to see Celion Dion and it was an amazing performance. The only problem was we had front row seats which were really good except the stairs down are so dangerous. There was no railing so my wife had to take her shoes off and many older people were being almost carried out. I am surprised no one has been killed trying to get down them.
jude roberts says
Went to see Clubland Live at the men arena and it was brilliant.
Louise says
Last night (22/12/07) I went to see Take That at the Arena. They were absolutely fantastic and put on an amazing show.
The only problem was the seats in the upper tier. I had a brilliant view don’t get me wrong but it was like sitting on a cliff face. If you have any kind of phobia of heights do not book for these seats as they are really horrible. I don’t really have a height phobia (or so I thought) but I didn’t like these seats. The problem was that the people in front are level with your feet so it feels as though you are standing on a ledge a million feet up in the air. It doesn’t help that you can’t see the block below either as it looks as though there is just a sheer drop to the floor. Luckily customer services changed our seats as there were some restricted viewing seats left which were in the lower tier and were actually closer and not really restricted at all. It actually turned out that the majority of our new block had all been moved from various high seats around the arena so it wasn’t just us!
Like I say if you have no fear of heights the view is brilliant you can see everything but be warned it is extra high and you may develop a sudden fear of heights like I did.
paulinetunnicliffe says
I went to see Take that at the Arena on Saturday night and it has to be the most spectacular pop concert I have ever been to. However, it was spoilt by loud mouthed yobs who were tripping backwards and forwards to the bar all night. Does the bar have to be open during the performance because all that happened was that they got louder and louder and more obnoctious with every drink.
Sophie says
I went to see Mcfly at the MEN on Friday and they were brilliant.
baby d says
The Scissor Sisters gig was fantastic. Many of the crowd went dressed up special and it was a really good atmosphere.
lisa says
i am going to see beyonce on the 7th june 2007 i was wondering if u are allowed to bring camera phones or any camera only i know that at other arenas ppl do take pictures plus i need to know how to get to the seats provided as im at the top floor of manchester evening news arena
trudie says
Beware of bogus car park officials when you go to the MEN arena. On your way you’ll see lots of guys dressed up like official attendants trying to flag you into their car parks. They are just criminals who have taken over office car parks at night. Don’t give them your money.
julie says
Justin Timberlake was just awesome. Go if you can still get tickets!
Kathryn says
Hi everyone – I have tickets to see Meat Loaf on the 10th of May. I’m very excited but also a nervous wreck as I have ground floor seats and I am worried about how to access them and the facilities available at the ground floor level. I have a very bad phobia heights and I am unable to walk down all of the stairs from the top of the first tier to the floor. I’ve been told to ask staff to point out a lift and I should be able to access the floor that way, though I am worried that the staff will see that I am not disabled and won’t let me use it. Also, once on the ground floor are there toliets and food stands outside in the hallway? I will be so relieved one in my seat but the thought of having to go back up on a higher level to use the toliet has me worried as well. Any information would be so greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Daniel Hendleman says
P.S Also I’d advise you to get there early as finding your seat can be pretty hectic with 19,000 people already there so get there earlier than the time suggested on your ticket enjoy! 🙂
Daniel Hendleman says
I have to say I had never been to a concert before and I’m 16 but I went to see My Chemical Romance on the 24th of March this year and it was the best thing I’ve ever done! Since then I’m now going to 4 more events here. Seriously if you get the chance to go, definitely do it. Even if you don’t like who will be playing there the atmosphere is immense! It’s my favourite place to go! 🙂 I’m going again on Thursday night to see Lostprophets :).
Sham says
Andy Rourke’s Versus Cancer concert the other night was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Such a worthy cause. Thanks very much Andy and hope you can pull it off again next year.
sue says
It’s not a good idea to use the car park at the MEN arena. It is an absolute nightmare trying to get out at night. It’s better to use one a little further away (e.g. Chorlton Street) and walk.