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Cultural Calendar 2025

Creative Tourist

2025 continues to reveal a treasure trove of arts and cultural happenings, from sprawling festivals to massive performances and special events. To help you fill those calendars, we’ve asked our editors to select their highlights.

There’s a bit of everything here, from blockbuster theatre shows to family-friendly picks, world-class exhibitions, performances from internationally-acclaimed musicians, live literature showcases and cinematic treasures to delight the most discerning film buff.

Want more? You can keep up-to-the-minute with what’s happening across Manchester and the North with our specialist Cinema, Exhibitions, Theatre, Literature, Music, Family and Tours & Activities guides. You can also follow us on all the usual socials (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and subscribe to our mailing list to get this kind of thing in your inbox every Friday lunchtime.

Our top picks

Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios

Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 19–22 February 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Two of the most distinctive creators – choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité’s Simon McBurney – will present a thrilling and timely world premiere at Aviva Studios.

Find out more
Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios: A group of dancers, dressed in formal shirts, perform in unison on a dimly lit stage.
Image courtesy of Rahi Rezvani.

Hannah Perry: Manual Labour at Baltic

Hannah Perry: Manual Labour at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, North East, Until 15 March 2025, free entry - Visit now

In her long awaited show at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle, Hannah Perry interrogates her experience of becoming a mother, at utilises it as a starting point for conversations on labour, class and gender. The show includes a brand new, large-scale commission that is best experienced at first hand!

Find out more
A pregnant woman standing in a mirror
Hannah Perry © Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

2024 Exhibition Highlights at the Whitworth

Exhibition Highlights 2024 at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 31 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Not one but at least four fantastic exhibitions will take place at the Whitworth throughout 2024 with work from Shirley Craven, John Lyons, Ayo Akingbade and Barbara Walker.

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Colourful figures painted in oil paint on cavas background
Shirley Craven for Hull Traders, Five (detail), 1966-67. Screen-printed furnishing textile. The Whitworth, the University of Manchester (T.12298.2). Photo: Michael Pollard.

40 Years of the Future at Castlefield Gallery

40 Years of the Future at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester, Until 30 March 2025, free entry - Visit now

Celebrate the beloved Castlefield Gallery’s 40th birthday with a thrilling programme of events taking place throughout the year.

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A dynamic painting of colourful shapes arranged to form a cross
Hoyland Studio Ltd

Bharti Kher: Alchemies at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Bharti Kher: Alchemies at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire, Until 27 April 2025, from £0.00 - Book now

One of the world’s leading contemporary artists, Bharti Kher comes to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with a body of work that focuses on the female experience and its shifting context in today’s world.

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Sculpture of a nude woman with the head of a cow placed on top of the woman's head
Bharti Kher, Animus Mundi (detail), 2018. © Bharti Kher. Courtesy of the artist and Nature Morte. Photo © Jeetin Sharma.

Idles at The Apollo

Idles at O2 Apollo, Manchester, 6 December 2024, from £42.15 - Book now

Among the most powerful voices in modern rock music, Idles are taking the power of love on the road, bringing their new album TANGK to Manchester in December.

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Idles by Daniel Topete, image couresy of SONIC PR
Idles by Daniel Topete, image courtesy of Sonic PR.

Seasonal Guides

Christmas in Manchester and the North
Christmas in Manchester and the North

If you’re looking for alternative or interesting things to do over Christmas in Manchester and the North, look no further.
sunny bank mills
Christmas Shopping

Back away from the high street and support some of Manchester’s best independent makers, sellers and curators this Christmas.
Christmas food and drink

Don’t worry about the calories, the holidays are coming so that means it’s time to eat, drink, be merry for Christmas 2023.

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre
Christmas Theatre and Concerts

As the big day approaches, you can count on theatres and concert halls across the North to pull out all the festive stops.
Creepy capers across Manchester and the North for little and big ghosts with the most.
Halloween in Manchester and the North

As Halloween approaches read our guide to the creepy capers happening for little and big ghosts with the most.
Timekeepers
Light Festivals in the North

From enchanting lantern parades to epic LED installations, light festivals are a brilliant way celebrate the magic of the winter months.
Wicked at Palace Theatre Manchester
Things to do over October half-term

Looking for things to do with the family over the October half-term holiday? We’ve got you covered.

Destinations

Timekeepers
Spotlight on

Light Festivals in the North

From enchanting lantern parades to epic LED installations, light festivals are a brilliant way celebrate the magic of the winter months.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.