This week, the autumnal activities are fully upon us, from the beginning of Oktoberfest celebrations to the launch of some of the North West’s scariest halloween experiences. If you’re more of a ‘curled up with a good film’ type, Studio IV has a very classy film screening to tie in with Negroni Week, and for the more whimsical, a full-on Medieval Faire comes to Chetham’s Library. Open Fire Dining Club returns for it’s final outing of the season at Torr Vale Mill with an all-star line up of chef collaborators. Oh and there are some serious musical treats too, from pop heavyweights to hip hop innovators. It’s not time to hibernate just yet…
CUPRA Network: The Circuit
A new monthly networking series at CUPRA City Garage, The Circuit will be putting one industry in focus each month. The opening edition brings together the people shaping Manchester’s events and hospitality scene, featuring Orka Concepts, Wise the Agency, AO Arena, CUPRA City Garage and our very own Head of Events at Manchester’s Finest, Scott Forrest. DJ Marwan Mounti plays until close.
Negronis & screening of Guy Ritchie’s In The Grey
It’s Negroni Week, so why not mark it in style? Head to Studio IV for a special cinema night featuring a screening of Guy Ritchie’s new action caper In The Grey, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill. The night begins with a negroni on arrival, popcorn and your front row seat for the film. Settle in, sip on a classic and enjoy the lavish viewing environment of Studio IV’s big screen. Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.
Intimate party with DJ Jaguar
Radio 1 DJ, producer and broadcaster Jaguar heads to Manchester’s Side Street Studios for a seriously intimate party, with just 100 people getting through the doors. For this one-off Manchester date, she’ll be taking over the decks at Side Street, with further DJs still to be announced. All guests will receive a welcome signature cocktail plus canapés. Entry is completely free, but you’ll need to be on the guestlist. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so it’s worth moving quickly.
September Soul
Hosted on the autumn equinox, Band on The Wall are having a night of Soul and R&B to bring some warmth as the winter nights creep in. With a line-up of the best soul artists Manchester has to offer it’s an ideal way to welcome in the turning of the season. Expect the likes of Tsana, known for her expressive runs and sultry R&B, Kiké a Neo Soul singer from Manchester, Mali Hayes, known for collaborations with the likes of Foreign Beggars and Maverick Sabre, and one of the main singers at Manchester Cathedral’s Luminescence, R&B artist Isaac Malibu. Unlock a new soundtrack to the autumnal evenings and make the darkness a little bit more bearable.
Mrs Dalloway
A new critically-acclaimed stage production of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway is coming to Manchester’s HOME. The immersive new production combines theatre, live music and film to adapt Woolf’s novel into an unmissable immersive performance. After rave reviews elsewhere in the country, it brings its contemporary telling to Manchester for a three-night run.
Oktoberfest at Society Manchester
Reach peak Bavarian bliss as Society Manchester transforms into a haven of beers and bratwurst for Oktoberfest. They’ll have six of Munich’s official Oktoberfest breweries on tap to choose from, oompah music from The Bavarian Trumps and a range of special dishes from their vendors. Expect the likes of bratwurst bao dogs with mustard mayo and in-house yuzu sauerkraut, Korean-German crispy schnitzel, pretzel burgers and loaded currywurst hash browns. Fancy dress is encouraged and there’s a prize for best dressed so if you want to go the whole hog for Oktoberfest this is your one stop shop. Book a table for a deposit of a tenner, and get a stein thrown in for free.
Solomun
Solomun plays his only UK headliner of 2026 for WHP’s 20 year celebration. Known for his emotional, melodic sounds and marathon sets, the show also marks the Bosnian-German DJ’s first performance in Manchester in five years. Don’t miss out, you could be waiting another five years – or longer – for this to come around. Come and witness a master at work.
Niall Horan
Having firmly established himself as a solo-artist Niall Horan returns to Manchester’s Co-op Live for another show. With hits like Slow Hands and This Town, the singer who rose to fame as part of One Direction has carved his own path, now with three studio albums under his belt. He plays Co-op Live as part the Dinner Party Live tour.
Scare City 2026
Spooky season is upon us once more and thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies have got much to look forward to. Scare City takes over the abandoned Camelot Theme Park again for more positively terrifying fright nights. The immersive experience is not for the fainthearted and this year, it’s only getting worse. Find yourself trapped in a demonic orphanage, try to escape a cannibal settlement or run through the cursed forest, you’ll only find yourself in a military bunker where the deceased are no longer dead. Even their all new food and drink experience offers no refuge. Rest Bite might sound like a nice place to grab a bite and a break but this retro diner is inhabited by freaks and phantoms and the scares are non-stop. Open from late September to early November, book now – if you’re brave enough.
Sankeys re-opening party with Low Steppa
Sankeys is settling properly into its new Manchester home with a fresh Autumn/Winter season, a newly created secret Room 2 and the return of its stripped-back, no-VIP, no-phones approach to clubbing. Low Steppa, Pirate Copy and Mike Morrisey B2B Luca606 lead the opening party, with Arapu, Richy Ahmed, Darius Syrossian, Miguel Campbell, Jaden Thompson, Seb Zito B2B Rossko, Grant Nelson, Priku and plenty more landing later in the year.
Egyptian Lover and FREAKENSTEIN
One of electro’s true originators lands in Manchester as Egyptian Lover joins FREAKENSTEIN for a late-night session built around drum machines, futuristic funk and seriously heavy bass. Born Gregory Broussard, The Egyptian Lover emerged from the Los Angeles’ early hip-hop and electro scenes in the 1980s, becoming highly conversant with the Roland TR-808 drum machine and helping define a sound that fused Kraftwerk-inspired electronics with funk, rap and dancefloor energy. Tracks including Egypt, Egypt and Freak-A-Holic became staples of West Coast electro, while his live performances have kept that unmistakable analogue sound moving through clubs for more than four decades.
Come As You Were at Refuge
Celebrating 10 years of The Refuge, one would expect a pretty stately line-up to go with one of the grandest rooms in the city. And they’ve delivered. The irrepressible Prosumer, he formerly of Panorama Bar fame, will be gracing the decks for the celebration, alongside Eastern Bloc’s Jim Bane, Laura Jackson and Simba Selecta. They’ll be taking on the indoors space, while Rich Reason and the Ghosts of Garage crew will be taking on the courtyard, with sets from Crazy Cousinz and Wilfey D.
Manchester Medieval Faire
Traverse back in time with this medieval faire, hosted in Chetham’s 1421 medieval building. There’ll be live performances, hands-on-experiences and history re-enactors all designed to make history come alive. Free to attend, you can also expect birds of prey and specialist stalls as well as activities such as scriptorium (medieval blogging), and shield and sword design for younger visitors. Whether you’re a history buff or looking for some informative family fun, they’ve got you covered.
130 Years of Robinsons Unicorn
To mark the 130th anniversary of one of Robinsons Brewery’s longest-standing and most iconic beers, Unicorn, will be available for just £1.30 in more than 170 Robinsons pubs across the North West and North Wales on Saturday 26 September, while stocks last. That includes some of our most favourite boozers, like Stockport’s The Red Bull and Marple’s Royal Scot.
Open Fire Dining Club All-stars Finale
On 26 and 27 September, Tartuffe will be joined by A-Kin, Portfolio and Kallos for a final eight-course menu that brings together four very different parts of Manchester’s food scene.
It feels like the right way to end the season. A-Kin founded by long-time friends Gasim and Sean, have become one of the city’s most exciting supper club names, turning dinners into nights built around food, music and conversation. Portfolio brings Julian Pizer back to the grills after last year’s Another Hand collaboration, now representing his Bridge Street restaurant where tasting menus are built around the idea of the single perfect bite. Kallos arrive from Salford with the Greek cooking, warm hospitality and serious way with lamb that recently earned them a place in the Michelin Guide.