
A visually stunning art gallery located at the heart of Whitworth Park, with a collection containing around 55,000 items.
June is a massive month here on the Oxford Road Corridor with major exhibitions, festivals, some excellent gigs and the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend
There are lots of things to do this June, starting with the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend that’s so action-packed we’re written its own guide which you can read here.
British Art Show 9 has opened and can be explored across Corridor venues including the Whitworth, Manchester Poetry Library, Castlefield Gallery and HOME. Also not to be missed is the Manchester School of Art Degree that will feature the work of hundreds of students across Art, Design and Media.
Following the success of last year’s Homeground, HOME presents the First Street Festival, a five-weekend event in Tony Wilson Place that will have a range of free activities including live music, family events, drag performances, yoga, DJs and more.
Take a look at the Festival of Libraries, a five-day multi-venue celebration of Greater Manchester’s libraries and the extraordinary stories of everyday creativity that happen within them. As ever there are some great lit events at Blackwell’s this month as well as Manchester Poetry Library’s Love to Read programme.
There are some cracking gigs this June, including a joint headline performance from two brilliant musicians, Yasmin Williams and Gwenifer Raymond at YES, Grammy Award-winning musician St. Vincent plays Manchester Academy and there is some old school electronic action from The Avalanches and The Orb. Classical highlights include Catch Maya Youssef and Clare Hammond at RNCM and The Halle at The Bridgewater Hall.
Top things to do this month
Everything happening in June
The transformation of the Pankhurst Centre exhibition space is incredible thanks to its new permanent exhibition, At Home with the Pankhurst Family.
Exchanges sets art and artist together, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in opposition – always with insight and intention.
Fairy Tales is Z-arts latest exhibition, an interactive world of play and storytelling for children up to 8-years old and their grown-ups.
The Whitworth presents the first major retrospective of Althea McNish, one of the UK’s most influential and innovative textile designers and the first designer of Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition.
Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney’s multi-award-winning musical is a unique theatrical experience you can experience at Manchester’s Palace Theatre.
Artist and climate activist Brigitte Jurack’s largest solo show to date, bringing together works produced in the UK, Spain and India.
A lively and exuberant exhibition of the work of Nina Chua and Daniel Silver, part of Castlefield Gallery’s ongoing series of two person shows.
HOME’s annual celebration of the North West’s creative talent, PUSH Festival, returns with four weeks of events and workshops.
(Un)Defining Queer delves into the Whitworth’s collection to examine how we can use a queer lens to define what the term ‘queer’ means.
Descend the basement steps of YES to catch three bands you’ll be hearing much more of in 2023, presented by Now Wave.
RNCM Brass Band Festival makes a welcome return featuring eight of the UK’s leading brass bands and top soloists, young and old.
Described as a “merchant of pure gay chaos”, Lynks brings their electro pop party to YES as part of Now Waves ones to see in 2023
Covid Song Cycle Watch Party is a poetic musical celebration of process, connection, growth and creativity following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Manchester City of Literature and partners celebrate International Mother Language Day with a month of activities and events.
The bands eagerly awaited return has Temples perform live at YES Pink Room as part of independent venue week!
Contact celebrates queer culture with an extraordinary line-up of LGBTQ+ talent heading our way for Queer Contact 2023
House of Suarez takes us back to the glorious decade of disco with their most vibrant and colourful runway extravaganza to date.
Part of Queer Contact
RNCM Day of Percussion returns for its 30th year with a day packed with exciting and informative sessions from internationally recognised performers and practitioners.
One of 2022’s most in-demand rising talents, singer-songwriter DYLAN’s ascent continues with an army of supporters and media tastemakers.
Combining elements of hyper-pop and metal, Lil Mariko brings her unique Soundscapes to YES this February.
Jump aboard the queerest TARDIS in time and space for a night of cosmic drag and cabaret, all inspired by the greatest TV show in the universe – DOCTOR WHO.
Part of Queer Contact
Bag of Bones is a bewitching new project for Manchester Collective from award-winning vocalist, violinist, songwriter and composer Alice Zawadzki.
Come join the Peach Chutney Crew as we celebrate South Asian AWESOMENESS through the skies!
Part of Queer Contact
Tale of the Frozen Bits at Castlefield Gallery is the first major solo exhibition of work by artist El Morgan.
An evening of glorious, soaring melodies as The Hallé offer up a treasure trove of operatic gems.
Actor and Contact Alumni Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper, Cucumber) explores the many different elements that have influenced his life and career.
Part of Queer Contact
In support of her critically acclaimed album ‘And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow’, Weyes Blood performs at The Ritz.
An autobiographical musical adventure that promises mischief and mash-ups, dresses and divas, and a whole lot of heart.
Part of Queer Contact
The cat’s out of the bag and Milly-Liu is ready to spill the beans on all your favourite celebrity pussies.
Part of Queer Contact
Jockstrap push the boundaries until the boundaries, barriers and boxes no longer exist- just pure unadulterated sensual pop!
Don’t miss the chance to see the hilarious and iconic drag comedian Lady Bushra as this ‘teenage’ starlet takes you on quite the unique journey!
Part of Queer Contact
Golden Mummies of Egypt is Manchester Museum’s re-opening exhibition. This one-of-a-kind cultural experience opens in February 2023.
Ginny Lemon & Sister Sister present the most disappointing drag show you’ve ever seen!
Part of Queer Contact
New York-based rock band We Are Scientists play hook-filled indie pop with an angular post-punk edge. Catch them at Gorilla.
One of the sharpest and most prolific British songwriters of his generation, Luke Haines, has partnered with R.E.M guitarist Peter Buck.
Will Young returns to the stage in Manchester in this major new production of Song From Far Away by Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel.
Marty and the Party is an adorable and cheeky show for young audiences and their grown-ups.
Amsterdam-based Luuk van Dijk brings his energy to the Joshua Brook’s basement in support of latest release, First Contact.
Following a triumphant set at Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester’s The Covasettes have announced their biggest headline show to date.
RNCM welcomes The Elias String Quartet, one of the most intense and vibrant quartets of their generation.
Sir Mark Elder conducts Grammy-winning classical violinist Augustin Hadelich in an evening featuring Brahms’ Violin Concerto
Grammy Award winner, Augustin Hadelich joins The Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall for an evening featuring Brahms’s Violin Concerto.
The premiere of Familiar Phantoms, a major new film by artists and long-time collaborators Larissa Sansour and Søren Lind.
Join She Drew The Gun at Deaf Institute’s new ground-floor venue, The Lodge, for a very intimate and unique evening of music and poetry.
One of the most distinctive artists of his generation, Stephen Hough lines up alongside students for this performance.
Josie Long’s brand-new show of stand-up is infused with humanity, compassion and some brief political rants.
A lyrical, theatrical journey that spans continents and lives, Too Much World at Once is an urgent coming-of-age story for our times.
M60 return home to Manchester for their biggest headline show to date at Gorilla this March.
toooB is an enchanting wordless performance for 6-24 month-olds and their grown-ups.
After playing last year’s Manchester Psych Fest, Ghost Woman return to the city, bringing their jangly, laid-back hooks to YES.
The Backseat Lovers are back, captivating listeners with their deeply personal lyrics and tight-knit live performances.
British producer and songwriter Irish singer-songwriter and producer Cian Ducrot stops by The Ritz this March.
The Royal Northern College presents the Manchester premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, as part of the College’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
Icelandic electronic dream-pop trio Vök are coming to The Deaf Insitute in support of their recently released self-titled album…Vök!
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tubular Bells, the iconic masterpiece will be performed live with a full band at Palace Theatre, conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long term collaborator Robin Smith.
Tracy-Ann Obermanleads an incredible cast as morals, prejudice and power collide in this exciting retelling of one of Shakespeare’s best-known – and most controversial – plays.
Biig Piig brings her instantly-identifiable, bilingual voice and global mix of influences to the stage at Gorilla this March.
Following its critically acclaimed West End run, the Lincoln Center Theater’s multi-award-winning production of My Fair Lady is coming to Palace Theatre
Catch Gen-Z icon July Jones in Manchester when they bring their razor-sharp electropop hooks to The Lodge at Deaf Institute.
Yusra Warsama takes Lorca’s classic ‘The House of Bernada Alba’ as inspiration for this powerful new production, as she exports Lorca’s language to a Moss Side home.
Dundee’s Queen of house, Hannah Laing, returns to Joshua Brooks as part of her North Headline Tour.
RNCM’s opera students take on Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park with musical styles ranging from Philip Glass to Stephen Sondheim with hints of Benjamin Britten along the way.
Local band Déjà Vega return to the live stage with added walls of synths to their already pulsing, rhythmic bass and drums, overlayed with punchy guitars, and at times, hypnotic vocals.
International superstar Kranium is one of Dancehall’s most valuable players with his timeless approach, electrifying stage presence, and infectious charisma.
The international, award-winning smash-hit musical The Bodyguard returns to The Palace Theatre.
Brighton quartet Black Honey take a break from supporting Liam Gallagher, The Libertines and IDLES to headline their own tour.
After a sell out success earlier this year, Manchester Punk Festival returns in Easter 2023 to venues across Oxford Road.
Christian Reif, the US-based German conductor, returns to the Hallé, conducting a programme which includes Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
Following their sold-out show at YES, Yorkshire pop band, Heir is back in Manchester this Spring armed with a new EP.
Singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose visits The Deaf Insitute this April in support of her long-awaited record, CAZIMI which was released in November.
Teleman play Gorilla in April in support of Good Time / Hard Time, their most dancefloor-friendly record to date.
Royal Northern College of Music present Made in Manchester, a three day festival celebrating music inspired by the city.
Scottish singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Mason rose to widespread critical acclaim in the late ’90s as a member of indie darlings the Beta Band.
The multi award-winning Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I returns to Manchester.
STARS is a moving and joyful Afrofuturist odyssey that transforms into a celebratory club night, with multiple DJs and accessible for all.
The Golden Dregs spin subtly interweaving narratives about survival, loss and the limitations of community in the face of gentrification.
Los Angeles based singer songwriter, Grammy awarded producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Louis Cole stops by Manchester’s Gorilla
The Wedding Present celebrate the album 24 Songs tour, a collection of singles released by the band every month in 2022.
Economics the Blockbuster is a major new research and exhibition project, developed in collaboration with Alliance Manchester Business School.
Royal Northern College of Music celebrates its 50th birthday and half a century of forging incredible careers across the music industry.
Join RNCM vocal students and he Orchestra of Opera North for a fantastic evening of opera’s greatest hits.
Albrecht Dürer’s Material World is the first major exhibition of the Whitworth’s outstanding Dürer collection in over half a century.
The smash-hit musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory based on Roald Dahl’s classic story.
Following two smash hit London seasons and the WhatsOnStage award for Best Musical, Heathers the Musical heads to Manchester.
Manchester Psych Fest is an all-day celebration of psychedelic music and art, returning to the Oxford Road Corridor in September.
Sunday Roasts
Sunday Roasts are one of the UK’s more fiercely guarded traditions, something loved by locals and a must-try for visitors. Luckily, some of the best Sunday Roasts in Manchester are plated right here on the Oxford Road Corridor.
Museums & Galleries
A visually stunning art gallery located at the heart of Whitworth Park, with a collection containing around 55,000 items.
This beautifully restored Grade II listed villa was once home to Elizabeth Gaskell, one of the UK’s most important Victorian writers.
Discover the story of the suffragettes and learn about women’s activism, past and present, at the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her family.
Victoria Baths is located just outside of the Oxford Road Corridor, but it’s an iconic treasure that’s well worth a visit.
Manchester’s multi-purpose hub of creativity and discovery, bringing together film, theatre, art, and some of the city’s best social spaces.
Manchester School of Art’s Holden Gallery curates an exhibitions programme that focuses exclusively on recent developments in international contemporary visual art.
Live Music
Green Spaces
All Saints Park is a beautiful green space in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor. Perfect for a quick moment of calm on a busy day.
This 18-acre park opposite the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is an eye-catching green space and home to the Whitworth Art Gallery.
Enjoy views of some of the best architecture in Manchester in this green space which was opened in 2018 by The University of Manchester.
University Green is a modern home for retailers and food and drink outlets as well as a tree-lined green space for the public to enjoy.
Circle Square is home to Symphony Park, a beautifully landscaped green space designed for socialising, entertaining, relaxing and exploring.
The outdoor area directly in front of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, the University of Manchester’s 24/7 study and learning space, provides green spaces for students to enjoy during breaks from teaching and learning.
Where to stay
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel offers an unforgettable stay on Oxford Road Corridor in one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.
The Midland Hotel is one of the most famous places to stay in Manchester, and one of Oxford Road Corridor’s most lavishly decorated hotels.
The Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road is a centrally located hotel that offers visitors great value for money.
Hotel ibis on Princess Street offers 126 value for money rooms in a central Manchester location near Oxford Road.