Manchester is full of amazing things to do this September, with festivals, cultural celebrations, music, comedy, and unique experiences popping up across the city. Whether you’re looking for theatre shows, cultural experiences, a memorable night of music, or something totally new, the city has plenty to keep you entertained. Here are Northern Group’s top picks of this what's on in Manchester this month!
Japan Week Manchester
📅 Thursday 4 – Tuesday 9 September
📍 Across Manchester
For the first time, Manchester will host Japan Week, a global cultural celebration that marks its 50th anniversary in 2025. Over six days, venues across the city will be transformed with free performances, exhibitions, and workshops that highlight both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Visitors can enjoy everything from tea ceremonies at Manchester Museum and live theatre at HOME, to cultural showcases at Aviva Studios and archive displays alongside the Hallé Youth Orchestra. One of the standout events will be the UK premiere of BLOOM, a spectacular performance blending music, dance, and fashion, created by Afrodeutsche, Company Chameleon, and Belladonis with a live string ensemble. With activities taking place everywhere from central cultural institutions to community hubs like Gorton and Wythenshawe, Japan Week is a chance for Manchester residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the creativity, beauty, and traditions of Japan without leaving the city.
Country Club Festival
📅 Saturday 6 September
📍 Freight Island
The UK’s first ever country music day party is arriving in Manchester! Country Club Festival will transform Freight Island into a full-on Wild West celebration, complete with cowboy hats, line dancing, and Americana-inspired décor. Music will be at the heart of the party, with a soundtrack spanning the greatest names in country, from Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash, to Shania Twain, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and even Taylor Swift’s country era. Whether you’re an avid fan of the genre or just looking for a fun and different night out, this unique event will bring Nashville vibes to the heart of Manchester, combining live music, themed activities, and a party atmosphere.
Clints Festival 2025
📅 Saturday 6 September
📍 Barton Aerodrome, Salford
Manchester’s own streetwear label Clints has become a cultural phenomenon in recent years, and this September the brand will celebrate five years in business with a festival to match its reputation. Taking place at Barton Aerodrome, Clints Festival will showcase the brand’s journey from founder Junior Clint’s bedroom sneaker project in Moston to an internationally recognised streetwear powerhouse, with some incredible headliners Mike Skinner and K-Trap as well as Chip, Children of Zeus, Skeete, and more. Expect a mix of music, fashion, and community spirit, all in a vibrant setting that blends Manchester’s independent creative energy with a festival atmosphere. This ones for fans of music and style, a date to put firmly in the diary.
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight
📅 Saturday 6 September
📍 Depot Mayfield
For anyone who loves club culture but not the late nights, Annie Mac’s Before Midnight is the perfect solution, and this month it arrives at The Warehouse Project for the very first time. Annie has reinvented the dance floor experience, creating events that bring all the energy, excitement, and DJ sets of a night out, but start earlier and finish before midnight. It’s a refreshing concept that has resonated with fans who want to enjoy incredible DJ sets without sacrificing the following day. At Depot Mayfield’s Concourse, Annie will deliver a signature mix of electronic beats and feel-good energy, proving that clubbing doesn’t always have to mean 3am finishes.
Candlelight: Tribute to Oasis
📅 Thursday 11 September
📍 Manchester (venue TBA)
Manchester and Oasis are forever linked, and this month fans can celebrate the band’s music in a whole new light. Candlelight Concerts return with a tribute to Oasis, where a live string quartet will perform iconic hits like Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova in a stunning candlelit venue. The intimate atmosphere, paired with classical arrangements of familiar tracks, creates an emotional and unforgettable experience. Whether you grew up with Oasis as the soundtrack to your youth or simply want to hear their music reimagined, this concert is a must for Oasis fans. It comes at the perfect time after the hype of the Oasis reunion gigs is slowing down and those that went want to relive the nights in a different way, or those that missed out on concert tickets can get their Oasis fix. Keep an eye out for the final venue announcement, as these shows often take place in some of the city’s most beautiful spaces.
Wing Fest
📅 Friday 19 – Sunday 21 September
📍 Victoria Baths
Wing Fest is back, and this time it’s taking over the iconic Victoria Baths. Known as the world’s largest chicken wing festival, the event will see over 100,000 wings cooked up by restaurants, street food traders, and pop-ups, each competing for the crown of best wings in the UK. Alongside the feasting, the festival offers axe throwing, bourbon bars, live music, and a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. The combination of Manchester’s favourite foodie talent, creative wing flavours, and the historic setting of Victoria Baths makes this year’s edition extra special. Whether you’re a fan of smoky BBQ, hot and spicy, or something a little more experimental, Wing Fest will have something to suit every tastebud.
Water Lantern Festival
📅 Saturday 20 September
📍 Heaton Park
On 20 September, Heaton Park will be transformed into a glowing spectacle as thousands of lanterns light up the water. The Water Lantern Festival invites participants to decorate lanterns with personal messages, dreams, or memories before releasing them onto the lake at sunset, creating a breathtaking and emotional scene. Beyond the lanterns, the festival also features live music, local food vendors, and plenty of family-friendly activities, making it the perfect day out. It’s not just visually stunning — it’s also a chance for reflection, community connection, and shared storytelling. Whether you come with family, friends, or solo, it promises to be one of the most magical events of the month.
RnB Classics in the Monastery
📅 Friday 26 September
📍 The Monastery, Gorton
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music as the best of 90s and 00s R&B is reimagined by a full live orchestra inside Manchester’s stunning Monastery venue. From Alicia Keys and Usher, to Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, and TLC, RnB Classics in the Monastery will showcase iconic tracks in a brand-new way, combining classical instrumentation with soulful vocals. The setting of the Monastery — with its gothic arches, atmospheric lighting, and soaring acoustics — makes the experience truly immersive. It’s a one-of-a-kind evening that blends nostalgia with artistry, celebrating the golden era of R&B in a unique Manchester setting.
13 Going on 30 – The Musical
📅 From Sunday 21 September
📍 Manchester Opera House
Fans of the 2004 rom-com classic are in for a treat as 13 Going on 30 makes its way to the stage in a brand-new musical adaptation. Starring Lucie Jones as Jenna, the show has been created by the original screenwriters and directed by Andy Fickman (Heathers), with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (First Date, 17 Again). The story follows awkward teen Jenna Rink, who wishes to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving,” only to wake up five days before her 30th birthday. What follows is a journey of love, friendship, and self-discovery, all set to a fun and upbeat soundtrack. With its mix of nostalgia, comedy, and heartfelt moments, this musical is set to be a feel-good hit at Manchester Opera House.
Laughterama
📅 Wednesday 3 – Sunday 7 September
📍 Castlefield Bowl
Manchester’s comedy festival Laughterama is back, filling Castlefield Bowl with some of the UK’s biggest names in stand-up. This year’s line-up is packed with talent, from household names like Frankie Boyle and Ed Gamble to Netflix favourites Fern Brady, Phil Wang, and Rob Delaney. With Bridget Christie, Russell Kane, and Lucy Beaumont also on the bill, the five-day festival offers something for every comedy taste, from sharp political satire to surreal silliness. It’s a brilliant chance to see a range of acts in one open-air venue, bringing festival vibes and belly laughs to Manchester city centre.
Green Island Festival
📅 Saturday 6 September
📍 Hulme Community Garden Centre
Now in its fifth year, Green Island Festival has firmly established itself as one of Manchester’s best grassroots music events. Hosted in the leafy surrounds of Hulme Community Garden Centre, the festival combines live music, DJs, and arts activities with a strong focus on multiculturalism and community. The event champions emerging artists from the North alongside global sounds, with past performers including acts from Brazil, Senegal, and beyond. Known for its intimate feel and welcoming atmosphere, Green Island Festival is as much about celebrating diversity and creativity as it is about music. This September edition will close out the three-part summer series in style, with a line-up that once again puts independent talent front and centre.