What’s On in Manchester in October 2026? The Best Gigs & Live Music

Looking for the best gigs in Manchester in October 2026? It's another ridiculously busy month for live music in the city, with everything from huge arena shows to indie favourites taking over some of Manchester's best venues.

Here are some of the gigs worth having on your radar this October.

The Wonder Stuff & Inspiral Carpets – O2 Victoria Warehouse

Friday 2 October 2026

Two names with serious British indie pedigree come together for a massive night at Victoria Warehouse. For anyone with even a passing interest in the alternative scene of the late '80s and '90s, this should be a belter.

Venue: O2 Victoria Warehouse
Date: 2 October

Dodgy – O2 Ritz

Saturday 3 October 2026

Britpop favourites Dodgy head to the O2 Ritz, bringing more than three decades of indie anthems with them.

Expect plenty of nostalgia and, inevitably, one hell of a reception when Good Enough arrives.

Venue: O2 Ritz Manchester
Date: 3 October

The Hoosiers – O2 Ritz

Thursday 8 October 2026

The Hoosiers are back in Manchester for an October night at the Ritz, joined by Hunny Buzz.

With Worried About Ray, Goodbye Mr A and a stack of instantly recognisable indie-pop tunes in the locker, this should be a brilliantly nostalgic one.

Venue: O2 Ritz Manchester
Date: 8 October

The Beat & The Selecter – O2 Ritz

Friday 9 October 2026

Two legendary names from Britain's ska revival share the bill at the O2 Ritz.

The Beat's Dance Crazed Too UK Tour brings them to Manchester alongside The Selecter for what should be one of October's liveliest nights.

Venue: O2 Ritz Manchester
Date: 9 October

Lime Garden – Gorilla

Friday 16 October 2026

One to catch before they're playing considerably bigger rooms.

Brighton's Lime Garden bring their sharp, addictive indie sound to Gorilla as part of Manchester's packed October calendar.

Venue: Gorilla
Date: 16 October

Courtney Barnett – Aviva Studios

Saturday 17 October 2026

One of modern indie rock's most distinctive songwriters comes to Manchester.

Courtney Barnett arrives at Aviva Studios following the release of her fourth album Creature of Habit, with Body Type supporting.

Venue: Aviva Studios
Date: 17 October

The Coral – Albert Hall

Friday 23 October 2026

This feels made for Manchester.

Merseyside indie legends The Coral take over the Albert Hall on 23 October, bringing one of the most distinctive British guitar catalogues of the last 25 years with them.

If Dreaming of You inside the Albert Hall doesn't sound appealing, we're probably running the wrong website for you.

Venue: Albert Hall
Date: 23 October

The Strokes – Co-op Live

Monday 26 October 2026

Quite comfortably one of Manchester's biggest rock gigs of the month.

The Strokes head to Co-op Live on 26 October, giving Manchester the chance to hear one of the defining guitar bands of the 2000s inside one of Britain's biggest arenas.

Expect Last Nite, Someday, Reptilia and plenty more.

Venue: Co-op Live
Date: 26 October

The Reytons – Manchester

Friday 30 October 2026

South Yorkshire's The Reytons cross the Pennines for a huge Manchester show towards the end of October.

They've gone from grassroots venues to chart-topping albums and enormous outdoor shows in a matter of years, and their Manchester date should be predictably chaotic.

Date: 30 October

Manic Street Preachers & Suede – Manchester

Saturday 31 October 2026

Manchester gets a fairly ridiculous double bill to finish the month.

Manic Street Preachers and Suede head to the city together on Halloween as part of their joint UK tour.

Two of Britain's great alternative bands, decades of records between them and one ticket. Not a bad way to finish October.

Date: 31 October

More Manchester gigs in October 2026

There is plenty more happening across the city throughout the month, including Simple Plan at O2 Apollo on 2 October, Fear Factory at O2 Ritz on 1 October, Don Broco at Manchester Academy on 2 October, Khalid at Manchester Academy on 16 October, Jack Savoretti at O2 Apollo on 27 October and Korn at AO Arena on 31 October.

We'll keep this guide updated as more Manchester gigs are announced and October gets closer.

James Waddingham
Collaborator, BritRockHeaven