Manchester Central is a venue in Manchester. We list 3 upcoming shows there.
Photos of Manchester Central
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Images: Manchester Central.
- Largest room
- 10,900 (theatre style, Central Hall (1&2 combined))
- Event spaces
- 4
- Upcoming shows
- 3
Visit website (opens in a new tab) manchestercentral.co.uk
At Manchester Central you get a single column-free hall of 10,000 m2 in Manchester city centre, with spaces down to the 800-seat Exchange Auditorium and small meeting rooms. 2026 marks 40 years since Manchester Central opened as an events venue. Other trade shows in Manchester are listed separately.
A column-free hall with height to build into
You can plan a standard exhibition layout or an installation that uses the height of Central Hall (Halls 1 and 2 combined), which the venue describes as an uninterrupted, column-free space suited to both. It measures 157.5 m by 63.7 m, rises to 26.38 m and can be divided into Central Hall 1 and Central Hall 2. The hall height is a figure to check if you are choosing a venue for a product demonstration. You can book the Charter Suite rooms singly or together, alongside a larger event or on their own.
| Space | Area (m2) | Theatre | Banquet | Cabaret | Classroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hall (1 and 2 combined) | 10,000 | 10,900 | 3,600 (rounds of 10) | 2,400 | |
| Exchange Hall | 1,834.56 | 1,600 | 1,000 (rounds of 10), 1,200 (tables of 12) | 648 | |
| Charter Suite | 951 | 950 | 510 | 240 | 348 |
| Exchange Auditorium | 540 | 800 |
The venue also lists The Gallery and Exchange 9 as mid-sized rooms and Exchange 11 for groups of up to 100.
Catering, internet and support for your stand
You get stand catering, internet and IT support from the venue, with safety staff on site through build and breakdown. Exhibitors order stand catering, covering hot drinks, refreshments and snacks, through the venue’s online ordering platform or arrange it directly with the catering team. The building has wireless access throughout, and the venue says it has recently upgraded its access points. Dedicated internet connections are available for stands with heavier needs. A business centre operates from the concierge desk in Central Foyer. The venue’s event manager gives organisers the delivery information they and their suppliers need for each tenancy, so check it against the advice on planning stand delivery and installation. Hospitality menus are drawn up by the venue’s in-house chefs, a dedicated IT support team works before and during events, and the venue works with Sterling Event Group for audio-visual services. The Event Safety Team is on site during live events and during build and breakdown.
Accessible entrances and facilities for your visitors
Your visitors get three accessible entrances, Central Foyer, Charter Foyer and Exchange Foyer, all with sensor-operated doors and intercoms to the control room, and each event page names the entrance to use. Most exhibition space is at street level, with lifts to first-floor rooms. Induction loops are fitted in Central and Charter Foyers and the Exchange Auditorium, and a Deaf Alerter fire warning system covers the whole building. A Changing Places toilet is reached via Central Foyer and a permanent quiet room is in Central Foyer.
Getting there by tram, train, car or air
You can arrive by Metrolink or train, or park in a 24-hour car park directly beneath the venue. St Peter’s Square Metrolink stop is a few minutes’ walk away, and Deansgate-Castlefield is also close. Oxford Road station is five minutes on foot, while Piccadilly is a 20-minute walk or about five minutes by taxi. The venue gives train times to Manchester of 2h 9m from London and 1h 30m from Birmingham. The NCP car park beneath the venue has 15 disabled bays on its upper level and lift access, and blue badge parking is also available on Mount Street. There is a taxi rank at the front of the building, and Manchester Airport is nine miles from the city centre, around 20 minutes by express train or 25 minutes by taxi.
Shows you can visit at Manchester Central
You can see the venue in use at these upcoming events: Digital Construction North on 18 November 2026, Manchester Art Fair from 19 to 22 November 2026, Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show from 14 to 17 January 2027, A Place in the Sun Live from 26 to 28 February 2027, the Tour Championship snooker from 29 March 2027 and the Microscience Microscopy Congress (mmc) from 6 July 2027. The venue also hosts The National Wedding Show Manchester. Other venues listed include NEC Birmingham and SEC Glasgow, or you can browse all UK exhibition venues.
Source: manchestercentral.co.uk/the-venue/rooms, manchestercentral.co.uk/exhibitors, manchestercentral.co.uk/getting-here, manchestercentral.co.uk/accessibility
Halls and rooms you can hire
| Space | Area (m²) | Theatre | Banquet | Classroom | Cabaret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hall (1&2 combined) | 10,000 | 10,900 | 3,600 | – | 2,400 |
| Exchange Hall | 1,835 | 1,600 | 1,000 | – | 648 |
| Charter Suite | 951 | 950 | 510 | 348 | 240 |
| Exchange Auditorium | 540 | 800 | – | – | – |
Capacities as published by the venue. Source: manchestercentral.co.uk (central hall 12 combined, exchange hall, charter suite, exchange auditorium).
Upcoming shows at Manchester Central
| Show | Dates | Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Construction North | 18 November 2026 | Construction & built environment |
| Manchester Art Fair | 19-22 November 2026 | Modern and contemporary art, Original artworks from UK and international galleries, Studios and collectives, Individual artists, Emerging contemporary art (The Manchester Contemporary) |
| Microscience Microscopy Congress (mmc) | 6-8 July 2027 | Science & laboratory |
Where to find Manchester Central
Map loads here.
Petersfield, Manchester M2 3GX
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What's on at Manchester Central
3 upcoming trade shows and exhibitions on the calendar, 2026–27, in date order. Dates are checked against each organiser's official website.
