When AO Arena, Co-op Live and Emirates Old Trafford gigs clash on Manchester's massive music nights in 2024

Manchester is well known for being a top city to see live music. Venues of all sizes are dotted around, with the new Co-op Live to become the UK’s biggest music arena when it opens in April. 

Gigs are planned at the new venue, AO Arena and Emirates Old Trafford throughout the year. These gigs include huge names such as Foo Fighters, Nicki Minaj, Green Day and Liam Gallagher, with countless others coming to town. 

The intensity of top class gigs means that on several occasions in 2024, gigs will take place at multiple of Manchester's big venues on the same night. In some cases this will lead to fans having to make tough decisions as to which act they go to see. In others, acts will play multiple dates at a Manchester venue, meaning that you’ll have the chance to catch them both.

Co-op Live’s much anticipated opening is set to boost Manchester’s already thriving gig scene. Between May and December 18 acts have already been announced, with several in the diary for 2025. 

Looking at the nights where big acts clash in Manchester, there are one or two that may lead fans to a tough decision. One of these is June 13, when Smashing Pumpkins perform at Co-op Live and Foo Fighters are at Emirates Old Trafford. 

The second night of Foo Fighters is June 15, the same night as one of Liam Gallagher’s takeover at Co-op Live. If you are seeing both of these acts, you at least had some flexibility with them both performing on multiple nights.

As for any potential rivalry, it remains to be seen how the AO Arena and Co-op Live dynamic plays out. Chris Bray, European president of ASM Global, told Place North West: “There is more than enough content for two arenas here in the city. Competition is good, it raises our game. Manchester is a powerhouse. It is the music capital of the world. I moved here two years ago and I have seen nothing but growth.”

Full list of big Manchester music nights in 2024

• May 8 Take That (Co-op) Tenacious D (AO)
• May 23 Nicki Minaj (Co-op) Girls Aloud (AO)
• June 1 Nickelback (Co-op) Tool (AO)
• June 13 Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer (Co-op) Foo Fighters (Old Trafford) 
• June 15 Liam Gallagher (Co-op) Foo Fighters (Old Trafford) 
• June 21 The Killers (Co-op) Green Day (Old Trafford)