Manchester Histories Festival 2026 | Talks & Films – FREE
Explore this year's festival theme through a series of talks, presentations, and films.
Explore the full Civic Pride & Conservation Free Talks & Films
Free to attend, with donations welcome. Book your tickets here. Please note: each event listed is ticketed separately on one page giving you the flexibility to book one or several sessions.
Friday 5th June, 12pm – 1pm
Restoring Manchester Town Hall with Martin Sykes
Learn more about the project to restore one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings with its Senior Conservation Architect, Martin Sykes.
Friday 5th June, 1.15pm – 2.15pm
Growing Cities with Brian Groom
Journalist and author Brian Groom presents an illuminating talk on the growth of towns and cities, drawing from his works These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (2026), Northerners: A History (2022) and Made in Manchester: A People’s History of the City that Shaped the Modern World (2024).
Friday 5th June, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Tales of Manchester’s Musical History
From the Manchester Digital Music Archive, hear stories of 3 incredible women who made history in Manchester’s music scenes: Maria Malibran, Kathleen Moorhouse and Isobel Baillie.
Through the remarkable work of the Strawberry Recording Studios Archive, 150 analogue tapes are waiting to be restored and digitised. Three rare recordings that have been restored and captured in Stockport will be shared exclusively with us, revealing a deep connection to Manchester’s musical heritage .
Keera Kalirai of Forget the Footnote invites you to explore the cultural significance of the iconic Hacienda nightclub, through to the punk explosion of the late 1970s and back to the present day.
Friday 5 June, 4pm – 5.30pm
Down at the Club Revisited
Katie Milestone & Susan O’Shea, Music & Sonic Studies/School of Sociology & Criminology, MMU. Reflecting on Manchester’s nightclub histories from 1960s to 1980s and the impact of these scenes on contemporary club culture in Manchester and the North West. Featuring DJ Richard Searling and others.
Friday 5 June, 6pm – 8pm
Film Premiere: Champs Camp
The Champs Camp Archive Project, Northern Lights Film, and Rekindle present a collaborative project showcasing how young people from Moss Side, Hulme have responded to the story of Champs Camp through film.
Following the screening there will be a panel discussion and Q&A with the young filmakers, Northern Lights, and former British light-heavyweight champion Maurice Core.
Want to learn more about the Champs Camp Archive Project? Book your place on our open day to learn more about founder Phil Martin and join a guided tour of the gym.
Saturday 6 June, 11am -12pm
Since Attlee and Churchill Live Podcast with Lee David Evans and Richard Johnson
One of Britain’s most popular history podcasts comes to Manchester! Join hosts Lee David Evans and Richard Johnson as they discuss some of Manchester’s underlooked political figures.
