It is almost time for the summer's biggest musical homecoming, as Take That prepare to roll up, roll up with their spectacular Circus Live tour. The manband have rebooted their biggest ever show for a 2026 run of stadium gigs. And fans are in for a seriously spectacular night out. The new tour, 17 years on since the original, kicked off at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium last month under sunny skies and winning rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
Since then the band's current trio line-up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have taken the show on to Coventry, Sunderland, Glasgow and this week they will head to Cardiff too. But the weekend belongs to Manchester - and what a homecoming it is set to be at the Etihad Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
Fans who went to the 2009 Circus Live tour will know exactly what to expect with these new shows - and that is a veritable feast for the eyes and ears as a full on troupe of circus performers join Howard, Gary and Mark who belt out the band's biggest hits across a two hour show. Think acrobats, tightrope walkers, fire-breathers and trapeze artists on stage - and the lads in full on clown garb to perform some of their 90s classics.
Of course there is also the small matter of the 30ft animatronic elephant coming to life once again to walk through the crowds at the Etihad. It is a show filled with special moments, and the good news is that wherever you are sitting and standing in the stadium, you will have a fantastic view of the myriad of entertainment performed across the main stage, the B stage and the central runway at various times across the night.
Support Acts
You will want to get down early for the shows, because the support acts are pretty special for these Take That gigs. 80s legend Belinda Carlisle kick starts the entertainment and she is in brilliant form, performing her chart-topping anthems like Leave a Light On and Heaven is a Place On Earth. Then The Script head on stage for a rocking set ahead of their own big arena tour later this year. Expect to hear the likes of Don't Break Even, Superheroes, Hall of Fame and For the First Time. And The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue has been getting very interactive with the audience so far on the tour, grabbing fan phones to ring up exes for the ultimate break-up riposte.
Stage Times
Stage times are always subject to change and the advice is always to get down early to find your seat or your space. For guidance, these are the stage times from opening night which have been the same at every gig so far on the tour.
- Doors open: 5pm
- Belinda Carlisle: 6.25pm
- The Script: 7.20pm
- Take That: 8.30pm
- Show ends: 10.30pm
Seating Plan
This is the layout of seating for the gigs according to Ticketmaster's website. The seating plan shows the main stage, B stage, and central runway layout.
Take That Setlist
Not everyone likes to see the setlist in advance, so if you are one of those people scroll away to the bottom now! Setlists are also always liable to change, but these are the songs they played on the opening night of the rebooted Circus Live Tour in Southampton on May 29.
- Greatest Day
- Hello
- Could it Be Magic
- Pray
- A Million Love Songs
- Back For Good
- The Garden
- Shine
- Up All Night
- Babe
- You are a Superstar
- Love ain't Here Anymore
- Nobody Else
- The Circus
- What is Love
- Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party
- Said it All
- Never Forget
- Patience
- Relight My Fire
- ENCORE: Hold up A Light
- Rule The World
Car Parking
There is car parking at the stadium, but this is limited and must be booked in advance online - with prices starting from £25 per car. Parking cannot be purchased on the day. For Take That's shows, both general and accessible car parking will be in the blue zone, located off Sport City Way and Forge Lane, opposite Philips Park and Co-op Live. The car park will be open on both days from 5pm. The post code is M11 3DU. There are also a number of pay-for car parks in the city centre that can be used close to tram stops at Piccadilly and Manchester Central and then take the tram to the Etihad Campus. The taxi drop off point for concerts at the Etihad Stadium is located on Edwin Road.
Getting to the Etihad Stadium by Tram or Bus
The Etihad Campus tram stop is located right by the Stadium, and journeys take around 10-15 minutes from the city centre depending upon your location. Tram services run between Etihad Campus and the city centre every six minutes Monday to Saturday. The Etihad Campus stop is on the Eccles to Ashton line, with Cornbrook, St Peter's Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station all served on the line. There is also a city centre shuttle bus service, which will be included with all event tickets until June 30. The number of shuttle buses available will vary on each event with a maximum of ten buses per show. The buses will depart from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arrive at Piccadilly Gardens.
Walking Route
You can also walk from the Piccadilly area of Manchester to the Stadium which takes around half an hour. This is a well sign-posted route that is very well used among fans heading to events at the Etihad Campus.
Bag Policy
Backpacks, holdalls, rucksacks, or other similar items of any size will not be allowed into the stadium. Small handbags and handheld bags no larger than A4 in size (12”x8”x3”) will be accepted. Those with a medical condition that requires a larger bag or other equipment should contact the Access Team for a Medical Exemption form in advance. If you must bring a bag to the stadium that exceeds the allowable size, a limited number of bag drop facilities will be available, at a separate cost, to securely store items until after the concert. There will be security checks and bag searches in place before attendees enter the stadium.
Prohibited Items
Drink glasses, narcotics, weapons, airhorns, sharp objects, portable chargers, long umbrellas, bottles and cans, cameras and selfie sticks are classed as prohibited items. Flagpoles, tablets, computers, cigarettes and E-Cigarettes, fireworks and flares, large flags, baby buggies and prams, and aftershave and perfume bottles are also not allowed inside the stadium.
Food and Drink at the Etihad
Bringing food and drink in with you is not allowed, however there are a range of food and drink stalls available outside and inside the stadium. These include hot and cold options as well as vegan and halal choices. You can bring an empty refillable water bottle (max 750ml) inside with you, which can be filled up at the water stations inside. These are the drinks prices to give you and idea of how much you are likely to pay both outside and inside the stadium.
- Draught Asahi or Gold Cider - half pint £4, Pint £8
- Cans of Guinness (440ml) - £6.25
- Cans of Grolsch / Blue Hooch (440ml) - both £6
- Cans of Vodka & Cola / Rum & Cola / Gin & Tonic / Pink Gin & Lemonade - all £8
- Cans of Daiquiri / Martini - both £7.50
- Cans of White Claw Raspberry or Mango - £7.50
- Red / rose/ white wine - 187ml glass - all £8
- Bottle of rose or white wine - £30
- 0% Asahi can - £4.45
- 0% Guinness can - £5.75
- Soft drinks Pepsi Max / 7UP sugar free - £3.50
- Soft drinks Pepsi Regular / Tango regular - £3.75
- Water - 500ml - £3
- Can of prosecco - £8
Food available outside the ground include Chicken Box with chicken burgers for £8.95, chicken and chips for £13.95 and spiced vegan burger for £9.95. You can also get hot dogs from £8.95. There is also the brilliantly titled: "Relight My Fryer" serving jumbo chicken strips with fries for £11.95 (medium) or £14.95 (large).
