The Script Confirm Huge Manchester Concert at Co-op Live Arena on Winter Arena Tour

May 22, 2026
By Editor - Elliot Thompson

Manchester music fans can look forward to a spectacular winter highlight as global hitmakers The Script bring their newly announced arena tour to Co-op Live this November.

Marking a triumphant return to the city, the monumental Manchester date follows the announcement of their brand-new studio album ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’, which arrives on 14th August 2026.

Fans who pre-order the album from the official store will receive access to a regional fan pre-sale for tour tickets opening at 9:30 am on Wednesday, May 27th, before remaining tickets go on general sale from 9:30 am on Friday, May 29th.

The Script’s phenomenal and long-lasting success has seen them achieve six UK #1 albums and eight back home in Ireland.

In the process, exceeding 14 billion streams, 5 million album sales, and countless international Platinum certifications, led by two US Platinum singles and two US Top 10 albums.

Today, The Script enter a new era by sharing their new single ‘Man In The Arena’ – the first taste of their new album ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’, which follows on 14th August 2026.

The Script will follow the album with a huge UK and Ireland arena tour which starts in October, with further global touring also confirmed – adding to the 4.5 million tickets they have sold in their career.

Manchester Arena Set for New Era of Anthemic Arena Rock

The high-profile autumn show places the state-of-the-art East Manchester venue at the centre of the band’s next chapter, introducing a completely revamped stadium-level production to the North West. ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’ follows 2024’s ‘Satellites’.

It was a record that saw vocalist Danny O’Donoghue attempt to process the grief that followed the tragic passing of his bandmate and friend Mark Sheehan in 2023.

The record was followed by a global arena tour in which every show paid tribute to Mark.

After the tour ended, Danny found himself energised and inspired.

Within a week of finishing, he was writing and recording new material with Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner and Jimbo Barry, who, between them had previously contributed to many of The Script’s huge hits, including ‘Hall Of Fame’, ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ and ‘Breakeven’.

Recorded in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, the result is an album in which Danny has established a powerful sense of purpose and direction for the next stage of the band, full of the real, emotional, soul-deep connection that their fans have come to love.

Danny said:

“The title is what this album is about. If you need something to remind you of the spectrum of feelings and emotions that make you feel human, this is it.”

Massive Ticket Demand Expected for Celebrated Irish Hitmakers in the North West

The upcoming performance forms part of an expansive touring schedule that sees the band perform to millions of fans across the UK’s biggest metropolitan stages this year.

The skyscraping ambition of ‘Man In The Arena’ lives up to its title, with a hard-hitting R&B groove suddenly bursting into a classic Script mega-chorus.

A rousing Danny O’Donoghue delivers a typically charismatic vocal, with lyrics that affirm that the person who dares to put themselves in the spotlight is infinitely braver than anyone who criticises from the sidelines.

Its lyrics are taken, in part, from a famous speech by American President Theodore Roosevelt.

Danny said:

“He talks about how honours don’t belong to the critics.

“They don’t belong to the people sitting on the couch, laughing at the person in the ring stumbling and falling around.

“The honours belong to the one who gets in there and whose face is marred with dust and blood.

“I remember reading it and being like: that needs to be in a tune, the energy in it is beautiful.”

‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’ is now available to pre-order / pre-save.

It will be available on CD and limited transparent vinyl, with the artist store also stocking exclusive merch bundles, extremely limited test pressing vinyls and a cassette.

In the meantime, The Script will play to an audience of 1.3 million this summer with a run of fifteen UK stadium shows as special guests to Take That next month, followed by five dates as special guests to Luke Combs, including Slane Castle in Ireland.