What’s on in September?
28 Aug 2025
Welcome to September’s edition of ‘What’s on?’. Here you will find everything you can get involved in for free each month, ranging from cultural, extracurricular and celebratory events and activities.
Events
Are you living with a disability or long-term health condition?
The EDI Directorate would like to invite staff who are impacted by the welfare reforms currently going through parliament to an online listening event with Nalin Thakkar, Sarah Fox, PJ Hemmaway and Jackie Carter.
- Book your place on Tuesday, 23 September 2pm to 3.30pm on Teams
Confucious Institute open day
The Confucius Institute opens its doors again for their Autumn Open Day. Come along to take part in fun cultural activities and language tasters, sample Chinese tea and snacks, and enter the prize draw to win some great prizes.
- Book your place on Saturday, 27 September 2pm to 4.15pm at the Confucious Institute
Townhall on Manchester 2035 strategy with Duncan Ivison
President & Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison will host an interactive session giving an early insight into the direction our University will take over the next decade.
- Join us in person or online on Tuesday, 9 September 1pm to 2pm
Our cultural institutions
Jodrell Bank
Until Tuesday, 30 September: 80 Years of Jodrell Bank: Get Involved At Home!
Manchester Museum
All September: Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country
All September: Silent Skies
Wednesday, 3 September (1.15pm to 1.45pm): How Board Games Conquered the World
Wednesday, 3 September (6pm to 8pm): Museum Meeple: family board games (Also taking place on Saturday, 27 September)
Sunday, 7 September (2.30pm to 3pm): Storytelling of Qixi: A Chinese Love Story
Wednesday, 10, 17 and 24 September (12pm to 12.50pm): Introductory tai chi qigong sessions
Saturday, 13 September (All day): Touching Grass
Until Sunday, 14 September: The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years
Tuesday, 16 September (12pm to 1pm): Shared Reading
Sunday, 21 September (12pm to 3pm): International Peace Day
Saturday, 27 September (11am to 4pm): Nepal Day
Monday, 29 September (11am to 3pm): Culture Monday: International Day of Older Persons
Tuesday, 30 September (6pm to 8pm): African Objects: Psychoactives, Spirituality & Mental Health
Whitworth Art Gallery
Sunday, 7 and 21 September (3pm to 3.45pm): Friends of the Whitworth Sunday Concerts
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Thursday, 11 September (3pm to 3.30pm): Curator tour: The Secret Public LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985
Our community
Religious celebrations and traditions
The Season of Creation (Christianity) Monday, 1 to Thursday, 4 September
Ullambana/Sangha Day (Buddhism) Saturday, 6 September
Navaratri Fast Begins (Hinduism) Monday, 22 September
Mabon Autumn Equinox (Wheel of the Year) Monday, 22 September
Rosh Hashana (Judaism) Monday, 22 to Wednesday, 24 September
Fast of Gedaliah (Judaism) Thursday, 25 September
Awareness days
World Suicide Prevention Day – Wednesday, 10 September
Bi Visibility Day – Tuesday, 23 September
Groups and societies
Book club
This month’s book is Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. We will also recap Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
You don't even need to have finished the book (although there will be spoilers!).
Why not head over to our Viva Engage (yammer) group for more reading inspiration!
- Please contact Fiona.Lynch@manchester.ac.uk for the zoom link for Friday, 26 September 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Want to feature your event next month?
If your event is free and open to all colleagues at the University, you can advertise it here next month!
Submit your suggestion to uninews@manchester.ac.uk by 25 of each month to feature in the following month. Please send us a short description (max 30 words) and any relevant links you may have too.
Please note that we unfortunately cannot guarantee your submission will feature, but we will do our best to feature as many as we can.
The deadline to feature in October’s ‘What’s on?’ is 25 September. Any questions, just drop us an email!