What’s on in June?
29 May 2026
Welcome to June’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
Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Conference
Join colleagues from the Manchester Institute of Education for a two-day conference at the Whitworth Art Gallery in June, bringing together educators, students, policymakers and industry to tackle the equity and accessibility challenges of Generative AI.
- Book your place on Tuesday, 9 to Wednesday, 10 June 9am to 5pm at The Whitworth
Albatross Lecture 2026: Nature and Climate Justice
Join Sustainable Futures for an inspiring talk with Dr Mya-Rose Craig, also known as Birdgirl, on the urgent need to protect our planet.
- Book your place on Wednesday, 24 June 1.40pm to 5pm at Manchester Art Gallery
National Carers Week 2026
Join colleagues and partners to explore inclusive, carer-friendly universities through panels, lived experience and networking to shape future support for parents and carers in higher education.
- Book your place on Tuesday, 9 June 11am to 3pm at Alliance Manchester Business School
Eva Gore-Booth: Irish radical poet, rebel and reformer
Sonja Tiernan is joined by University Professor of Poetry John McAuliffe to discuss Sonja’s new biography on Irish poet and activist Eva Gore-Booth.
- Book your place on Friday, 19 June 6.30pm to 8pm at Irish World Heritage Centre
Rochdale Science Extravaganza
Join the Rochdale Science Initiative for a vibrant, family-friendly science event showcasing AI, climate action, health and creativity through hands-on activities, inspiring communities and young people to explore STEM in everyday life.
- Find out more for the event on Sunday, 28 June 10.30am to 4pm at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre
Universally Manchester Festival 2026
Join us for a day of inspiration, curiosity, and play for all the family. Get hands-on with science activities, creative sessions, tours, and engaging talks and performances.
Find the festival on Saturday, 13 June 11am to 4.30pm on campus
Groups and societies
Book club
This month’s books are The Offing by Benjamin Myers and a non-fiction book, The Brain at Rest: How the Art and Science of Doing Nothing Can Improve Your Life by Joseph Jebelli. We will also recap The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
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. Looking forward to a good discussion!
- Please contact Fiona.Lynch@manchester.ac.uk for the zoom link for Friday, 26 June 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Our cultural institutions
Manchester Museum
Tuesday, 2 June (1pm to 2.30pm): Intergenerational Climate Café
Wednesday, 3 June (12pm to 3pm): Introductory tai chi qigong summer session
Wednesday, 3 June (1.15pm to 1.45pm): Collection Bites: Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution Contextualised
Wednesday, 3 June (6pm to 8pm): Meet the Manchester Urban Diggers
Thursday, 4 June (1pm to 3pm): Talk English Circle
Saturday, 6 June (12pm to 2pm): Help MUD make a community cookbook
Wednesday, 10 June (5.30pm to 7pm): Human Natures Shared Reading
Whitworth Art Gallery
Thursday, 4 June (6pm to 7pm): Beneath the Great Wave Curator Tour with Imogen Holmes-Roe
Sunday, 7 June (12.30pm to 4pm): Still Care: What does care look like?
Sunday, 7 June (3pm to 3.45pm): Friends of the Whitworth Sunday Concerts
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Thursday, 4 June (2.10pm to 3.20pm): Hive of Pride: Collections Encounter Pete Shelley Archive
Saturday, 6 June (10am to 4pm): What is History For?
Friday, 12 June (10.30am to 4pm): Books that Matter
Our community
Religious celebrations and traditions
Sacred Heart of Jesus (Christianity) Friday, 12 June
Rohini Vrat (Jain) Sunday, 14 June
Muharram New Year (Islam) Tuesday, 16 June
Shaheedi Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sikh) Thursday, 18 June
Lithia Summer Solstice (Wheel of the Year) Sunday, 21 June
Ashura (Islam) Thursday, 25 to Friday, 26 June
St Peter and St Paul (Christianity) Monday, 29 June
Awareness days
International Day of Yoga – Sunday, 21 June
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 July’s ‘What’s on?’ is 25 June. Any questions, just drop us an email!