What’s on in September?
25 Aug 2026
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
Students' Union Houseplant Sale
The annual houseplant sale is back at the Students' Union with over 250 different types in all shapes and sizes. They also have a large selection of colourful pots and plant accessories.
- Find them from Monday, 21 to Wednesday, 23 September, between 10am and 7pm inside the Students' Union
Confucius Institute Autumn Open Day
Join the Confucius Institute for their Autumn Open Day and take part in cultural activities, language tasters, a tea ceremony and a prize draw.
- Book your place on Saturday, 26 September, 2pm to 3.15pm at the Confucius Institute
Raksha Bandhan with the Dharmic Cultures Staff Network
Join us for an afternoon of community, culture and reflection as we celebrate Raksha Bandhan – a festival that honours bonds of care, support and mutual respect.
- Book your place on Tuesday, 1 September, 3.30pm to 4.30pm at Engineering B_2B.026
Taj Ali book launch
Join us for an evening of conversation with Taj Ali, as he discusses his debut book with writer and broadcaster Anita Sethi, reflecting on the histories of resistance, solidarity and political activism that have shaped British South Asian communities.
- Book your place on Wednesday, 23 September, 6pm to 8pm at Manchester Museum
Our cultural institutions
Manchester Museum
From Thursday, 3 September: MIXED? exhibition
Friday, 4 September (6pm to 9pm): Caribbean Nights: Windrush film screening
Sunday, 6 September (2pm to 3pm): Discover the shofar
Tuesday, 8 September (12pm to 1pm): Shared Reading
Wednesday, 16 September (6pm to 8pm): Grand Raksha Bandhan Celebration
Sunday, 20 September (1pm 3.30pm): Sharing a Shell, with Manchester Camerata
Whitworth Art Gallery
Wednesday, 2 September: Dipact CIC Creative Workshops at the Whitworth
Thursday, 10 September (6pm to 7.30pm): Michaela Yearwood-Dan: The Practice of Liberation Book Launch
Saturday, 12 September (11am to 1pm): Embroidery Workshops with Ibukun Baldwin
Thursday, 17 September (6.30pm to 8pm): A Virtual Journey in Edo Japan (1603-1868): mapping famous places
Thursday, 24 September (6pm to 7pm): Beneath the Great Wave Curator Tour with Imogen Holmes-Roe
Sunday, 27 September (3pm to 3.45pm): Friends of the Whitworth Sunday Concerts
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Wednesday, 2 September (2pm to 3pm): Collections Encounter: The Forgeries of Thomas J. Wise
Reading Round at The John Rylands Library
The Forgotten Library: Collection Encounter
Wednesday, 16 September (1pm to 1.30pm): Curator Tour: The Forgotten Library
Our community
Religious celebrations and traditions
The Season of Creation (Christianity) Tuesday, 1 to Friday, 4 September
Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism) Friday, 4 September
Rohini Vrat (Jain) Friday, 4 September
Paryushana Parvarambha (Jain) Tuesday, 8 September
Rosh Hashana (Judaism) Friday, 11 to Sunday, 13 September
Fast of Gedaliah (Judaism) Monday, 14 September
Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism) Monday, 14 to Tuesday, 15 September
Yom Kippur (Judaism) Sunday, 20 to Monday, 21 September
Mabon (Autumn Equinox) (Wheel of the Year) Wednesday, 23 September
Sukkot (Judaism) Friday, 25 September
Awareness days
World Suicide Prevention Day – Thursday, 10 September
National Inclusion Week – Monday, 14 September
International Week of Happiness at Work – Monday, 21 September
Groups and societies
Book club
This month’s books are:
- Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X by Moshik Temkin
- Any book you want to read yourself over summer and you are happy to come and discuss
We will also recap The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. 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, 25 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!