O2 Apollo Manchester seating plan: stalls, circle and the best seats

The O2 Apollo Manchester seating plan has two levels: the stalls downstairs, which are standing or seated depending on the show, and the circle upstairs, which has fitted seats. The venue holds 3,500 people with standing stalls, or 2,693 fully seated. Choose the stalls to be close, and the circle for a raised seat.

Tickets for each date are linked from the list of shows lower down. For a different venue, try the UK venues page.

How does the O2 Apollo Manchester seating plan work?

The O2 Apollo Manchester seating plan works by level, because this is a theatre with just two floors and not a big arena with numbered blocks. Your ticket tells you which level you are on, and the venue says your ticket and booking details explain the rest. The building sits on Stockport Road in Ardwick, just outside Manchester city centre, at M12 6AP.

What do stalls, circle and balcony mean?

Stalls is the theatre word for the downstairs part of the hall, and the venue uses it that way. Circle means the upstairs seats. Tickets and websites may also say balcony, which means the same upstairs area.

A Manchester Apollo layout map is simple for this reason. You choose upstairs or downstairs first, then seated or standing, and the seller’s plan shows what is on offer for your show.

Is O2 Apollo Manchester the same as Manchester Apollo?

Yes. O2 Apollo Manchester and Manchester Apollo are the same venue, and people use both names. It opened on 29 August 1938 and is a Grade II listed Art Deco building, which means a protected historic building. The venue took its O2 name in 2010.

It is not The O2 arena in London, which has its own O2 Arena seating plan. For Manchester’s newest big arena, see the Co-op Live seating plan.

Is O2 Apollo Manchester standing or seated?

O2 Apollo Manchester runs both fully seated and part-standing shows, so it depends on your date. At a part-standing show, the stalls are usually the standing area and the circle is seated. A past UB40 show used that layout, with standing stalls and a seated circle.

• Seated ticket: you must stay in the area on your ticket, so a seat does not let you join the standing crowd.
• Freeflow ticket: if your ticket says freeflow, you can move around to find your best spot.
• Balcony ticket: this normally gives you a seat, but not always. Seats might be unreserved, which means first come, first served, and there may be extra standing room.
• Fully seated show: the stalls fill with seats, which is why the capacity drops to 2,693.

Crowd-surfing is not allowed anywhere in the venue.

Where are the best seats at O2 Apollo Manchester?

The best seats at O2 Apollo Manchester for most people are at the front of the circle, because you sit up high and look over the stalls. If you want to be close and feel part of the crowd, choose the stalls. The venue publishes no ranking of its seats, so this is a simple guide.

• Best for being close: the front of the stalls, at a standing or seated show.
• Best for a raised view: the front of the circle.
• Best if stairs are hard: the stalls, because the circle has no lift.
• Best for children: a seat in the circle, away from a standing crowd.
• Best for sound: a seat in the middle of the row, looking straight at the stage.
• Best for a tight budget: compare stalls and circle prices at booking, as each show sets its own.
• Not worth it if you dislike stairs: the back of the circle, as you climb about 40 steps first.

How can you see the view from your seat at O2 Apollo Manchester?

To see the view from your seat at O2 Apollo Manchester, use the plan shown by Ticketmaster, the seller the venue names, when you book your show. The venue’s visitor pages show no seat map, so the booking page is your best guide.

1. Open your show on the venue’s website and follow the link to Ticketmaster.
2. See which levels are on sale, and whether the stalls are seated or standing.
3. Read every ticket label, such as balcony, freeflow or VIP.
4. Search for fans’ photos last. Sites such as A View From My Seat can help, but a photo only shows one night.

A VIP ticket’s extras depend on the show, so ask your ticket agent what is included when you book.

How much are O2 Apollo Manchester tickets?

O2 Apollo Manchester tickets cost different amounts for each show, and the venue publishes no price list for the stalls or circle. Ticketmaster shows the price when you book. Ticket agents usually add a booking fee. Academy Music Group, which runs the venue, also charges a venue restoration levy at most of its buildings. This is a charge per ticket that helps preserve them.

What accessible seating does O2 Apollo Manchester have?

O2 Apollo Manchester has wheelchair spaces and an accessible platform in the stalls, but no lift to the circle. Spaces are first come, first served when you book. The venue says it may only be able to fit you and one companion in the accessible area, and cannot always promise a seat.

Contact the access team before you buy, on 0161 273 7785, between 12pm and 4pm, Monday to Friday. The Access Card is accepted but not compulsory, and it saves you repeating your needs each time. It is a card that lists your access requirements.

• Getting in: the main entrance has a couple of steps, but there is level access through the access entrance. Ask ahead, and someone will meet you there.
• Toilets: a step-free accessible toilet is house left in the stalls, which means the left side as you face the stage. It needs a RADAR key, the standard key for accessible toilets, or staff will open it.
• Hearing: there are no hearing loops in the main hall, though the box office has one.
• British Sign Language: the venue needs 31 days’ notice.
• Sensory needs: sensory bags with ear defenders and fidget toys are available on request.
• Assistance dogs: these are welcome, so mention yours when you book.
• Parking: some access parking is in the fenced car park on Hyde Road, first come, first served.

Can you bring children to O2 Apollo Manchester?

You can bring children to O2 Apollo Manchester if the show allows it, and under-14s must be with an adult aged 18 or over. Each event sets its own age limit, so check the event page and your seller. The venue discourages young children because of the noise and the lack of changing facilities.

Bringing a teenager? Staff may ask for ID if someone looks under 25. A full or provisional UK driving licence, a PASS card or a passport is accepted. Staff will give you ear plugs on request, and adults are responsible for protecting children’s ears.

How do you get to O2 Apollo Manchester?

The easiest way to get to O2 Apollo Manchester is by bus from the city centre to Stockport Road, on routes such as 192, 201, 203, 204 and 205. Manchester Piccadilly station and its Metrolink tram stop are just under a mile away. Manchester Victoria station is just under two miles away.

• Train or tram: both main stations have step-free access, escalators and lifts, and all Metrolink stops have a ramp, lift and escalator.
• Driving? Use the sat nav postcode M12 6AJ. The two official car parks are on Apsley Grove and just off Hyde Road. Spaces are limited and cannot be reserved.
• Other parking: the venue says parking opposite is not linked to it.
• Cycling? Bike racks are on nearby streets.
• Travelling from outside Manchester? Check the curfew on the event page, then find your last train. The venue says to always know how you are getting home.

What time should you arrive at O2 Apollo Manchester, and what can you bring?

Arrive at O2 Apollo Manchester by the door time on your ticket, because the venue does not publish stage times. The event page shows the door time and the curfew, which is the latest the show can finish. For Kevin Bridges, the page lists doors at 7pm, the show at 8pm and an 11pm curfew.

• Your ticket: the venue says the O2 Academy Venues app is where you will find your tickets.
• Bags: one small bag each, no bigger than A4, which is 29.7cm high, 21cm wide and 15cm deep. Rucksacks and other large bags are not allowed.
• Bigger bags: pre-book a drop-off with Stasher, the venue’s partner for bag storage, before the show.
• Food and drink: none from outside, including chewing gum.
• Paying: bars and the cloakroom are card or contactless only. You can still use cash for merchandise.
• Electronics: laptops and iPads are not allowed. Non-professional cameras without a large lens are fine.
• Football colours: staff may ask you to take these off and put them in the cloakroom.

What mistakes should you avoid at O2 Apollo Manchester?

The main mistakes at O2 Apollo Manchester are bringing a rucksack, booking the circle without thinking about the stairs and stepping out during the show. Once you leave, you cannot come back in. Three other points catch people out:

• Reading balcony as a set seat: check your ticket, as some are unreserved.
• Relying on the cloakroom: space is limited, so travel light and arrive early.
• Vaping inside: this is not allowed, so ask staff for the smoking area. Its opening times can vary.

Who is playing at O2 Apollo Manchester soon?

The next shows at O2 Apollo Manchester include Squeeze on Monday 23 November 2026 and Ministry of Sound on Friday 18 December 2026. Kevin Bridges follows with three nights in February 2027.

What to do now (as of 31 October 2026)

As of 31 October 2026, Malcolm Todd and both Sienna Spiro nights were sold out at Ticketmaster UK. Everything else above was on sale when last checked, so confirm the status before you buy.

1. Check your show’s format, so you know if the stalls are standing or seated.
2. Join O2 Priority if you are with O2, the mobile network. Members can buy tickets 48 hours before the general sale, when tickets go on sale to everyone.
3. Download the O2 Academy Venues app once you have booked.

If your night has sold out, the venue says tickets occasionally become available nearer the time, so watch the event page. Each artist’s page in the table also carries any resale listings.