Country to Country is officially heading north. The biggest country music festival in Europe will land in Manchester for the first time in 2027, bringing a three‑day celebration of the genre to the AO Arena and venues across the city centre.
Long established as the UK’s flagship country event, C2C’s arrival in Manchester marks a major moment for the region’s growing country community. As Holler recently noted, “the popularity of the UK country extravaganza is at an all-time high,” while The Express praised C2C as “one of the UK’s most spectacular annual festivals.” Time Out summed up the appeal perfectly: “Country music is best enjoyed together… that’s what makes Country 2 Country so great.”
A New Northern Home for Country Fans
The 2027 edition will see the AO Arena become the heart of the action, with additional performances taking place at New Century Hall and more satellite venues still to be announced. The expansion mirrors the festival’s long-standing mission: to bring the world’s biggest country stars—and the most exciting new talent—to UK audiences.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 20 March, with fans encouraged to sign up for early bird pre-sale access.
A Festival with Serious Heritage
Since launching in 2013 with Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood headlining The O2 in London, C2C has grown into a multi-arena, multi-city powerhouse. Tens of thousands attend each year to see the best of Nashville alongside rising artists from the UK and Europe. For many fans, it’s become the ultimate annual pilgrimage.
The Manchester edition will be supported by the Manchester Accommodation BID, a city-wide initiative designed to attract major cultural events to Manchester and Salford.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The announcement comes just as excitement builds for C2C 2026, headlined by Zach Top, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn. The 2027 lineup will be revealed later this year, but with C2C’s track record, expectations are already sky-high.
