Take That at Etihad Stadium: Setlist, Times and What to Expect

Take That are preparing to turn Manchester’s Etihad Stadium into a homecoming pop spectacular in June 2026, with multiple dates announced for The Circus Live Summer run and tens of thousands of fans expected each night.

Etihad Stadium dates and how the night is likely to run

The Circus Live Summer shows will see Take That play a series of stadium dates across the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2026, including multiple nights at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in June. Publicly available listings show concerts scheduled around the weekend of 19 to 21 June, with some outlets also flagging additional dates as demand continues to build.

Event pages for the Manchester dates indicate advertised start times of around 17:00, in line with typical major stadium concerts at the venue. Doors usually open several hours earlier to allow for security checks and staggered entry, with live music running into late evening. Previous large-scale shows at the Etihad suggest that headline sets tend to finish by around 22:30, though exact timings are always subject to change.

Ticket vendors and fan travel partners advise supporters to arrive early, factoring in time for queuing, merchandise shopping and navigating the stadium campus. Dedicated coach services have published afternoon departure slots from cities across the north and Midlands for the Etihad dates, underlining the expectation that crowds will begin to gather well before the main support acts appear.

As with all Etihad Stadium concerts, detailed event information, including finalised stage times and gate opening hours, is typically circulated closer to show day through official channels and ticketing updates. Fans are encouraged to check this information in the days immediately before their chosen date.

Support acts and how the bill is shaping up

The Circus Live Summer branding points to a festival-style bill, with Take That joined by high-profile special guests on the Etihad Stadium dates. Ticketing and event discovery sites for the Manchester shows list Irish pop-rock band The Script and US singer Belinda Carlisle among the artists due to appear alongside the headliners.

The Script bring a catalogue of arena anthems that have proved popular with UK audiences over the past decade, while Belinda Carlisle adds classic hits from her solo career. The combination suggests a multi-generational lineup designed to complement Take That’s own blend of 1990s favourites and newer material.

Based on recent large stadium events, support artists are likely to take to the stage from early evening, building towards Take That’s headline slot after sunset. While precise running orders have not yet been formally confirmed, fans can expect a full evening of live music rather than a brief warm-up before the main act.

Local guidance for major shows at the Etihad notes that public transport and concert shuttle services are usually busiest immediately before and after the headline performance. Attendees planning to catch early support sets may find lighter queues on arrival but should still allow time for security procedures at entry points.

What the setlist may look like

Although full setlists for the 2026 stadium shows have not yet been published, recent touring patterns give a strong indication of what Manchester audiences are likely to hear. Data compiled from This Life On Tour in 2024 and subsequent festival appearances shows a balance of classic hits and newer material, with sets typically running to 20 or more songs.

Fan-curated statistics and coverage of recent concerts indicate that long-standing favourites such as “Back for Good,” “Relight My Fire,” “Pray,” “Rule the World” and “Never Forget” remain central to the live show. Tracks from the more recent This Life album have also featured prominently, reflecting the band’s current studio work while retaining the nostalgic core many fans expect.

On past tours, Take That have been known to incorporate medleys and reworked arrangements of earlier songs, often tied to the visual theme of the production. Given the Circus Live branding, observers anticipate a theatrical staging concept that may revisit elements from the group’s 2009 circus-themed shows, while updating the music selection to include material from the intervening years.

As with any major tour, there is scope for surprises, rotating songs and one-off additions for particular cities. Fans often track setlists from earlier dates in the run to gauge likely song orders, but organisers routinely note that all content remains subject to change on the night.

Production, staging and fan experience at the Etihad

Take That have built a reputation over several tours for large-scale staging, elaborate lighting and storytelling-driven productions. Industry commentary around The Circus Live Summer suggests that the 2026 shows will continue that tradition, making full use of the Etihad Stadium’s open bowl configuration and expansive pitch area.

Manchester City’s own information on non-football events at the ground highlights typical arrangements for standing and seated sections, accessible viewing areas and pitch protection systems used for concerts. Temporary structures, extended catwalks and secondary platforms are common features at previous stadium tours, and fans are anticipating similarly ambitious design elements for these dates.

Venue guidance for concerts at the Etihad stresses the usual restrictions on large bags, professional recording equipment and certain prohibited items, in line with standard major-event security practices. Attendees are asked to plan ahead, travel light and allow time for searches at turnstiles, particularly during peak arrival periods.

The stadium’s location on the Etihad Campus also means multiple public transport options, including tram and dedicated coach services, are expected to operate before and after the shows. Past experience at the venue suggests that exit queues for trams, buses and car parks can be lengthy once the encore ends, so fans with onward travel connections often plan for a late return.

Merchandise, travel and practical tips for gig night

While specific merchandise designs for The Circus Live Summer have not yet been unveiled, previous Take That tours have featured a wide range of T-shirts, hoodies, tour programmes and accessories at stadium shows. Fans can usually expect multiple merchandise stands both inside and outside the Etihad, with the busiest periods typically just after doors open and immediately following the concert.

For travel, coach operators have already begun advertising direct services to the Etihad on the June dates from towns and cities across the region, with outbound departures scheduled from early to mid-afternoon. These services are marketed as timed to arrive ahead of gates opening, giving passengers ample time to enter the venue and visit concessions before the music starts.

Those travelling independently are advised, based on previous event guidance, to check Metrolink tram timetables, city-centre road closures and parking arrangements in advance. Walking routes between the city centre and the stadium are also commonly used, particularly after the show when public transport is at its busiest.

Given that the Manchester concerts fall in late June, the shows are expected to take place in daylight for the early evening portion, with production lighting becoming more prominent after sunset. Fans are urged to prepare for changeable weather, bringing light layers and waterproofs that comply with stadium bag policies, and to keep an eye on official updates in the days leading up to their chosen date for any last-minute changes to timings or entry procedures.