Manchester Networking Events 2026

3 February 2025

Looking for networking events? Manchester has a number of collaborative & exciting events coming up. Check out our rundown to grow your network & your business.

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Manchester is a booming commercial landscape with a smorgasbord of businesses doing their thing. So, when you’re looking for networking events, Manchester is a great place to be. Read on for our lowdown on upcoming networking events in Manchester, and where to find more information to plan where and how you’ll network in 2026.

Upcoming Manchester networking events for your calendar

Ready to get your business ducks in a row and book in some networking events? Manchester organisations tend to release dates steadily throughout the year, so here’s a list of some events in the first quarter of 2026 to sign up for now:

1. Pure Networking

Join a slew of other professionals for chatter, networking and ideas sharing. Located inside Fenix, the popular restaurant and bar right near Spinningfields, you can expect a vibrant atmosphere and a relaxed approach. This is an evening event, so is ideal if you want to combine after-work drinks with building connections.

When: 21st January 2026 at 4pm

Where: Fenix Manchester, The Goods Yard Building, Goods Yard St, Manchester, M3 3BG

Book tickets

2. Power In Partnerships

Hosted by GM Business Growth Hub, this event aims to bring businesses together for a morning of discussion and exploration. Find out who is aligned with your vision and values, where new opportunities are emerging, and how you can grow your business or profile. This is a FREE morning event with an informal tone, where you can grab a coffee and get to know people.

When: 29th January 2026 at 9.30am

Where: Freshfields 4 Stanley St, Salford, M3 5JL

Book tickets

3. Mad//North

Positioned as a festival that celebrates the diversity of the north while championing the creative, tech and business opportunities available, this is a two-day event with a number of inspiring guest speakers. It’s guaranteed to be an immersive experience packed with talking points.

When: 25th and 26th February from 9am-5pm

Where: Various locations across St John's Creative Quarter, Manchester

Book tickets

4. International Women’s Day Lunch

After the success of this event last year, Pro Manchester have bought back their International Women’s Day event for 2026. You’ll enjoy a full afternoon of networking with a fascinating line-up of guest speakers delivering inspiring and insightful talks. While this event celebrates women in business, it is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

When: 6th March at 11.45am - 3.30pm

Where: The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Talbot Road, Old Trafford, M16 0PX

Book tickets

5. UK Hospitality Networking Dinner 2026

A dinner event inside the beautiful The Edwardian hotel, this networking evening is for anyone linked to hospitality who wants to strengthen their connections and meet new people. As well as drinks and delicious food, there’ll be a notable guest speaker and plenty of chances to chat to other attendees.

When: 10th March at 6pm - 10.30pm

Where: The Edwardian, Free Trade Hall, Peter St, Manchester M2 5GP

Book tickets

Where to find more Manchester networking events

A fair few of the events mentioned above will be repeated throughout the year, allowing you plenty of chances to attend different networking events in Manchester. If you want to keep abreast of what’s happening and when, these are some of the best places to discover new events and business opportunities:

1. Pro Manchester

Pro Manchester describes itself as the “Greater Manchester Business Community and the largest business development organisation in the North West”. They have a varied calendar of networking events in Manchester, from wellbeing lunches to business awards evenings.

2. Federation Of Small Businesses (FSB)

FSB is a member organisation that supports small businesses in the region. They provide resources and advice to their members, and host a variety of events and webinars.

3. Business Network Manchester

Another membership organisation, the Business Network Manchester holds events for owners and directors with a focus on business growth. Their events cover a wide range of topics specific to certain industries or sectors.

4. MBH

If you’re looking for tailored networking events, Manchester is home to MBH, who craft networking experiences across the region for different industries or business topics. Dates are released throughout the year, so it’s worth checking their website regularly.

5. Business Growth Hub

A free business networking tool, the Business Growth Hub has multiple resources and specialist events to support local businesses. From round table discussions, to speed networking, there’s something to suit everyone.

Why you should network

Networking is a pretty essential element of modern business. It gives professionals the chance to create valuable connections that can lead to growth and innovation. Put simply, you’ll get to meet lots of interesting new people and discover new opportunities when you spend time at business networking events. Manchester, a city known for its thriving business scene, has a wealth of freelancers, entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals for you to engage, share ideas and collaborate with.

Networking puts your future into your own hands and, with so many diverse individuals, skills and industries, it’s also a lot of fun.

Networking with Colony

As you can see, there are plenty of chances to attend some incredible networking events in Manchester. Colony is a collection of serviced offices designed specifically for modern workers, so we know how crucial collaboration is. That’s why we host our own events within all of our coworking spaces to bring people together away from their desk. The great thing with a Colony event is that, whether you’re a remote worker visiting our hot desks, or have your own private office within our managed offices, you can hang out with everyone. Our events are a perfect place to meet people you might not otherwise have come across, and you’re already all part of the Colony network, so you’ve got a conversation starter.

A Colony membership gives you access to all of our events, so talk to us today to find out how you can enjoy your own space to get things done, and spend lunchtimes and evenings expanding your network.