Manchester's new Co-op Live to host Young Voices as event moves from AO Arena after almost 30 years

Manchester's much-loved Young Voices event is moving from the AO Arena to the new Co-op Live venue after almost 30 years.

The largest children’s choir concert in the world sees thousands of schoolchildren perform under one roof simultaneously and is a much-loved fixture in the calendar of many primary schools.

But now, in what could be seen as a kick in the teeth to the arena, the event is moving to Co-op Live, which opens with a show from Peter Kay next week.

Read more: Manchester's new Co-op Live opens next week, but its first real test will come ten days later

It will welcome 9,000 young people for the children's concert in February 2025 and schools will soon be asked to register their interest.

Taking to the UK’s newest and largest live entertainment arena, the Manchester leg promises to utilise Co-op Live’s state-of-the-art acoustic design to 'perfectly highlight the performance, as well as harnessing the venue’s innovative accessibility to deliver a quality experience for all'.

Ben Lewis, CEO at Young Voices, said: “At Young Voices we are constantly striving to deliver our schools the ultimate live music experience, so where better than the largest, newest and most state-of-the-art arena in the UK, Co-op Live.

"“Ultimately, the experience for our schools who attend Young Voices is the most important factor in any decision we make. We loved the AO Arena but it was really tricky having hundreds of buses around the venue to accommodate our schools.

"At Co-op Live we will have dedicated car parks for our schools which will make a big difference. It’s a bonus that Co-op Live is also the newest, largest and most state-of-the-art venue to be opened in the UK in the last 15 years, so you can imagine how excited