On Oct. 3, 2026, the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham is coming to the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. After watching God move through the tour during stops all across the United Kingdom, local leaders are eager to see what He will do in their city and region.
The one-night outreach will be Franklin Graham’s first in the city and will feature music from award-winning artists including Charity Gayle, Michael W. Smith, and Christian rapper Faith Child. The venue, Co-op Live, is the largest indoor arena in the U.K.
Preparing the Soil
In the last four decades, Manchester has seen dramatic changes. The high unemployment rates and shuttered factories of the 1980s have given way to impressive financial growth and a large university student population. But beneath the surface is a need that finances and education can never fill—and local churches have been praying and working hard for this opportunity to meet it.
Over 350 churches from the greater Manchester area have been partnering with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to share the power of the Gospel with northwest England.
Festival director Scott Lenning describes the unique prayer movement currently taking place in the region. “The Lord was doing something special in Manchester before we got here,” he said. “There are a lot of prayer groups happening around the city, and I think it’s prepared the ground differently than a lot of cities.”
Lenning emphasised that a major focus prior to the tour is providing I Am Andrew (IAA) resources to churches. Inspired by the disciple Andrew—who invited his brother Simon Peter to meet Jesus—the IAA effort encourages believers of all ages to pray for people who don’t know Christ and invite them to attend the event.
“There’s an anticipation for I Am Andrew that I haven’t seen in a while,” Lenning added.
“What God Is Going To Do”
In the months leading up to the tour, more than 3,500 people have taken the Christian Life and Witness Course (CLWC), with its interactive training on Biblical living, evangelism, and discipleship.
Message Community Church hosted three weeks of CLWC classes. John Harrington, the congregation’s discipleship lead, said the classes were “not only inspiring, but conveyed a sense of excitement about what God is going to do in the lead up to Franklin Graham’s visit to Manchester.”
“It was good to be a part of the team working—with God’s help—to make this visit a major turning point in many people’s lives.”
In the city of Blackpool, an hour northwest of Manchester, many young people have already responded to the message of salvation through BGEA’s Pursuit Training. These high-energy evenings of worship and training equip students to learn how to share their faith. At one recent Pursuit night, four curious teens passing by asked if they could see what was going on. They came in and were so moved by the message that they gave their lives to Jesus. Leaders gave them Bibles, and these young people are now attending the training’s host church.
At another Pursuit, 12 teenagers committed their lives to Christ, and 35 students began attending the church’s youth group. These stories offer just a glimpse of the hunger in Manchester—and how God is already moving.
A New Era, One Timeless Hope
Sixty-five years ago, Billy Graham preached the Good News of salvation at a soccer stadium in Manchester, and more than 17,700 people accepted Christ. Franklin Graham will deliver the same unchanging message to this city, inviting a new generation to experience the transforming power of the Gospel.
Please pray for local pastors and churches as they prepare for the God Loves You Tour. Ask the Lord to give His people boldness as they invite others to attend—and pray that many hearts will be open to the Gospel.