Icons Reborn: Sankeys, Ministry of Sound & XOYO reignite UK nightlife

Sankeys has officially lifted the curtain on its long‑awaited comeback, opening the doors to its new Sidney Street home and debuting the first wave of artists across its February–June 2026 programme.

The return marked a major moment for the iconic Manchester institution, which originally closed its Ancoats venue in 2017.

Now operating as a 500‑capacity space just off Oxford Road, the relaunched venue has already showcased the raw, stripped‑back energy that defined the original Sankeys experience, complete with its LED matrix installation and strict no‑VIP, no‑phones dancefloor ethos.

The club reopened with a packed opening weekend on 30–31 January, before kicking off its weekly Saturday events on 7 February. Tribal Sessions also made its return as a monthly residency, continuing its legacy of championing forward‑thinking electronic music.

Elsewhere in the UK club scene, Ministry of Sound re-launched the Box last weekend following a major renovation, celebrating with a run of huge launch parties.

XOYO London has also re-opened after a full refurbishment, signalling a wider wave of investment across the country’s nightlife institutions.

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Words: Steve John / Imagery: SankeysOfficial