Buy Manchester City vs Manchester United tickets for the 2026/27 Season, with the Premier League derby scheduled for Saturday 20 March 2027 and currently listed for a 16:00 UK time kick-off at the Etihad Stadium. It is Matchweek 30 of the campaign. City won the first derby of the season 1-0 at Old Trafford in September, so United arrive in March looking to settle the score in front of the largest derby crowd the Etihad has ever been able to hold.
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The Etihad now holds more than 61,000 after its expanded North Stand opened at the end of last season, adding thousands of seats and a large area of rail seating. Even so, the derby remains the hardest home ticket of City's season, with members and season-ticket holders taking almost every seat. Supporters who follow Manchester City through the campaign know the central West Stand and the new home end are gone long before any open sale.
Premier League kick-off times move once broadcasters make their selections, usually a few weeks ahead. A derby is always chosen for television. The date and time above may therefore shift within the same weekend. Seats bought now remain valid for the final slot, which is why travelling buyers lock in early and keep travel plans flexible.
Both clubs are in the Champions League this season after finishing second and third last term, City on 78 points and Manchester United on 71. That makes this the rare derby where both sides carry European ambitions into March, so the result can shape the top-four race as much as local pride. Demand from home members alone outstrips the general seating available.
The rivalry adds its own pressure. Manchester is split down the middle, families and workplaces divide by colour; the outcome is felt across the city for weeks. A ticket for the Etihad derby is one of the most sought-after in English football. The resale market reflects that from the moment the fixture list is published.
United's allocation is set at around 3,000 in line with Premier League rules, placed in the South Stand at the south-east corner. Those seats go to United's own members through their loyalty system, which leaves the rest of the ground to City season-ticket holders and members with the strongest purchase history.
Global interest adds another layer. Both clubs have vast international followings, so the derby attracts visitors from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America who plan trips months in advance. They compete with local members for the small number of seats that reach resale, which keeps prices high from the start.
Compared with the rest of the home calendar, this match sits above every other fixture, including the visits of Liverpool and Arsenal. There is no realistic window for late buyers to pick up central seats; planning months ahead is the only reliable approach.
Not through the club. Match tickets at the Etihad require a paid membership. For a fixture of this profile the sale is effectively closed to anyone without a long history of attending. Season-ticket holders take the majority of seats, then members with the most loyalty credit are served first; the derby rarely gets beyond that stage.
The North Stand expansion added capacity, but it has not changed the basic arithmetic for the derby. New seats were absorbed by members who had waited years for a chance, so the pool reaching anyone without a membership history is as thin as ever.
United supporters face a separate route. Their away allocation is distributed through United's own loyalty-based system, typically requiring a long record of away travel. A United fan without that record cannot buy into the away section; a neutral seat elsewhere in the ground is not an option either, because home areas at a derby are strictly segregated and visiting colours are not tolerated.
The resale marketplace removes those barriers. You pick a seat from listings by verified sellers, the listing notes explain how the ticket will reach you and the order is protected from purchase to entry. For anyone without a City membership history, it is the most direct route into the ground.
Five things set the price of a seat for this match: where you sit in the ground, overall demand, how far ahead you buy, the competition context in March and whether you add hospitality. For the 2026/27 season, the derby sits in City's top pricing category. On the resale market it carries a premium that no other home league fixture approaches. Listings on this page currently start from around £250, which gives a sense of where the floor sits.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper tier ends / corners | £240 – £340 | Budget-conscious fans | High behind-the-goal view; still sells fast |
| Upper tier longside | £270 – £390 | First-time visitors | Full-length elevated view of the pitch |
| Lower tier / central | £320 – £480+ | Couples and small groups | Close to the pitch on either long side |
| West Stand premium seating | £400 – £650+ | Fans wanting the classic view | Halfway line by the dugouts and tunnel |
| Hospitality / VIP | £750 – £1,600+ | Business guests and occasions | Lounges, pitchside clubs and boxes |
Prices reflect typical resale ranges and may change as demand and availability shift closer to the match.
Most of the movement comes once the broadcast slot is confirmed and again in the final fortnight, when the league table and any European ties around the date become clear. A derby with title or top-four consequences can push central prices sharply upwards in the final days.
The price gap between tiers is narrower at the derby than for other fixtures. Demand is so strong across the whole ground that even the upper corners command a substantial premium, which makes the extra cost of a central lower-tier seat feel smaller in relative terms.
Buying early matters more here than for almost any other fixture. Seats that reach resale are scattered across the ground, so the earlier you look the more likely you are to find adjacent seats in your preferred stand rather than settling for singles.
The Etihad opened as the City of Manchester Stadium for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has been City's home since 2003. It is an enclosed bowl with no running track. The West Stand is the main stand with the tunnel and premium areas, the East Stand faces it, the South Stand has three tiers and the newly expanded North Stand is now the home end, with rail seating for safe standing.
| Area | What It Suits | Pricing Bracket | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Stand (central) | The classic halfway-line view | Premium | Main stand with the tunnel, dugouts and premium tiers; sells first |
| West Stand (outer blocks) | Strong view at a lower price | Upper middle | Good angle without the central premium; pairs go quickly |
| East Stand | Full-length view of the pitch | Mid to upper | Opposite the main stand; includes the family area |
| North Stand | Atmosphere and the home support | Mid | The expanded home end with rail seats; expect to stand and sing all match |
| South Stand (home sections) | Height and a full view of the bowl | Entry level to mid | Three tiers; upper rows give a dramatic overview of the derby |
| Away section (South Stand, south-east corner) | Manchester United supporters only | Away price cap | Around 3,000 seats sold through United; separate turnstiles and segregation; red only here |
There is no neutral area at a Manchester derby. Every home seat is sold on the understanding that the buyer supports City, so anyone wearing United colours outside the away section risks being ejected. Neutral visitors should dress plainly and keep reactions muted wherever they sit.
The expanded North Stand has changed the atmosphere of the ground. With the most vocal supporters now behind one goal in a larger, steeper stand, noise carries around the bowl far more than it did in the stadium's early years. The derby is where that difference is most obvious.
The upper tiers deserve more credit than first-time buyers often give them. The bowl is steep enough that the view from height takes in the whole pitch, making tactical shape and set-pieces easier to follow than from the front rows of the lower tier.
Before you buy, the Etihad Stadium seating plan shows how stands, tiers and blocks are numbered, which helps when a listing names a block rather than a stand. It also shows where the rail-seat sections sit, which matters if you want to stay seated.
For a wider view of every fixture at the ground, the Etihad Stadium listings set the derby against the rest of the home calendar. If derby prices stretch your budget, a European night or a lower-demand league date can be a more affordable first visit.
Hospitality at the Etihad is spread across the West Stand premium tiers, with options ranging from lounge dining to a pitch-level club beside the tunnel. The North Stand redevelopment has added new premium spaces, including a sky bar at the top of the stand.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Premium West Stand seat | Fans wanting the prime view | Central seating close to the dugouts |
| Lounge dining package | Couples and celebration days | Food and drink with a premium seat |
| Pitchside tunnel club | Guests wanting a close-up experience | Pitch-level views of the players heading out |
| Private box | Corporate groups | Exclusive space with a direct pitch view |
Packages differ from listing to listing, so read what is included: food and drink service, lounge opening times and whether your seat sits inside or outside the hospitality area. Smart casual is the norm in the premium areas.
For the derby, hospitality is often the most reliable route to a guaranteed central seat. General seating is so heavily committed that premium inventory, released through separate channels, can be easier to secure for a group that needs to sit together.
Hospitality also changes the matchday rhythm. Lounges typically open well before kick-off, so you can arrive early, avoid the busiest tram services and settle in long before the pre-match build-up begins.
Tickets for Premier League matches at the Etihad are issued digitally, so most seats for the derby will arrive as mobile tickets. The listing notes on each ticket explain the format and timing, so read them before you pay.
| Delivery Type | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Mobile ticket | Which app or account receives the transfer and that your phone supports it |
| E-ticket (PDF) | The date the file will be sent and whether each ticket carries its own barcode |
| Paper ticket | The postal deadline and an address where someone can sign for it |
| Collection | The exact pick-up point, time window and ID needed to collect |
Many derby tickets are transferred in the final days before the match, once the club releases them to sellers. That is normal and covered by the order guarantee. Bring valid photo ID, since stewards can ask for it at the turnstiles.
Charge your phone fully and add the ticket to your wallet before setting off, because signal around a full stadium drops as crowds arrive. Leave plenty of time for bag searches, which are stricter on derby day.
The Metrolink tram from Piccadilly reaches the Etihad Campus stop in around ten minutes, or the walk from the city centre takes 25 to 35 minutes. Aim to arrive at least an hour before kick-off; police operations and segregation around the stadium slow movement on derby day.
1BoxOffice has run a verified marketplace since 2006 and every order carries a 150% money-back guarantee, so here is how to go from search to seat.
Step1
Find the fixture
Open the listing for the Etihad on 20 March 2027 and see what is available across the ground.
Step2
Set up your account
You can create an account in a couple of minutes, which keeps your order history and ticket details in one place.
Step3
Choose your stand
Filter by area. Pick the West Stand for the classic view, the East Stand for value or the North Stand for atmosphere.
Step4
Read the listing notes
Each listing explains the delivery format, the block and whether the seats sit together.
Step5
Select your quantity
Choose how many seats you need. Listings marked as seats together keep your group side by side.
Step6
Add attendee details
Enter each attendee's name as it appears on their photo ID so delivery and entry run smoothly.
Step7
Pay securely
Complete payment on the encrypted payment page. An order confirmation arrives by email straight away.
Step8
Follow your order
Use track order to follow delivery status right up to matchday.
Manchester Airport has direct flights from across Europe, the Middle East and North America, with frequent trains into Piccadilly in around 20 minutes. Most visitors stay in the city centre, where the Metrolink and the walk along the canal both reach the Etihad easily. Choose mobile delivery if you are staying in a hotel, so nothing depends on a postal address.
Groups should filter for seats together and confirm the listing before paying, particularly in the West Stand where pairs go first. Visitors staying a few days can pair the derby with a game at Anfield, around 45 minutes away by train. Remember that Premier League slots move for television, so book flexible flights and hotels until both dates are confirmed.
March in Manchester is cool and often wet, so bring a waterproof layer even though most seats sit under the roof. Evening kick-offs can feel cold in the upper tiers, where the wind reaches more easily than in the lower rows.
On derby day the city centre is busy from late morning, with pubs split between the two sets of supporters. Neutral visitors are best served by quieter venues away from the main supporter pubs while allowing extra time to reach the stadium.
The derby moved to the Etihad, then the City of Manchester Stadium, in 2003/04. City marked the first meeting there with a 4-1 win in March 2004. The early years were tight and often went United's way, with the visitors winning four of the first eight league derbies at the new ground. Everything changed in April 2012, when City won 1-0 with a header just before half-time, moved above United on goal difference and went on to win their first league title in 44 years.
The years since have produced some of the most dramatic derbies at any ground. United won 3-2 with a stoppage-time free-kick in December 2012, then came from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 in April 2018 and deny City the chance to clinch the title against them. City answered with a 6-3 win in October 2022 after leading 4-0 at the break, then a 3-0 win last September that put them back in control of the series here.
What makes this fixture distinctive is how evenly it has been fought on this ground despite the gulf in trophies over the last decade. City lead the series here by a single win, while United have won four of their last nine visits. For a buyer, that is a derby where the result is rarely settled before kick-off.
The rivalry's balance has shifted repeatedly across these 23 meetings. United edged the early derbies here, City won the meeting that decided the 2012 title race and the results since have alternated far more than the wider gap in trophies would suggest. That unpredictability is part of why every edition of the fixture feels open.
The stakes now run both ways. With both clubs in the Champions League and chasing the top of the table, the March derby carries consequences that reach well beyond Manchester.
The figures below cover every Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium, formerly the City of Manchester Stadium, with City as hosts.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 23 |
| Manchester City wins | 11 |
| Manchester United wins | 10 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Manchester City goals | 39 |
| Manchester United goals | 27 |
| Biggest Manchester City win | 6-3 (2 October 2022), plus three 4-1 wins and a 3-0 |
| Biggest Manchester United win | 2-0 (13 February 2005 and 7 March 2021) |
| First Premier League meeting in scope | 14 March 2004 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 14 September 2025 |
Source: Transfermarkt match records, cross-referenced with the English Football League Tables archive.
Those 23 derbies average almost three goals each. Only two have finished level. United have scored in 17 of them, so even City's wins here have rarely been comfortable.
Every Premier League meeting at the Etihad with City as hosts, newest first.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 14 Sep 2025 | Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United |
| 15 Dec 2024 | Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United |
| 3 Mar 2024 | Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United |
| 2 Oct 2022 | Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United |
| 6 Mar 2022 | Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United |
| 7 Mar 2021 | Manchester City 0-2 Manchester United |
| 7 Dec 2019 | Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United |
| 11 Nov 2018 | Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United |
| 7 Apr 2018 | Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United |
| 27 Apr 2017 | Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United |
| 20 Mar 2016 | Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United |
| 2 Nov 2014 | Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United |
| 22 Sep 2013 | Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United |
| 9 Dec 2012 | Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United |
| 10 Nov 2010 | Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United |
| 17 Apr 2010 | Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United |
| 30 Nov 2008 | Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United |
| 19 Aug 2007 | Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United |
| 5 May 2007 | Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United |
| 14 Jan 2006 | Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United |
| 13 Feb 2005 | Manchester City 0-2 Manchester United |
| 14 Mar 2004 | Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United |
Source: Transfermarkt and the English Football League Tables archive, with each score confirmed by both.
The reverse fixture this season was played at Old Trafford in September, when City won 1-0. Supporters who want both sides of the rivalry can follow United's other home dates there through the rest of the campaign. The two grounds are only a short tram and train journey apart across the city.
No, a resale ticket from a verified seller does not require a club membership or loyalty points. Through the club, the derby is effectively limited to long-standing members.
As early as possible, because derby prices tend to rise as the date approaches and adjacent seats disappear first.
Visiting supporters are housed in the South Stand at the south-east corner, with their own turnstiles and an allocation of around 3,000.
Yes, plain clothing is the safest choice anywhere in the home areas, where visiting colours can lead to ejection on derby day.
Yes, filter for listings marked as seats together, though pairs and groups sell first, so book as early as you can.
Sources: Premier League official fixture list, Manchester City official club information, Manchester United official club information, Transfermarkt, English Football League Tables, StadiumDB, The Stadium Business and Spurs Odyssey league records.