Manchester Art Fair 2023 at Manchester Central

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
Manchester Art Fair

Manchester Art Fair at Manchester Central Convention Centre, City Centre 17 — 19 November 2023 Tickets from £10 — Book now

One of the largest and most prestigious art fairs in the UK, and certainly a key event in the city’s cultural calendar, Manchester Art Fair, and its sister event, The Manchester Contemporary, are back. This is the weekend when galleries, artists and art lovers from across the country come together to meet, socialise, experience great work and support the local and national contemporary art scene. Housed in the cavernous inners of the former railway station, Manchester Central, prepare yourself for a dizzying, yet expertly curated whirlwind of art. The beauty of Manchester Art Fair is that it is an opportunity for an unpretentious Northern art-buying experience.

This year, celebrated local artists Ian Rayer-Smith. Liam Spencer and AKSE P19 have created limited edition prints specifically for Manchester Art Fair. Street artist ASKE P19 has made the print available for the first time in 10 years to help support mental health charity Shout 85258, so this opportunity is not one to miss!

Visitors are invited to explore both fairs’ vast selection of modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography and editioned prints, offering the chance to buy unique artworks at more affordable prices. Manchester Art Fair will feature over 130 galleries and artists, including Manchester’s Saul Hay, Hot Bed Press, Stockport’s Mura Ma and Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery. The Manchester Contemporary will continue its well-established legacy of showcasing the best of the UK’s regional artists and galleries in a unique, critically engaged, yet friendly and accessible environment. The sister fair aims to bolster the art market outside of London – releasing artists from the capital’s radial pull and creating a more sustainable cultural scene nationwide.

Clear your weekend schedule and head to Manchester Central for this must-attend event.

Manchester Art Fair at Manchester Central Convention Centre, City Centre 17 — 19 November 2023 Tickets from £10 Book now

Where to go near Manchester Art Fair 2023 at Manchester Central

The seats and stage in The Bridgewater Hall
City Centre
Music venue
The Bridgewater Hall

One of Manchester’s most important cultural buildings, The Bridgewater Hall attracts the biggest names in classical music.

Manchester
Restaurant
Midland Tea Room

Dating back to 1903, Manchester’s stately Midland Hotel now has its own dedicated tea room. Expect traditional offerings in elegant surroundings.

City Centre
Hotel
The Midland Hotel

With 312 luxurious bedrooms, the Grade II-listed Midland Hotel occupies one of the most beautiful and storied buildings in Manchester.

Manchester
Restaurant
Jaan

Serving up exceptional Persian cuisine, this new food concept from the team behind Another Hand is a must-try.

City Centre
Restaurant
ONDA Pasta Bar

ONDA is a treat for the tastebuds. Long dark wood tables are shared by eager diners, as tapas-style plates of fresh pasta and other Italian dishes are ferried around the restaurant.

Manchester
Restaurant
Exhibition

Exhibition hosts three of the city’s most celebrated independent kitchens: Osma, Baratxuri, and Jaan by Another Hand.

Haunt MCR
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Haunt MCR

Haunt MCR is a speciality coffee shop and wine bar located on Manchester’s bustling Peter Street.

Manchester
Restaurant
Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

Manchester
Restaurant
Asha’s

Asha’s serves modern north-west Indian cuisine in luxurious surroundings.

What's on: Exhibitions

Wolf in Yellowstone
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Wild at Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum explores the concept of ‘wild’ nature as a means of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis in a new exhibition.

free entry

Culture Guides

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.