Manchester International Festival

Creative Tourist
Summer Factory at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Matthew Curtis.

Manchester International Festival 2025 at Aviva Studios, Manchester 3 — 20 July 2025 Entrance is free — Visit now

Manchester will once again become the world’s stage this summer, with Manchester International Festival taking over venues and spaces across the city, including Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.

MIF25 will bring 18 extraordinary days of events, performances and happenings to Greater Manchester, where the world’s most exciting creative minds will reach across art forms, smash boundaries, and speak to urgent contemporary issues.

The programme is under wraps for now, but what we do know is that this will be the first festival under Creative Director, Kee Hong Low, who looks forward to unveiling “an ambitious programme of international and interdisciplinary new work”.

With a previous post of Head of Theatre and Performing Arts at West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, Kee Hong Low is admired by artists, producers and programmers around the world for his passionate and knowledgeable approach to curating festivals. It’s fair to say that MIF25 is in safe hands.

As soon as we get the scoop on what’s on as part of MIF25, our editors will pick their standout events, so do check back here soon.

Manchester International Festival 2025 at Aviva Studios, Manchester 3 — 20 July 2025 Entrance is free Visit now

What's on at Aviva Studios

Wake at Aviva Studios: Man dances in a mesh crop top and gold shorts with purple and white irridescent lights in front of an audience.
DanceManchester
Wake at Aviva Studios

Expect wild acrobatics, outrageous cabaret and electrifying variety when acclaimed Irish sensation THISISPOPBABY come to play at Aviva Studios.

from £10.00
Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream,  standing in front of a postbox in a black and white photo with a dripping red paint effect.
MusicCity Centre
Primal Scream at Aviva Studios

Following the release of their 12th album, Come Ahead, the iconic Glasgow band Primal Scream perform in the Warehouse space at Aviva Studios.

from £39.50
Cycles at Aviva Studios: Boy Blue in dynamic poses, wearing coordinated streetwear outfits, performing against a dark background.
DanceManchester
Cycles at Aviva Studios

Exploring the beauty of movement its euphoric connection to music, the Olivier Award winning hip hop dance company, Boy Blue return with a brand-new show.

from £10.00
FKA TWIGS
MusicManchester
FKA Twigs at Aviva Studios

One of the must-see gigs of the year comes as GRAMMY-nominated, multidisciplinary artist FKA twigs performs at Aviva Studios.

from £37.50

Where to go near Manchester International Festival

Castlefield
Event venue
Old Granada Studios

Manchester’s old Granada Studios is an iconic piece of the city’s history and home to Sidney Bernstein’s television empire.

Castlefield
Restaurant
The Loft Manchester

Smart event space in the building previously occupied by Walkabout, and now host to all manner of exciting one-off happenings

Manchester Opera House by Phil Tragen
City Centre
Theatre
Manchester Opera House

A commercial touring theatre, the Manchester Opera House is reopening in August 2021, all set to host the city’s finest mainstream theatrical productions, music gigs, opera and ballet.

City Centre
Music venue
Low Four Studio

Old Granada Studios has announced Low Four: a new studio and music project that will stream and archive live music performance as part of a new generation of music TV programming. The inclusion of a viewing balcony also means that these recordings, along with special events and concerts, will be made open to a few […]

Manchester
Restaurant
20 Stories

High-end restaurant and cocktail bar, with stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

Manchester
Gallery
Smolensky Gallery

This appointment-only gallery is a hidden gem in Manchester. Art lovers and collectors can browse many high quality pieces.

What's on: Festivals

Visit Blackpool.
FestivalsBlackpool
Showzam!

A festival of Circus, Magic and Variety, set to take place during the February half-term holidays. There will be a blend of live performances, illusions, street acts and more.

from £14.00
Keswick Town
CinemaCumbria
Keswick Film Festival

Keswick Film Festival marks 25 years with a programme featuring some of the best of contemporary independent cinema, alongside select classics, and work from some choice Cumbrian talent.

from £5.00

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Warm, intimate storytelling is the thread connecting our new picks, which include a number of brilliant folk artists.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Documentary performance, groundbreaking dance, world premieres and fresh takes on classic works - check out our early theatre highlights for 2025.

A man and a woman stood in front of a window at night look into each others' eyes
Cinema in the North

Hollywood greats and early bird film fest tickets are on our horizon as we start the New Year.

Olaf Falafel
Family things to do in the North

We might be past the holiday season, but Manchester and the North's arts and cultural calendar is still packed with brilliant events and activities for families

A sculpture of a dark brown dog looks to the right, hanging out of its middle and the back are what appears to be its insides (in cream) spilling out.
Exhibitions in the North

From genre-defying art film to vibrant embroidery and Surrealist sculpture, check out the best winter exhibitions to see right now.