Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival
The 2013 Manchester International Festival pavilion at night in Albert Square
StatusActive
GenreFestival
DatesJuly (dates vary)
FrequencyBiennial
VenueMultiple across Manchester
LocationsManchester, UK
Coordinates53°29′0.4413″N 02°14′52.0985″W / 53.483455917°N 2.247805139°W / 53.483455917; -2.247805139
CountryUnited Kingdom
Years active18
Inaugurated2007
FounderAlex Poots (Manchester City Council)
Previous event3 July – 20 July 2025
Next event2027
Attendance325,000 (2023)
AreaInternational
LeaderJohn McGrath
(Artistic Director)
Filing statusRegistered charity
People
  • John McGrath
  • Sheena Wrigley
  • Karen Bass
  • Low Kee Hong
  • Scott McVittie
SponsorVarious
Websitefactoryinternational.org

The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first taking place in June–July 2007, and subsequently recurring in the summers of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 with the most recent event taking place in the summer of 2025. The organisation was originally based in Blackfriars House, adjacent to Blackfriars Bridge but it has since moved to a new £110 million new home, Factory International in 2023.