Factory International

Factory International

Manchester International Festival 2025
Manchester International Festival is back. Gather your friends and family, find your joy – and Dream Differently this summer | 3 - 20 July
Explore the festival →
What's On ↓
A woman in a cap touches the head of a life-sized giraffe puppet made from cardboard and wood, as part of The Herds. The background shows an urban environment with people watching and a scenic view of trees and mountains.
3 - 5 July
The Herds
A stampede of life-sized animal puppets takes over the city to open MIF25.
A collage of portraits featuring footballers and artists over a green football pitch background with floating football graphics.
4 July - 24 August
Football City, Art United.
Football meets art in this major new exhibition of brand-new works made in collaboration between legendary footballers and contemporary artists.
A digital collage features a grayscale side profile of a man's face, with a dancer emerging from within, positioned in a dramatic pose. The background is divided into a warm brown and a grid-like structure, enhancing the contrast between the two figures.
2 - 6 July
A Single Man
Jonathan Watkins reimagines Christopher Isherwood’s masterpiece as an electrifying contemporary ballet starring John Grant and Ed Watson
A man in a black hooded jacket leans his head against a woman’s shoulder, his eyes closed, while she looks downward with a solemn expression. The background shows an overcast sky and cityscape.
9 - 19 Jul 2025
Blackhaine: And Now I Know What Love Is
A hypnotic and immersive new performance work from the internationally acclaimed artist, choreographer and musician Blackhaine.

Opening Hours

With a venue like ours, every night is different. Make sure to check our opening hours ahead of your visit to get the most up to date times.

  1. Monday 30 Jun
    Closed
  2. Tuesday 1 Jul
    10AM – 11PM
  3. Wednesday 2 Jul
    10AM – 11PM
  4. Thursday 3 Jul
    10AM – 11PM
  5. Friday 4 Jul
    10AM – 2AM
  6. Saturday 5 Jul
    8:45AM – 2AM
  7. Sunday 6 Jul
    10AM – MIDNIGHT

Become a member

The outlines of people walking into the dark Warehouse – with bright lights in the stairway
Experience extraordinary, all year round by becoming a Member. It’s just £45 for 12 months of benefits including priority booking, discounts, offers and much more. Are you in?
Join today →

Opportunities

  • Factory Academy

    Calling all future producers, technicians and arts professionals – explore our free training programmes today

  • Submit a project

    Propose a project for our Curatorial and Producing teams to review.

  • Jobs

    View our current job openings at Factory International on our recruitment pages.

Explore online

  • Factory Settings

    Switch on and step into Factory Settings and access a whole new dimension to Aviva Studios through inventive and playful virtual experiences.

  • Dream Space Podcast

    What does art have the power or potential to do, when we allow ourselves to dream? We explore this in our new podcast, hosted by Gemma Cairney.

  • Editor in Residence

    Factory+ commissions some of the most exciting voices in contemporary writing to explore a selection of themes.

  • In the Studio

    Watch our video series where artists and collectives show us the space where their ideas come to life.

  • Games

    Play games and experiences by some of the most exciting artists working in the digital field.

  • Factory Works

    A new audio artwork and accompanying film by Neville Gabie – created with Nabihah Iqbal, Mark Thomas and the Aviva Studios construction workers.

  • Talks

    Watch our selection of talks and discussions from artists from across the programme of Factory International and MIF.
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