Manchester International Festival

Manchester’s International Festival could be described as an extravaganza of music, dance, theatre and art.

Manchester’s International Festival could be described as an extravaganza of music, dance, theatre and art, presenting brand new works from exciting contemporary artists. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s opera ‘Monkey: Journey to the West’ premiered at the inaugural festival in 2007; other participants have included Bjork, Leonard Cohen, artist (and partner of Bjork) Matthew Barney, and the immersive theatre of Punchdrunk. Some of Manchester’s most renowned venues are involved, such as The Lowry and the Palace Theatre, as well as several outdoor spaces. Some 230,000 people turned up to the last event, which is held every two years, so booking in advance is highly recommended as many shows sell out.