Our top picks
UN SEEN ME at SEESAW
Dr Shanali Perera’s paintings explore the space between what can be seen and what is experienced when it comes to illness.
Auris Sound Art Festival
Manchester’s debut Sound Art Festival brings three days of installation, performance, spatial audio, talks, workshops, soundwalks and film screenings.
To See and Be Seen at HOME
A major new exhibition by Manchester-based artist Conor Collins is on display at HOME, responding to the newly created Queer Up North archive.
Wide Angle View at Tate Liverpool & RIBA North
A 1960s photography series that put people, not buildings, at the centre of Britain’s housing debate comes to Liverpool.
Carry the Clouds Away at New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery
This free exhibition in Salford brings together local artists, students and community groups exploring what nature offers us.
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2026 at Victoria Baths
200+ hand-picked makers transform the spectacular Victoria Baths into a shopping and cultural experience unlike any other in Manchester.
ADORN at Waterside
12 contemporary jewellers show new work across metal and glass as part of Manchester’s very first Jewellery Week.
I Am The Fly at The Refuge
This free exhibition brings 1980s posters that survived against the odds, from when Manchester was becoming a global music city.
Portrait of Black Britain at Aviva Studios
A powerful exhibition from photographer Cephas Williams uses 116 portraits of Black British people to explore what it means to be Black and living in the UK.
Chris Zhongtian Yuan: Two Improvisations at esea contemporary
This film-based exhibition uses an elusive creature from Chinese folklore to think about what it means to be an artist.
Reflections: Sangat and the Self at The Whitworth
Paintings, installations and 500 years of Sikh tradition are brought together in the service of personal and collective healing.
Making A Mark: Artworks From The Studio Prints Collection at Victoria Gallery and Museum
45 prints from one of Britain’s most important printmaking studios go on public display in Liverpool for the first time since entering the university’s collection.
Michaela Yearwood-Dan: The Practice of Liberation at The Whitworth
Michaela Yearwood-Dan’s first UK institutional exhibition layers painting, ceramics and sound to explore liberation across personal and institutional histories.
Everything and Nothing at The Portico Library
A fascinating archival exhibition uncovers the forgotten stories of people who have helped shape The Portico Library’s 220-year history.
On The Line at People’s History Museum
In the centenary year of the 1926 General Strike, People’s History Museum explores a century of industrial action – through banners, posters, artworks, photography and everyday ephemera.
Camille Walala: Square Eyes at Lowry
Lowry celebrates its 25th anniversary with a spectacular splash of colour from internationally renowned French artist Camille Walala.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos at the Science and Industry Museum
With UK rocket launches, lunar missions and solar eclipses all on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for space. What better timing for Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, a world-premiere exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum.
The Harris
The Harris is a museum, a library and a community hub – after a major transformation it’s reopening its doors with a brand new programme and a fun new exhibition for the whole family.
Stockroom
Stockport’s newest cultural spot has a large library, IT facilities, an event space with a regular programme and a place for children to learn and play too. There’s quite literally something for everyone.
PINK
PINK is a true grassroots art organisation, dedicated to collaboration, artistic experimentation and genuine creative exchange.
More Exhibitions
Lowry celebrates its 25th anniversary with a spectacular splash of colour from internationally renowned French artist Camille Walala.
Free entry
This free exhibition brings 1980s posters that survived against the odds, from when Manchester was becoming a global music city.
Free entry
A fascinating archival exhibition uncovers the forgotten stories of people who have helped shape The Portico Library’s 220-year history.
Free entry
12 contemporary jewellers show new work across metal and glass, as part of Manchester’s very first Jewellery Week.
Free entry
A 1960s photography series that put people, not buildings, at the centre of Britain’s housing debate comes to Liverpool.
Free entry
200+ hand-picked makers transform the spectacular Victoria Baths into a shopping and cultural experience unlike any other in Manchester.
From £8.95
Michaela Yearwood-Dan’s first UK institutional exhibition layers painting, ceramics and sound to explore liberation across personal and institutional histories.
Free entry
What counts as as waste and who decides? 21 craft artists from Design Nation challenge our perceptions of material value.
Free entry
Never Miss an Exhibition
Subscribe to our newsletter for curated arts and culture picks, delivered to your inbox every Friday.
By subscribing, you confirm you have read and accept our privacy policy
Explore Exhibition by city
-
Art Galleries in LiverpoolWhether it's classical sculpture or cutting-edge photography you're after, check out our guide to the best art galleries to visit in Liverpool.
-
Art Galleries in LeedsLeeds and its surrounding region is bursting with some of the best galleries and art centres in the North – and they're beginning to reopen.
-
Art Galleries in Manchester & SalfordManchester's art scene is thriving - here's our guide to the best art galleries, from artist-led studios to major institutions.
-
Art Galleries in BradfordBradford has given us giants of the visual art world such as David Hockney and Ian Beesley, check out our guide of art galleries to find the best places to
Hotel guides
-
Hotels in ManchesterTo make life easy when it comes to booking your stay, here’s our guide to Manchester's best hotels.
-
Hotels in LeedsLeeds has plenty of new types of accommodation, from sleek, modern luxury to affordable art hostels and grand accommodation in green space.
-
Hotels in LiverpoolThere’s no shortage of hotels in Liverpool, but you don’t have to go far to find something a bit more stylish than a Travelodge. Here’s our guide.
-
Hotels in BradfordFor a weekend break in a private apartment or an overnight stay in high luxury, we've rounded up the best places to stay in Bradford, Ilkley and Saltaire.
Recently covered restaurants
New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery opened in 2016, providing a permanent space to showcase the University of Salford Art Collection within the New Adelphi School of Arts and Media.
Higher Ground is a restaurant in Manchester city centre, showcasing the skills of former Where The Light Gets In Head Chef Joseph Ottaway.
1863 offers a seven-course Lake District tasting menu that overdelivers at every turn. Cumbrian ingredients, clever ideas and classical cooking techniques.
Schofield’s could be Manchester’s most grown-up bar. Very precise drinks in an upmarket city centre venue. It’s not cheap, hey, but true class costs.
Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.
Hawksmoor Manchester launches a new daytime menu full of fan favourites.
Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.
Society Manchester is a glorious indoor and outdoor space in the very heart of the city, with five street food vendors to choose from and a range of high-quality drinks.
Food and Drink in the North
Squeeze the most out of these final weeks of summer thanks to our mid-August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
Take me there