Our annual list of some of the best-looking arts events in the north in 2016.

One of our favourite jobs of the year is this: to call in favours and call up strangers, then sift through the press releases and information for a whole new year of culture across the north. The result? The Creative Tourist Cultural Calendar – our pick of the very best and most intriguing arts events in the coming year.

Our pick of the very best and most intriguing arts events in 2016

2016 is looking no less special than the rest: there’s an exhibition devoted to the world’s newest (and strangest) material, Graphene, a one-off from Manchester International Festival, art from the likes of Tracey Emin, Francis Bacon and KAWS, as well as the return of Wonder Women, Manchester After Hours, Glasgow International, Light Up Lancaster and more. And, thanks to our cultural round-up, you needn’t miss any of it. Get the very best events of the coming year into your diary, now.