Manchester International Festival (MIF) is back for 2025, bigger and better than ever. But aside from those eye-catching big-budget events there’s plenty to do that won’t cost a penny, thanks to the organisers putting on plenty of free happenings and must-visit events all over the city.

MIF25 is your chance to try something new, and in these trying times, it’s important that everyone can take part. The eyes of the world will be on Manchester during the first half of July, and that’s the perfect excuse to get out there and enjoy what our great city has to offer, courtesy of the most exciting creative minds of our generation.

There’ll be world-firsts brushing up alongside world-class art, which means exciting collaborations and thought-provoking activities. Not forgetting those all-important free-to-enter spaces, such as the ever-popular Festival Square, which has moved to a brand-new riverside location this year.

There’s a wealth of free things to do at MIF25, all designed to blur art forms, push boundaries and address the big questions of our time, while creating hope for the future. Read on for some of the most essential things to do in summer 2025 that won’t break the bank (or even dent it).