An exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s psychedelic larger-than-life inflatable art, a new work by the prolific Japanese experimental composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and the world premiere of Kimber Lee’s lauded untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play. The Manchester International Festival 2023 programme is packed with unmissable events – a true celebration of Manchester, its culture and its people.

Running from 29 June to 16 July, at this year’s festival you’ll find extraordinary events taking place in our favourite theatres and cultural haunts, as well as well-trodden public areas newly transformed into lively performance spaces. Most thrillingly, this year’s festival offers the first opportunity to step foot inside Factory International‘s spectacular new venue, with the Kusama exhibition, – titled You, Me and the Balloons, the first major showing in the space.

Further highlights of the festival include a musical theatre retelling of Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta’s cult 1977 novel, The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions  and a live fusion of choreography, theatre and photography in Find your Eyes, by the award-winning photographer Benji Reid.

With all the eyes of the world on Manchester this summer, read on for more details of those ‘don’t miss’ events happening at Manchester International Festival.

For our longlist of MIF23 happenings, head here.