Manchester Art Fair

Manchester Art Fair runs over four days at Manchester Central from 19 to 22 November 2026, with more than 600 artists and 180 exhibitors announced and thousands of original works for sale. The 2025 edition, by the organiser’s count, drew 10,368 visitors to 179 gallery and artist stands.

What you get from a visit

The fair is built for buying, not just looking. You can talk directly to the galleries and artists behind the work, compare price points across one hall, and leave with a piece the same day: the organiser offers free wrapping for anything bought at the fair and a paid local delivery service run by The British Shop. Ask the gallery for a proof of purchase form so you can pass the security exit with your artwork.

For 2026 the preview moves to Thursday evening, which adds a full public day on Friday. The organiser says the change is aimed partly at corporate art buyers, curators and collectors who prefer a weekday visit, so if you buy for offices, hotels or client spaces, Friday is the day set aside for that kind of visit.

Dates, hours and tickets for 2026

Day	Hours	Ticket
Thursday 19 November (preview evening)	17:00 to 21:00	Preview ticket £25, also valid Friday to Sunday
Friday 20 November	11:00 to 19:00	Day ticket £15 with return entry
Saturday 21 November	10:00 to 18:00	Day ticket £15 with return entry
Sunday 22 November	10:00 to 16:00	Day ticket £15 with return entry

A booking fee applies and all sales are final. Under 16s enter free with a paying adult, and a disabled visitor can request a free ticket for one carer after booking. The entrance is through the Central Foyer.

The Manchester Contemporary inside the fair

The fair also hosts The Manchester Contemporary, a curated section of independent galleries and artist-led spaces from the UK and abroad. Its 2026 page lists 35 exhibitors and 223 artists. The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund buys work from these stands for Manchester Art Gallery’s permanent collection: 48 works since 2017, according to the fair, and the 2026 choices are revealed at the preview evening. If you want the same pass to cover both, our guide to what a co-located exhibition ticket covers sets out the questions to ask.

Talks, workshops and the collector programme

• Art Talk sessions with artists, curators and producers from Friday to Sunday
• Artist-led workshops on Saturday and Sunday from £20 for 45 minutes
• Art Masterclasses from Bullclough Art School, new for 2026, at £110 with materials included
• A Collector Programme of guided tours and expert introductions, plus a new series of VIP lunches for serious buyers and collectors
• Sunday brunch at Junction for £18

Who organises it

The fair is run by EASELprojects, whose co-founders are Thom Hetherington and Sophie Helm; Helm has steered the fair as Fair Director for fifteen years. The organiser says it has more than 20 years of running trade and consumer exhibitions in the culture and hospitality sectors. Its own visitor survey reports that 97% of visitors come from the North of England and 37% own more than ten pieces of art.

How it compares

The fair sits in our art and antiques sector. London Art Fair covers similar modern and contemporary work in Islington in January with over 120 galleries, while Classic Antique Fairs at the NEC is aimed at buyers of glass, silver, jewellery and furniture. In the same venue a day earlier, Digital Construction North fills the hall with AECO talks on 18 November. See the venue details at Manchester Central, more dates on our Manchester events page, and the full UK show listings.

Source: manchesterartfair.co.uk