The Manchester Contemporary has announced its 2025 exhibitor list and art talks programme, celebrating a dynamic mix of leading independent galleries, acclaimed artists and international curators shaping the future of contemporary art in the UK.

This year also sees a record figure raised for The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund – an opportunity for exhibiting artists to be selected for Manchester Art Gallery’s celebrated permanent collection.

• Exhibitor list featuring debuts from top London galleries
• Art Talks programme brings acclaimed artists and leading, international curators to the fair
• The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund raises a record £40,000 to acquire contemporary art for the people of Manchester

Held over a single weekend on 21-23 November 2025, The Manchester Contemporary presents a carefully curated selection of independent galleries and artist-led spaces from across the UK and internationally.

“We platform new work by emerging artists, create opportunities for artists from underrepresented backgrounds and provide an opening for artist-led spaces outside of London,” said The Manchester Contemporary’s Curator, Nat Pitt. “Each year, we welcome a growing number of international collectors, as well as over 11,000 art-buying members of the public from across the North and beyond.”

This year, The Manchester Contemporary presents Retrospection, a section of the fair dedicated to galleries whose journeys began at The Manchester Contemporary and who have since risen to international acclaim.

Celebrated London-based galleries Arcade, Copperfield, Seventeen and The Sunday Painter – each now synonymous with championing some of the most vital voices in contemporary art – will all be bringing a carefully curated selection of emerging artists.

The Manchester Contemporary’s 2025 exhibitor list is of the highest calibre to date, featuring presentations from independent galleries with international reach and standing. These include a new wave of leading London galleries eager to connect with audiences beyond the capital, including Brooke Benington, Kate MacGarry and William Hine, all making their Northern debut.

The 2025 roster also features a range of cultural partners and artist-led initiatives that continue to deliver on the fair’s mission to create opportunities for artists from underrepresented backgrounds and provide an opening for artist-led spaces outside of London. Participants include Liverpool Biennial, The Whitaker and Castlefield Gallery, artist-led spaces such as Turntable Gallery and Red Dog alongside studios and collectives including Paradise Works, Venture Arts and Abingdon Studios Project Space.

Together, they underscore The Manchester Contemporary’s enduring commitment to experimentation, collaboration and the championing of new artistic voices from across the UK and beyond.

Art Talk Programme 2025

This year’s Art Talk programme brings together a diverse range of voices to explore key issues shaping contemporary art today, from criticism and collecting to the evolving role of art fairs.

As publications close and commercial pressures shape editorial content, art criticism faces unprecedented challenges. Art and IP lawyer Jon Sharples joins art critic Eddy Frankel in conversation to ask whether art criticism is under threat – and what this means for the future of contemporary practice.

Paulette Brien, former Curator of The Manchester Contemporary, now Curator at Grundy Art Gallery, speaks with acclaimed artists Rachel Goodyear and Leo Fitzmaurice to examine how art fairs influence the development of artists’ careers, offering insight into the opportunities and pressures of the contemporary market.

Art critic Louise Buck chairs a panel of leading collectors – including art collectors Frank Cohen, Roland Cowan, Hannah Barton, Sigrun Davídsdóttir, and Eliza Gluckman from the Government Art Collection – to discuss the motivations, challenges and responsibilities involved in building contemporary collections, highlighting the personal and cultural impact of collecting today.

The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund Secures Record £40,000 in Donations

Since its launch in 2017, The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund has acquired 38 works for Manchester Art Gallery’s permanent collection, a treasure that belongs to the people of Manchester. The fund is now one of the UK’s largest and fastest-growing philanthropic acquisition funds, with over £40,000 raised this year alone – a new record for donations.

The fund unites a diverse group of supporters, all sharing a passion for Manchester’s cultural life, a commitment to emerging artists, and a belief that outstanding art should be accessible to everyone. Through their generosity, the fund continues to strengthen the city’s artistic legacy and ensure that contemporary art thrives in public collections.

Tickets to The Manchester Contemporary 2025 are available at themanchestercontemporary.co.uk, priced at £12 for a day ticket, £15 for a two-day ticket, or £25 for a preview night ticket, including access throughout the weekend.  A booking fee applies.