Manchester International Festival
Also known as: Mif
Organising and staging a biennial arts festival of performances, exhibitions and special events, commissioning new work for the public benefit. Organising and staging performances between Festivals. Touring selected commissions to venues and arts festivals in the UK and the rest of the world. In 2023 we transitioned to our permanent venue in Manchester -Aviva Studios,home of Factory International.
Activities & Mission
Organising and staging a biennial arts festival of performances, exhibitions and special events, commissioning new work for the public benefit. Organising and staging performances between Festivals. Touring selected commissions to venues and arts festivals in the UK and the rest of the world. In 2023 we transitioned to our permanent venue in Manchester -Aviva Studios,home of Factory International.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
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Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 40% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M (sample: 125). How is this calculated?
Higher than 16% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 7% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £24,235,682 | £25,757,736 | £19,999,783 | £13,232,391 | £13,094,400 | 210 / 193 |
| 2024 | £29,253,413 | £30,957,443 | £25,310,209 | £13,646,243 | £13,376,220 | 221 / 498 |
| 2023 | £13,900,811 | £12,035,390 | £10,608,588 | £13,782,101 | £6,429,187 | 121 / 428 |
| 2022 | £20,201,358 | £18,843,747 | £17,950,324 | £11,675,037 | £1,833,139 | 110 / 440 |
| 2020 | £12,801,680 | £6,642,439 | £6,081,696 | £10,189,387 | £2,257,371 | 81 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Manchester International Festival
What does Manchester International Festival do?
Organising and staging a biennial arts festival of performances, exhibitions and special events, commissioning new work for the public benefit. Organising and staging performances between Festivals. Touring selected commissions to venues and arts festivals in the UK and the rest of the world. In 2023 we transitioned to our permanent venue in Manchester -Aviva Studios,home of Factory International.
How much income did Manchester International Festival report in 2025?
Manchester International Festival reported total income of £24.24m and reported expenditure of £25.76m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Manchester International Festival?
Manchester International Festival has a program ratio of 82.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 40% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M (sample of 125 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Manchester International Festival registered as a charity?
Manchester International Festival was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 26 April 2006 as charity number 1113902. It has been registered for 20 years.
Who runs Manchester International Festival?
Manchester International Festival is governed by a board of 20 trustees. The chair of trustees is Moira Sinclair. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Manchester International Festival operate?
Manchester International Festival operates across 10 areas, including Bolton, Bury, Manchester City and 7 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Manchester International Festival a registered charity?
Yes — Manchester International Festival is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1113902.
Details
Water Street
Manchester
M3 4JQ
Registry Information
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Also Known As
- Mif
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated