The Manchester Open exhibition celebrates Greater Manchester’s creative talent by showcasing the work of 420 artists until 6th September.
Manchester Open is back! Taking place every two years, this much-anticipated free exhibition draws thousands of visitors from Greater Manchester and beyond.
The HOME Gallery walls will be filled with artworks, carefully selected from over 1,500 submissions.
Now in its fourth iteration, the exhibition is open to all and welcomes entries from people of any level of experience, including established professionals, students, graduates, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs, and first-time artists from four years old to nearly 80. Categories include ceramics, digital/moving image, drawing, print, painting, photography, sculpture/installation, and textiles, ensuring a rich variety of art to explore.
The selection panel of eight judges includes practicing artists, community members, and contemporary art professionals, all of whom were struck by the quality and breadth of this year’s submissions.
Clarissa Corfe, Creative Producer of Visual Art at HOME, said: “This event brings together artists and creatives from all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, some professional and others just starting their creative journeys. Work in all the visual art mediums has been selected anonymously by a dedicated team of judges with different areas of expertise. Many works reveal something of the relationship we have with ourselves, family, community, and the natural world, demonstrated through layers of nuance, imagination, wit, and resonance.”
Adeola Adelakun and Ronke Jane Adelakun, Co-Founders, Black Creative Trailblazers, have joined the judging panel for the first time: “Being invited to serve as judges on behalf of the community was a profound honour and one we didn’t take lightly. We were moved by the breadth, boldness, and depth of the work submitted.
For Black Creative Trailblazers, being part of this process matters deeply. Our founding belief is that the talent was never missing, only the infrastructure. Having a seat at the table as community curators is exactly the kind of infrastructure shift that changes what gets celebrated, who gets visibility, and what the creative landscape of Manchester looks like for the next generation.”
Evelyn Adesina is a volunteer at HOME and relished the opportunity to participate in the panel: “The selection process was both inspiring and engaging, and audiences can expect a rich range of visual storytelling with real depth and diversity. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to connect with both the work and the artists. I’m looking forward to learning more about the stories behind the work, as well as experiencing the range of voices and perspectives brought together in this shared space.”
HOME will once again be working with Castlefield Gallery on the selection of the 2026 Manchester Open Awards. Three artists will be awarded with artist development packages managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery. There will also be one HOME Award for an artist’s solo exhibition in the Granada Foundation Galleries focusing on developing new work.
This year also sees the launch of The Kate Vokes People’s Choice Award, in honour of the local philanthropist and business leader’s contribution to the Manchester Open, HOME, and the arts and culture sector in Manchester. As the only award voted for by the people of Greater Manchester, the People’s Choice Award reflects Kate’s values by widening participation in the arts. Alongside the recognition afforded by this high-profile award, the winner will receive £2,000.
The Manchester Open 2026 is supported by the Oglesby Charitable Trust, the Brian Mercer Trust, Manchester City Council, Arts Council England, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
