Emergency 26

→ artists · afternoon · evening · entry · access · about · credits  Updated 28 September 2026

Presented by Word of Warning + Contact

Manchester’s 26th micro-marathon of the bizarre, the bold, and the beautiful takes over Contact on Saturday 26 September, from Noon to 10pm:
— with an Afternoon of installations, interventions, limited capacity works;
— followed by an Evening full of short shows from 5pm…

Look at some of our artists’ images and get a feel for it with 2025’s programme.

From digital ghosts to an immortal Elvis, falling bodies to miniature worlds, a train full of memories, and the smallest of farewells.
Welcoming new faces and the return of old friends, we’ll be mending the unrepairable, holding everything together, and watching things unravel.
What we can say is: the only thing trickling down will be the performer.

Artists

Afternoon, Noon-5pm
Bait · Ben Hodge · chris brown · Emergency Chorus · Emma Geraghty · Joss Affleck · Kellie Colbert & Deborah Newton · Lisa Ford · Mimosa Art House & Rosie Fielding · Pablo Pakula · Parastu Mohafezatkar · PHØBIA · Rachel Gomme · Rowena Gander · Ruby Antonowicz‑Behnan & Yui Yamamoto · Terri Jade Donovan  Participating artists subject to change; unfortunately Sweætshops® unable to perform.

Evening, 5pm-10pm
Alex Billingham · Chris Jenkins · Emily Bold · Id Est Performance Company · Isabella Victorie A. · Lee Fletcher · Lowri Evans · Reckless Sleepers & UoS Performance · Sap Dance & Desire Lines Dance Theatre  Participating artists subject to change.

Entry

Pay What You Can: there’s no ticketing, just turn up & donate by cash/card.

Times: Saturday 26 September 2026, Noon-10pm (last entry 9.30pm).
NB some artists will take breaks on an ad hoc basis, some works have a short duration, some have limited capacity on a first-come first-served basis, and some occur at the same time: you might not see everything.

Location: Contact, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA.

Access

Age Advisory: typically 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).

Content Warnings: some works involve interaction and/or participation; please read specific warnings here.

Features: about 26 Live Art & contemporary performance works with varied content. Multiple spaces on the ground/first/second floors will be in use, and works will vary in format — some roaming, some seated, some standing, some spoken word, some visual, some participatory.

Queries: please contact Contact via boxoffice@contactmcr.com

About

Our annual platform for Live Art and contemporary performance, Emergency offers a sneak preview of new live work over a single day in Manchester every autumn — this 26th edition will present about 26 works from lunchtime till late throughout Contact’s building and its multiple spaces.

Probably England’s longest-running Live Art event, Emergency aims to be:
— a free to access public micro-festival and open submission platform;
— an opportunity for artists to meet, show, and peer review work;
— a selection event for a number of small Works Ahead commissions.

First held at greenroom in 2000, Emergency also took place at International Anthony Burgess Foundation, BLANKSPACE, Castlefield Gallery, Z-arts & STUN Studio, NIAMOS, before finding a new home at Contact from 2020…

Get a feel for it with 2025’s programme and gallery of images; 2024’s programme and gallery; 2023’s programme and gallery.

Credits

Emergency 26 produced by hÅb; supported by Contact and using public funding by Arts Council England.

Website

emergencymcr.org

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