Emergency 26

→ artists · entry · access · about · credits  Updated 30 June 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, tbc from Noon to 10pm:
— with an Afternoon of installations, interventions, limited capacity works;
— followed by an Evening full of short shows from about 4pm…

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

Artists

Participating artists will be announced during August — for details on how to apply please visit emergencymcr.posthaven.com

Entry

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

Times: Saturday 26 September 2026, tbc from Noon to 10pm.
NB some artists may take breaks on an ad hoc basis, some works may have a short duration, some may have limited capacity on a first-come first-served basis, and some may 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 may involve interaction and/or participation; specific warnings will be listed here about a fortnight before.

Features: about twenty 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 twenty 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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