Turn 2026
A night of new dance.
→ artists · entry · access · about · credits Updated 9 January 2026
Presented by Word of Warning + Contact
Our annual whirlwind of new North West dance takes over Contact on Friday 20 March from 7pm…
Get a feel for Turn with images from last year’s event.
Fluidly lyrical, effervescently acrobatic, or eccentrically innovative, let Turn 2026 transport you into a frenzy of dance…
Artists
Participating artists will be announced in early February.
Call for Proposals open until Friday 16 January, 5pm.
Entry
Pay What You Decide: £20/£15/£10/£5/£0 (advance booking recommended).
Tickets: available online via Contact.
Time: Friday 20 March 2026, 7pm (with interval/pauses, ends about 10pm).
Location: Contact, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA.
Access
Age Advisory: 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may involve interaction and/or participation; specific warnings will be listed here in late February.
Features: up to ten contemporary dance performance works with varied content; works will occur in three spaces and will vary in format.
Queries: please contact Contact via boxoffice@contactmcr.com
About
Our annual platform for North West dancers and dance-makers, Turn is an opportunity to engage with new dance in Greater Manchester every spring.
This thirteenth edition will present up to ten short dance-works over a single night throughout Contact’s building and its multiple spaces.
Greater Manchester’s open call dance platform, Turn aims to be:
— a public micro-festival and open submission platform;
— an opportunity for artists to meet, show, and peer-review work;
— an artist networking event;
— and is open to North West England dancers and dance-makers, aged 18+
First held at greenroom in spring 2009, Turn moved to Contact in 2012 (with a 2018-22 hiatus) and also popped-up at Company Chameleon in 2024…
Get a feel for Turn with 2025’s programme and gallery of images; 2024’s programme and gallery; 2023’s programme and gallery.
Credits
Turn 2026 produced by hÅb; supported by Cheshire Dance, Contact, Project Auske, and using public funding by Arts Council England. Thanks to Company Chameleon.
Image: Maelstrom Theatre in Turn 2025 at Contact