A movement. A festival. A city in motion.
Epistopia is Manchester’s bold new festival of music, creativity and future culture. 100+ events. 4 weeks. One connected city.
Epistopia is where the future comes to life. Manchester is where it happens.
Epistopia is a global cultural movement: a multi-city, multi-edition festival programme connected by the conviction that music, technology, art and ideas are most powerful when they collide, and most meaningful when everyone can access them.
Not just a Festival but a Movement
Each edition takes over a host city for four weeks, with 100+ events across its boroughs, neighbourhoods and districts. Around it sits a year-round programme of workshops, residencies, expos and community events that runs in every city Epistopia touches. Manchester is the inaugural edition. The first of many cities, on the way to many more.
100+
Events and Experiences
Hundreds of extraordinary events spanning art, music, science and technology.
4 Weeks
Festival Activities
Four weeks of unforgettable programming celebrating everything that moves, inspires and connects us.
10+
Greater Manchester Boroughs
Epistopia activates communities, venues and organisations — a festival that belongs to the whole city.
What Makes Epistopia Different
A city-wide festival built around music, creativity, technology, science, culture and the people shaping Manchester’s future.
Music, Performance & Sound Culture
From live gigs and emerging artists to orchestras, choirs, electronic music, sound art, immersive audio and club culture, Epistopia celebrates music in all its forms — across stages, studios, streets, venues and unexpected spaces throughout the city.
Immersive Art & Digital Storytelling
Epistopia brings together artists, designers, filmmakers, visual creators and technologists to create experiences that move beyond the screen — from installations and projection to fulldome content, interactive worlds and new forms of public art.
Expos, Showcases & Innovation
Epistopia creates space for universities, startups, research teams, brands, creators and future-facing organisations to present the ideas, products and breakthroughs shaping what comes next.
Learning, Families & Young People
Through workshops, demonstrations, school programmes, family events and hands-on experiences, Epistopia turns learning into something alive, creative and memorable — helping the next generation see themselves in the future.
Citywide Venues & Cultural Takeovers
Epistopia is not built around one site. It connects theatres, clubs, galleries, museums, universities, warehouses, libraries, studios, public spaces and community venues into one wider festival map across Greater Manchester.
Community, Access & Participation
Epistopia is designed to open doors. The festival brings together communities, artists, students, families, researchers, businesses and cultural organisations through events that invite people to take part, not just watch from the outside.
Talks, Panels & Big Conversations
From future cities and creative technology to music culture, science, media, climate, education and society, Epistopia creates space for the conversations Manchester should be leading.
We are actively seeking venues of all kinds across Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs. Whether you manage a world-class concert hall or a neighbourhood community space, Epistopia wants to programme in your location. Our goal is for every part of Greater Manchester to have a presence in the festival.
Universities, Colleges & Schools
Open your campus for public events, research showcases, student performances and talks.
Science & Technology Centres
Bring your research, exhibits and expertise into the festival programme as an official partner institution.
Galleries & Museums
Host commissions, exhibitions and events that reach new audiences through the festival network.
Music & Arts Venues
Programme gigs, club nights, live art and immersive experiences within the festival framework.
Libraries & Civic Spaces
Bringing festival events to the heart of local communities across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs.
Maker Spaces & Studios
Showcase your creative and tech spaces with open studios, demos and collaborative workshops.
Let's build Epistopia together
Every Epistopia partnership is built around your goals, your audiences and your requirements
Join Us
