WOW Manchester 2024

Please note, this event has already taken place. You can view our upcoming events here.

Celebrate women, girls and non-binary people with the first WOW - Women of the World Festival in Manchester.

Fresh from Festivals in Pakistan, Istanbul and Athens, WOW will be taking over Aviva Studios with inspirational activists, speakers and performers. Come and explore the bustling Marketplace, get stuck into a creative Workshop or have your say at our Conversation Station.

The first ever WOW Manchester Festival is your chance to be part of the global movement and see world-class speakers, activists, musicians and comedians, including Australia’s first woman Prime Minister Julia Gillard, actors Maxine Peake, Sophie Willan and Zawe Ashton, author and former hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Manchester legend DJ Paulette, the Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Sunita Dangol, broadcaster Gemma Cairney and author Chimene Suleyman. Come together with the people of Greater Manchester and beyond for three days of life-changing conversations, incredible performances and more.

You can also pop by the Social for a range of free events across the weekend open to the public – featuring WOW pop-ups, poetry, workshops and artwork. Listen in to WOW Bites or learn how to make dyes from natural ingredients.

On Friday night, Mel B and journalist and co-author Louise Gannon celebrate the launch of her critically acclaimed memoir Brutally Honest, with an unfiltered discussion on her journey from Spice Girl and global icon to Women's Aid patron and champion for survivors of abuse – plus everything in between.

Ahead of his forthcoming memoir, Saturday night at WOW Manchester will present a very special evening with musician and broadcaster Jordan Stephens in conversation with broadcaster and friend Miquita Oliver. What does it mean to be a man and open yourself up to new ways of understanding love and trauma? How can this inform the relationships you have with women? Join Jordan for this rare conversation on how his relationships with women, men and masculinity changed and what learning to love yourself again looks like.

For our final evening of WOW Manchester, step into the hilarious world of acclaimed comedian and writer Sara Pascoe as she joins WOW Founder Jude Kelly for an evening of conversation and readings from her debut novel Weirdo.

There’s plenty to stumble upon and lots of free events, with a whole range of activity for young people including the famous WOW Bus, fresh from its six month UK tour.

WOW Manchester welcomes people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned activist or dipping your toes into ideas about gender equity for the first time, WOW Manchester is for you.

Produced by Factory International and The WOW Foundation.

Please note, WOW events will cover a variety of topics, some that may address sensitive or adult themes. We ask that parents/guardians use their discretion when attending with children under the age of 14.

Supported by The WOW Foundation's Global Founding Partner Bloomberg.