Every two years, Manchester International Festival gives this already culturally booming city a healthy boost with an 18-day program of world-beating music, theatre and visual arts.
This year's MIF runs from Thursday June 29 until Sunday July 16, taking place, as ever, at iconic venues and pop-up spaces across town and featuring unique concerts, world premiers and very special one-off events.
The program for this year's festival has just been announced. Theatrical highlights include the Jane Horrocks starring 'Cotton Panic' and renowned Berlin director Thomas Ostermeier's (pictured) 'Return To Reims'.
Visual art wise, Turner Prize nominated artist Phil Collins brings a giant statue of radical thinker Friedrich Engels to the centre of town and the True Faith exhibition looks at the ongoing significance and influence of New Order and Joy Division in the world of art.
Plus, there's live music from Arcade Fire, Bonobo, Sampha and Kojey Radical and many, many more.
For full details of this year's program, head over to the MIF17 site.
For more culture, take a look at upcoming theatre shows in Manchester.