10 Events Not to Miss at Manchester Animation Festival 2026
Last year, I tried to narrow my Manchester Animation Festival highlights down to just five events. This year it feels like there is so much on offer, that I felt I had to up that number to ten. Running from Sunday 8th to Thursday 12th November, MAF 2026 kicks off with the annual Family Day, followed by four days of screenings, talks and industry events. Plus, there are plenty of networking opportunities, which you can browse through at the end of this article.
Even with double the places, it has been hard to come up with the final selection. But before I get to those, let me shamelessly plug 2 events – The Skwigly Screening (Wed 11 Nov at 7pm) and The Skwigly Quiz (8:30pm the same evening). Now that you have those added to your diary, here are my top 10, in no particular order…
1. Artist Talk: AJ Jefferies
9 Nov 2026 at 10:40
About the event: Following his MAFter Dark win last year, AJ Jefferies – also known as Moonjam – returns to share the thinking behind his wonderfully strange animation. Expect colourful characters, absurd situations and an insight into the inspirations and working methods behind his distinctive films.
2. The Making of LAIKA’s Wildwood
9 Nov 2026 at 18:30
About the event: LAIKA’s animators take us behind the scenes of Wildwood, the studio’s sixth animated feature. Discover the stop-motion work that went into director Travis Knight’s fantasy adventure, and how the team tackled the studio’s most ambitious production yet.
3. Fix the Animation Nation
10 Nov 2026 at 16:30
About the event: There’s no shortage of discussion about the problems facing animation, but what can actually be done about them? This session gives MAF and Animation Nation Forum delegates the floor to propose practical changes. A series of short presentations, followed by a panel discussion, will explore ideas for improving working lives and the industry’s future.
4. Aardman: 50 More Years of Clay
10 Nov 2026 at 16:15
About the event: What comes next after half a century of Aardman? MAF’s Steve Henderson sits down with co-founder Sir Peter Lord, creative director Natalie McKay and Aardman Academy’s Will Becher to reflect on the studio’s first 50 years and discuss where it goes from here.
5. The Making of MaeBee
11 Nov 2026 at 13:00
About the event: Karrot Animation’s Tim and Rebecca O’Sullivan introduce MaeBee, the new series from the studio behind Sarah & Duck. Following a little gnome named Mae and her new foster brother Bee, the show offers plenty to explore as its creators discuss developing the characters, building their world and overcoming challenges along the way.
6. Mexico in Motion: Behind the Scenes at El Taller del Chucho
12 Nov 2026 at 16:00
About the event: Studio head Angélica Lares introduces the work and people of El Taller del Chucho, the Guadalajara stop-motion studio supported by Guillermo del Toro. This behind-the-scenes session explores the filmmakers, artists and craft behind its award-winning productions, offering a closer look at Mexico’s stop-motion community.
7. Vanishing Point: Crafting High-Impact Storytelling for Young Audiences
12 Nov 2026 at 12:15
About the event: Get an early look at the BBC’s animated sci-fi comedy adventure for children aged 8–12, followed by a discussion with creators Tom Gran and Martin Woolley and producer Annika Bluhm. The team will explore building a story across 26 episodes, combining strange happenings in a seaside town with themes of friendship, family and identity.
8. Cosgrove Hall at 50 – Drop In Screenings
9 Nov 2026 from 13:00; 11 and 12 Nov 2026 from 10:00
About the event: Take a nostalgic detour to Manchester Central Library for free screenings celebrating 50 years of Cosgrove Hall. With familiar faces including Danger Mouse, Chorlton, Mr Toad and Duckula, it’s a chance to revisit the characters that helped make the studio such a much-loved part of British animation.
9. Is the Animation Industry Doing Enough for People of Colour?
9 Nov 2026 at 15:30
About the event: Why does the diversity of people entering animation still fail to translate into diversity at the top? This panel examines barriers to career progression for people of colour, the changes studios could make, and whether building opportunities outside the mainstream industry offers a better route forward.
10. Feature Films, Feature Films and More Feature Films!
Throughout the festival, 8–12 Nov 2026
I’m going to cheat a little with my final pick, because with so many features on offer, choosing just one feels unreasonable. This year’s programme includes Blaise, Brave Cat, The Cat in the Hat, Forgotten Island, In Waves, Julián, Jim Queen, Lucy Lost, Ray Gunn, Viva Carmen, We Are Aliens and Wildwood, alongside a chance to see The Adventures of Prince Achmed on the big screen for its 100th anniversary. So yes, that takes me considerably beyond ten picks, but I did say narrowing it down was difficult!
So much networking,,,
One of my favourite parts of MAF is catching up with people I haven’t seen for a year and meeting new faces. This year’s MAF has its usual mix of daily social events where you can share a drink, have a chat and swap business cards. Be sure to check out one (or more) of these gatherings:
- MAFter Dark (18) – 9 Nov 2026 at 21:00
- WIA UK Networking – 10 Nov 2026 at 19:30
- MAF x Animates by SODA – 11 Nov 2026 at 15:00
- Northwestivus – 11 Nov 2026 at 19:30
- The AfterMAF – 12 Nov 2026 at 21:30
The Skwigly team look forward to seeing you there!