The Manchester Small Press Fair

New for 2026!

Seesaw, Fly on the Wall Press and Manchester City of Literature present a weekend fair celebrating the city's independent publishing scene. 

Whether you're into literary fiction, poetry, experimental small press, or beautifully made artist books, you'll find it here — alongside the makers and editors behind the work.

Friday evening opens with live readings introduced by the publishers themselves, and Saturday brings an informal panel of publishers talking about what they make and why. Free to attend. All welcome.

3–4 July 2026 · Seesaw, Manchester

Friday: opens 6pm - 10pm

Saturday: opens 11am - 4pm

Cafe open!

Grab a drink and have a browse.

TABLES: Fly on the Wall Press, Trident Press, Caterpillar Press, Sweet Tooth Magazine, George Grace Gibson (ABC Artist Books Coop), Northodox Press, Comma Press, Carcanet, Saraband, Confingo Publishing, Maddison House Press and Big Thinking Publishing.

Meet (just some!) of the Publishers:

Maddison House Press is a wrap around publisher of great non-fiction. We special in working with thought leaders, change makers and positive impact pioneers to share lived experience, teachable lessons and ongoing support. We are also publishing our first poetry books in 2026 and this year launched Blurb: A literary bookazine for the northwest. 

Fly on the Wall Press: Based in Manchester, we publish political fiction, poetry, and anthologies that spark conversation. Feminist voices, dark humour, and stories with something to say. Six-time finalist for British Book Awards' Small Press of the Year and the winner in the North in 2024! We also won a 2024 Manchester Culture Award. Our books have won recognition from the Women's Prize, The Sky Arts Award, The Laurel Prize, The Julie Suk Award, the Saboteur Awards, and the Edge Hill Prize.

Northodox Press is an independent northern publisher that works with authors from or based in the north of England and Scotland, delivering the sorts of stories you'll want to get lost in. Our current focus is on publishing literary historical fiction, particularly stories rooted in the North that tackle important social issues. Several of our books have been shortlisted for major awards.

Saraband is an award-winning independent publisher of literary fiction and of narrative non-fiction, in nature and place writing, memoir, history and pop culture. Saraband authors have won and been long/shortlisted for many awards, including the Booker Prize, the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, the Rathbones Folio Award, Observer Best Debuts and Scotland’s National Book Awards, amongst others. Our fiction includes literary, historical and contemporary stories reflecting UK and international perspectives – all with unforgettable voices. Our non-fiction inspires, informs, intrigues and stimulates.

Big Thinking Publishing is a small press based in the North West with a distinctive focus on inclusive storytelling across children's and adult fiction. We champion authors from underrepresented backgrounds — including disability, neurodivergence, gender identity and working-class voices — publishing stories rooted in lived experience that are often overlooked by the mainstream industry, or otherwise used as a litmus test for larger publishers.