UCAS Create Your Future, the creative careers showcase, opens at Manchester Central today, Tuesday 10 November 2026, giving school and college students a chance to explore creative courses, apprenticeships and careers in one place.

The free event runs from 10:00 to 15:00 today and again at the same times on Wednesday 11 November, at Manchester Central on Petersfield in Manchester. Visitors can book a place through the UCAS website.

What visitors can do at the event

UCAS describes Create Your Future as the UK’s biggest celebration of creative futures. Visitors can meet more than 100 universities, colleges, conservatoires and apprenticeship employers, as well as subject specialists, careers advisers and admissions experts.

The showcase covers art, design, media, performance, fashion, gaming and more. During a visit, students can talk to universities and colleges about creative courses, speak to current students about studying creative subjects, take part in hands-on workshops, watch live talks from creative industry experts and see live performances from current students.

UCAS careers advisers will also be on hand to talk through next steps after school or college, including apprenticeship routes into creative work.

Why Manchester matters for creative careers

Manchester is one of the UK’s largest creative hubs, with employers across media, design, music, theatre and digital work based in and around the city. For students in the North West, the event brings those employers and course providers together without a trip to London.

UCAS says 79 per cent of attendees at its Create Your Future events discovered where to apply next, and the events carry a 93 per cent satisfaction score from students.

Who the event is for

The event is designed for students who are curious about turning a creative interest into a real-world future, whether that means a university course, a college course, a conservatoire place or an apprenticeship with a creative employer. Teachers, parents and carers can also attend with school groups, and UCAS has published a booking guide for advisers bringing groups of students.

UCAS advises visitors to plan in advance which exhibitors they want to speak to, so they can make the most of the visit. The full list of exhibitors is available on the UCAS event page.

How to attend

Entry is free, but visitors need to book a place in advance through UCAS. Students attending with a school group must register individually for one of the group’s booked tickets and bring their personalised ticket on a phone or as a printout.

The venue is Manchester Central, Petersfield, Manchester, M2 3GX. Anyone with a booking or ticket question can contact UCAS at events@ucas.ac.uk or on 01242 544808.

Visitors who cannot make the Manchester dates can find other UCAS Create Your Future and Discovery events on the UCAS events calendar.