About the event
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, Stairwell Books, George Grace Gibson, 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.
Team Trident Press is a RISO publisher, founded in 2015 in Manchester. TTP’s catalogue is focussed on short-run, beautifully hand crafted artist books and zines, with a special interest on poetry, RISO photo repro, and mind culture.
George Gibson is an artist with a practice operating between research and craft, utilising zinemaking, lo-fi print processes, and book arts to explored themes of cultural memory, fandom, and unofficial histories — from cryptozoology and queer retellings of Godzilla, to the psychological impact of early 2000s TV phenomena LOST — creating publications and installations that invite audiences to reconsider how subcultures and affective experiences are documented and shared. George is a member of ABC [Artists Books Cooperative], a collective of artists who experiment with the form of the book and alternative forms of distribution through collaboration. Through ABC, George has curated, exhibited, and taken part in artist book fairs internationally
Caterpillar Press is a queer and trans-owned, non-for-profit Risograph publishing house based in PINK, Stockport. Comprising 5 established book and print artists of varying practices, Anna Billany (they/she) makes publication work surrounding working-class identity and escapism through a Cyberfeminist lens. Pita Santos (they/she/he) is an illustrator and graphic designer who explores Filipino culture, identity and community influences. They also are part of the HappeningInMCR team and run Studio HALUHALO with Jude Whippey (he/they), a queer Filipino designer who makes work regarding digital futurism influenced by their heritage. A founding member of our press, Rudy Tomala (he/him) is a trans artist working in queer histories and archiving. Aisling Meehan (she/her) is a student designer based in Galway currently interning for our press.
Sweet Tooth focuses on the autistic experience and adverse expression, evaluating art as a means to process, discover, and regulate.
The Modernist Society is a Manchester-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to celebrating and championing 20th century architecture and design. Through a programme of events, exhibitions, and a curated bookshop. Our publishing arm was established in 2011 with the launch of the modernist magazine, and has since grown into a small independent press producing carefully crafted, limited edition titles that reflect our commitment to quality and our love of print.
Stairwell Books is a small, passionate publisher which specialises in finding extraordinary writers. Large publishing houses increasingly focus on celebrity authors and trend-driven books, leaving talented unknown writers struggling to be read, and established authors unable to experiment. Founded by Rose Drew in 2002, Stairwell began by producing poetry booklets at open mic nights in Connecticut, USA, before relocating to York, England. Rooted in York and Yorkshire, our list has grown to include talented writers from around the world. We look for writing that touches on big themes, brings new insight, and is both literary and visual.
