Aviva Studios will mark Black History Month 2026 with Portrait of Black Britain, the acclaimed photographic exhibition by artist, photographer and activist Cephas Williams.
Running from Thursday 1st October to Saturday 31st October 2026, the exhibition will be presented at Aviva Studios in Manchester and is free to attend.
Portrait of Black Britain asks a powerful and timely question: “What does it mean to be Black, living in the UK?” Through striking portrait photography and personal storytelling, the exhibition presents a contemporary picture of Black life in Britain, celebrating identity, individuality, achievement and community.
Created by Cephas Williams, the project challenges narrow and often stereotyped representations of Black people in British society. Rather than presenting a single story, the exhibition brings together a wide range of faces, voices and experiences, showing the richness and diversity of Black Britain today.
Williams is widely known for his groundbreaking 56 Black Men campaign, which challenged harmful perceptions of Black men and opened up national conversations around identity, visibility and representation. Portrait of Black Britain builds on that work, offering a broader and deeply human portrait of Black communities across the country.
The exhibition explores themes of belonging, heritage, creativity and representation. It invites visitors to reflect on how Black people have shaped, and continue to shape, every part of British life — from culture, business and education to family, community and public life.
At a time when questions of identity, visibility and equality remain central to public life, Portrait of Black Britain offers a thoughtful and necessary space for reflection. The exhibition does not simply look back at history; it places contemporary Black lives at the centre of the national story, highlighting the people who are shaping Britain now.
Each portrait contributes to a wider conversation about who is seen, who is remembered and how communities are represented. Through his work, Williams creates a platform that celebrates dignity, confidence and humanity, while challenging audiences to think more deeply about the images and narratives that influence public understanding.
Presented during Black History Month, the exhibition offers schools, families, community groups, cultural organisations and visitors of all backgrounds an opportunity to engage with Black British identity in a powerful visual form. It is a celebration of presence, pride and lived experience, as well as an invitation to recognise the depth and variety of Black life across the UK.
Manchester provides a fitting setting for the exhibition, with Aviva Studios standing as one of the country’s most significant new cultural venues. The presentation of Portrait of Black Britain at Factory International’s home places Black creativity and storytelling within a major national arts space, reinforcing the importance of representation across the cultural sector.
Free to attend throughout October, Portrait of Black Britain is expected to be one of Manchester’s standout cultural events for Black History Month 2026. Whether visitors are familiar with Cephas Williams’ work or discovering it for the first time, the exhibition offers an inspiring and accessible opportunity to experience contemporary portraiture with purpose, depth and social meaning.
The exhibition runs at Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ, from Thursday 1st October to Saturday 31st October 2026.
Tickets and information:
https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/portrait-of-black-britain-cephas-williams/