Factory International, the organisation behind Manchester International Festival and the city’s landmark cultural space Aviva Studios, has today announced a major new multi-year partnership with American Express. The partnership will see Amex become the Official Payments Partner of both Factory International and Aviva Studios.
This new partnership, which will launch on 19 February 2026, will provide American Express® Cardmembers with elevated access to some of the most exciting live music and performance experiences in the UK, including Thundercat, Kesha and Basement Jaxx.
As part of the new partnership, American Express® Cardmembers will have access to a range of benefits that include priority tickets; fast-track entry at selective events; exclusive premium ticket opportunities; onsite discounts at Aviva Studios; and access to exclusive Cardmember experiences.
Factory International is the latest cultural organisation to enter into partnership with American Express, which has for decades forged powerhouse partnerships within the music, sports, dining and entertainment sectors. For further information visit the Amex Experiences® page.
Scott McVittie, Chief Commercial Officer at Factory International said: “Reaching wider, more diverse audiences with world-class cultural experiences sits at the heart of Factory International’s mission. Our partners are vital to realizing that vision.
“By collaborating with ambitious, values-led brands like American Express, we unlock new ideas, resources and perspectives that help us reach these goals. American Express has a long history of meaningfully supporting the world’s top creative organisations like ours, and we are proud that this long-term partnership and their generosity will help us shape the future we are creating.”
“Manchester has long been a powerhouse of creativity and live performance, and Factory International is a major contributor to that,” said Dave Edwards, Vice President at American Express.
“This new partnership allows us to bring our Cardmembers closer to some of the most exciting cultural experiences the UK has to offer, through priority ticket access, exclusive events and elevated on-site offers and benefits at a truly world class venue. It’s a brilliant addition to our global portfolio of music and entertainment partnerships, and an important step in expanding our experiences for Cardmembers across the UK.”
-ENDS-
Bread and Butter PR
Kate Hassell – kate@breadandbutterpr.uk
American Express®
Anna Bridle – anna.bridle@aexp.com
About American Express Experiences®
Through Amex Experiences®, Cardmembers have access to presale tickets, as well as some of the best seats and exclusive offers at some of the UK’s most sought-after entertainment events via partnerships with a range of institutions including AEG (BST Hyde Park, All Points East & The O2 arena), All England Lawn Tennis Club (The Championships, Wimbledon), Formula1®, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Somerset House (Somerset House Summer Series), London Restaurant Festival and the National Theatre. Amex Experiences is just one example of the powerful backing that American Express provides its Cardmembers.
About American Express
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global, premium payments and lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With a hundred million merchant locations on our global network in over 200 countries and territories, we seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.
For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.
About Factory International
Factory International is the organisation behind Manchester International Festival and the city’s landmark cultural space, Aviva Studios.
Factory International commissions, produces and presents a year-round programme of original creative work and special events at Aviva Studios, online, and internationally through its network of co-commissioners and partners. It also stages the city-wide Manchester International Festival (MIF) every other year.
MIF is one of the world’s leading arts festivals, and the first to be entirely focused on the commissioning and producing of ambitious new work. Staged every two years in Manchester since 2007, the festival invites world-renowned artists from different art forms and backgrounds to create dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking new work in venues and spaces across Greater Manchester. Previous artist include, Björk, Jeremy Deller, Akram Khan, Yayoi Kusama, David Lynch, Wayne McGregor, Steve McQueen, Yoko Ono, Maxine Peake, Skepta, and The xx.
Factory International plays an important role in the lives of Greater Manchester residents, bringing jobs, skills, training and creative opportunities. Through the Factory Academy, Factory International is training the creative workforce of the future, while its pioneering creative engagement and artist development programmes create year-round opportunities for local people to get involved, from participating in flagship commissions to shaping the organisation through involvement in its public forums.
Aviva Studios was designed by the world-leading practice Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), with Ellen van Loon as lead architect – their first major public building in the UK. Its development was led by Manchester City Council, with backing from HM Government and National Lottery funding from Arts Council England.
Factory International is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. factoryinternational.org
