Why, by putting its amazing residents on an elevated runway, of course.

This year, we’re smashing open the Manchester International Festival with a city-wide celebration of the people that make this place wonderful.

Based on an idea by Jeremy Deller, over 100 extraordinary people of Manchester will walk an 100 metre runway in Piccadilly Gardens in a “self-portrait of the city”, to a glorious soundtrack created by Graham Massey (more about him later).

10,000 locals will flood the square - braving the traditional Manchester weather - joining together to watch a city in action - and we’ll be livestreaming it right here, from 6:20pm tonight.

Our livestream will be full of the amazing stories and individual portraits of the people of Manchester - join us to see if you can spot anyone you know, or just to celebrate this beautiful city.

Welcome to Day 1 of Manchester International Festival!

We’ll be letting you know what’s on every day, and how you can get involved whether you’re lucky enough to be in Manchester or not.

So, let’s start fairly gently, to ease the city in…

Image source, MIF

What Is The City But The People?

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Piccadilly Gardens

Our opening spectacular, where we celebrate the people of Manchester with a 100 metre runway - join us here at 6:20pm as we stream it live!

Find out more about What Is The City But The People, external?

Image source, MIF

Party Skills For The End Of The World (preview)

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Centenary Building, Salford

A wild, anarchic, immersive show that promises to teach you how to survive when it looks like the end is coming…

Find out more about Party Skills For The End Of The World, external

Image source, MIF

New Order + Liam Gillick: So It Goes

Time: 8pm

Location: Old Granada Studios

Don’t get too excited, the gig is currently sold out, but if you keep a keen eye on @MIFestival on Twitter, you might get lucky with the last few tickets…

Find out more about New Order + Liam Gillick: So It Goes, external

Image source, MIF

Dark Matter: Levelz

Time: 9pm

Location: Gorilla

First of the 8 immersive gigs curated by Mary Anne Hobbs, this grime/hip hop mash-up describe themselves as ‘Wu-Tang meet the Happy Mondays’.

Find out more about Dark Matter: Levelz takeover, external

You can also take a look at what's happening at Festival Square, external - for food, drink, pop-up events and DJ sets.

We'll be posting videos, playlists and exclusive extras as well as live-streaming What Is The City But The People here at 6:20pm. See you then!

This year, we're proud to be sharing many of our commissions live online - right here on the BBC.

Watch world premieres of amazing new international shows from the comfort of your own home. And what's more, they're all free to view.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Manchester, you can find out more about live events here., external

Here’s what to look out for:

Image source, MIF

What Is The City But The People?

LIVESTREAM: 6:30pm, 29th June

The Festival's dazzling opening performance, celebrating the people of Manchester, on an 100 metre runway erected in the very centre of the city.

Learn more about What is The City But The People?, external

Image source, MIF

One Of Two Stories, Or Both

LIVESTREAM: 6:30pm, 30th June, 1st, 2nd, 3th, 4th July

A five-part radio series inspired by Chinese traveller myths of the 19th century, this work by brilliant young artist Samson Young asks - how are stories remembered, and retold?

Learn more about One Of Two Stories Or Both, external

Image source, MIF

Interdependence: We Need To Talk

LIVESTREAM: from 10:30am, Saturday 1st, 8th, 15th July

Academy-award winning film-makers, artists, educators and world-class debaters meet to talk about community, power, technology and more in the digital age.

Find out more about Interdependence: We Need To Talk, external

Image source, MIF

What If Women Ruled The World?

LIVESTREAM: 8pm, 8th July

Arriving at a moment of unprecedented worldwide flux, this new piece asks a fascinating and incendiary question - what if women ruled the world?

Find out more about What If Women Ruled The World?, external

Image source, MIF

ToGather

LIVE FROM MICROSITE: From 1pm, Sunday 9th July

Bringing together local residents originally from 15 different countries, including Iran, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Pakistan, ToGather will be a poetic exploration of movement, migration and separation - featuring dancers from Studio Wayne McGregor. Expect music, food, and a glorious sense of community.

Find out more, and watch live from the ToGather website, external

Image source, MIF

Manchester Street Poem

LIVESTREAM: 6th July

Underworld’s Karl Hyde gives a spotlight to the homeless people of the city, as he covers a venue’s walls with words and phrases drawn from the streets - highlighting humanity, fragility and dignity to a powerful soundtrack

Learn more about Manchester Street Poem, external

Image source, MIF

Cotton Panic!

LIVESTREAM: 9pm, 13th July

A dynamic new musical about the infamous cotton famine that brought the North of England to its knees. Created by Jane Horrocks, Nick Vivian and Wrangler, it combines familiar songs, industrial noise and electronic sound-scaping.

Learn more about Cotton Panic, external!

Image source, MIF

Ceremony

LIVESTREAM: 6pm, 16th July

Our glorious festival finale, combining artists, live film and public spectacle from across Manchester, as a statue of Communist Manifesto author Friedrich Engles is installed in the city centre.

Learn more about Ceremony, external

We will also be hosting a whole lot of exclusive video, audio, interviews and news right here – don't miss out!

Talk to us on Twitter @MIFestival, and use the hashtag #mif17 to get involved.

We’re delighted to bring you this year’s Manchester International Festival, from 29 June to 16 July, in glorious BBC digital form.

Think of this Live Update page as your Festival man on the ground, your mate in the pub with all the insider knowledge.

This year’s programme is chock-full of world-class musicians, international artists, new theatre, exhibitions and debate. From New Order to Mark Watson, from Simon Stephens to Mary-Anne Hobbs, over the next 3 weeks we’ve got the brightest and the best of the arts world joining us.

We’re excited to be live streaming a lot of our shows this year, allowing you out there, the internet people, to experience the festival first hand.

Bookmark this page, commit it to memory, sing it softly to your loved ones - trust us, this is the place to be.