Manchester Cathedral will host a major new art exhibition this summer as internationally acclaimed artist Dian Kostov brings Crossroad – The Price of Choice: Peace Is Not Given to the city for the first time.
Running from 3 July to 10 September 2026, the exhibition will transform one of Manchester’s most historic landmarks through a series of immersive installations, documentary photographs and icon-inspired artworks.
Exploring themes of conflict, peace and human resilience, the exhibition invites visitors on a journey from destruction and uncertainty towards hope and renewal.
Bringing together 72 documentary photographs taken in Ukraine and 80 original artworks by Dian Kostov, which are rooted in centuries of artistic tradition, the exhibition encourages reflection on the choices that shape our lives and communities.
Among the exhibition’s centrepieces is the Peace Globe, illuminated by 59 candles representing active armed conflicts around the world.
Visitors will also encounter a cross created from charred beams salvaged from a church destroyed near Kyiv, connecting global events with personal stories of loss, resilience and hope.
Hundreds of suspended white birds will gather beneath a striking Crown of Thorns installation, creating one of the exhibition’s most striking and memorable visual moments.
Rather than offering simple answers, Crossroad – The Price of Choice: Peace is Not Given asks visitors to consider the consequences of individual and collective choices, and the role each person plays in shaping a more peaceful future.
Developed in collaboration with psychotherapist Milena Tashkova, the exhibition also explores the relationship between personal and collective conflict. Drawing on psychological perspectives around choice, responsibility and reconciliation, the project considers how the divisions we experience within ourselves can be reflected in the wider world around us.
Artist Dian Kostov said: “Peace does not begin between nations. Peace begins within us, and it’s not something we can take for granted. It is shaped by the choices we make every day, both individually and collectively. Through this exhibition, I want visitors to reflect on those choices and the role we all play in creating a more hopeful future.”
The project will be presented through two parallel exhibitions taking place simultaneously in the UK. Alongside Crossroad – The Price of Choice: Peace is Not Given at Manchester Cathedral, a connected exhibition, A Mother’s Warmth, will be presented at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, creating a dialogue between the two cities through shared themes of humanity, compassion and hope.
Born in Bulgaria, Dian Kostov is internationally recognised for pushing the boundaries of contemporary iconography and installation art. His work has been exhibited across Europe and internationally, including major installations in Florence, Vienna and Brussels, where Crossroads – The Price of Choice transformed the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Presented in Manchester for the first time, the exhibition forms part of the city’s Summer 2026 cultural programme and offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience thought-provoking work that combines traditional art, contemporary installation and documentary storytelling.
Tickets can be purchased via the website – https://diankostov.com
Exhibition Information
Exhibition: Crossroad – The Price of Choice
Artist: Dian Kostov and Milena Tashkova
Venue: Manchester Cathedral
Dates: 3 July – 10 September 2026
Time: 9am – 4pm
Price: £10 per person or £15 for a group ticket of up to 4
