Rochdale Feel Good Festival will be taking a break this year before returning in summer 2026.
The showcase of entertainment, food and culture which was first staged in 2008 usually takes place in Rochdale town centre, attracting thousands of visitors. Last year the main stage was headlined by Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners and Heather Small.
Organisers Rochdale Borough Council have confirmed the festival will be back in 2026 with a main stage at Rochdale Town Hall Square but as a bi-annual event, alternating with the Feel Good Family Picnic – the popular free event for families including performances, music, sports, dance, theatre and shows for children of all ages in local parks which returns this July and August.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival's main stage at Rochdale Town Hall Square. The event that began in 2008 attracts thousands of visitors.
‘Tickets going on sale later this year’
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said:
“Our new events strategy will see a broader range of events delivered with new additions as well as our established ones. We also want to deliver the best experience within our budget and resources, so it isn’t feasible to stage the Feel Good Festival and the Feel Good Family Picnic back to back every summer, but they are both fantastic and very popular events that we very much want to retain, so moving our biggest 2 events to bi-annual means we can continue to deliver them as well as enhancing our events programme.
"This year, on top of the Feel Good Family Picnic there will be an exciting new urban arts festival, the Street Eat food and drink festival, Ignite Fire Festival and much more to be announced. We have commenced the planning for Rochdale Feel Good Festival in 2026, with tickets going on sale later this year.”
Your events – view details on the borough’s events as they are announced.