Rochdale has been awarded the title of Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025/26.
Speaking at the Rochdale Borough Culture Network Conference today at the town hall (27 February 2025), councillor Susan Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council confirmed that Rochdale’s bid had been successful.
Town of Culture, the annual award by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) highlights the creativity and diversity of one of Greater Manchester’s towns, putting a spotlight on remarkable art, culture and heritage across the region.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement with more than 35 arts organisations bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events and performances.
Pictured from left to right: Deputy mayor Councillor Janet Emsley (left); Councillor Sue Smith; Hebe Reilly, chair of Rochdale Borough Cultural Network; and Pete Courtie, head of culture and placemaking, Rochdale Development Agency with members of local arts organisations celebrating the news at the town hall.
Showcasing the very best local talent, Rochdale’s year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop and deliver a line-up of creative activity alongside a number of major events including the popular free days out for families - the Feel Good Family Picnic, an exciting new urban arts festival, the Street Eat food and drink festival, a lantern parade, Ignite Fire Festival, live music, a new people’s gallery, the Merhaba Halal food festival, Pride parade and many more to be revealed including major international collaborations. A Poet Laureate and Young Poet Laureate will be commissioned to capture the spirit of Rochdale and celebrate the year.
There will be plenty of opportunities for children and teenagers, with a young producer's scheme, staging Rochdale’s first ever Youth Arts Festival in spring 2026.
In addition to the title, Rochdale receives a £50,000 grant from the GMCA Culture Fund to develop a programme of cultural events and activities celebrating its unique heritage, bringing new opportunities for residents and visitors.
An extended edition of the Ignite Fire Festival will be staged at Rochdale Town Hall Square this autumn.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era. Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which was incredibly exciting and ambitious while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history. We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Rochdale's year will build on the town's rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement. In 1844 the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened their first store on Toad Lane.
Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale said:
“It’s fantastic that Rochdale has been awarded Town of Culture this year. Culture brings communities together, drives economic growth and is part of what makes life worth living. Rochdale's arts scene is more vibrant than ever, with creative entrepreneurs in video, painting, photography, music, film and many more areas, making us the place to be in Greater Manchester. I look forward to all the events and activities which will showcase the brilliant creativity of Rochdale.”
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council is looking forward to the year ahead.
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council said:
“I’m thrilled Rochdale will be Town of Culture for 2025/2026. We’ll be drawing audiences from across Greater Manchester and beyond to enjoy a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre. We have an amazing community spirit here, with exciting and varied attractions and an array of local talent to help us produce something very special. We’re well connected and have iconic cultural venues that will provide a stunning backdrop to the wonderful year ahead. This grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority culture fund will help to develop an inspiring line-up of events and activities celebrating Rochdale’s culture, history and future.”
An artist painting at the Merhaba Halal Food Festival, the popular event celebrating food and art will be staged during Rochdale's year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council added:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors and I’ll be excited to see as many people as possible getting involved to deliver creative and fun events. Although the Town of Culture focuses on Rochdale we’ll make sure the valuable work and experience over the year is used to further develop the cultural offer in the rest of the borough, so we can multiply the impact of the investment.”
Rochdale’s Town of Culture programme will run from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026.
Rochdale is the latest town to be awarded the title since 2020, following Bury, Stalybridge, Stockport and most recently Bolton, with all 4 using the award to raise their profile and celebrate the breadth and diversity of their cultural offer.
Further details about Rochdale’s year will be announced in the coming weeks as the programme is finalised.
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