The Manchester Culture Awards are back for 2026 with nominations now open for the prestigious annual awards that recognise the very best of the city’s cultural and creative highlights of the last twelve months.
Launched by the city council back in 2018 to acknowledge Manchester’s rapidly growing reputation for culture and the arts, the awards pay tribute also to some of the many talented individuals working behind the scenes in the arts across the city.
Over 400 nominations were received last year recognising different events, individuals, and organisations big and small that together help make Manchester the exciting and vibrant place it is.
This year’s awards see nominations invited across 12 different categories including Best Event, Best Performance, and Young Creative of the Year.
New for this year is the Outstanding Storytelling Award to recognise the creation of compelling and relevant stories through word, film, digital media or other cultural forms.
This year also once again sees a special award made in partnership with the Manchester Evening News. The Cultural Welcome Award will be presented to an organisation or venue that provides a great welcome to everyone – whether as audience members, visitors, or participants. with the winner of the award chosen by a public vote.
Nominees for each of the awards must either be based in the city of Manchester or have a strong track record of delivering activity for the benefit of people who live in or visit the city, or that benefits the local economy.
Nominations are welcome from the professional, amateur and community sector, as well as from members of the public.
All nominations must reflect activity that has taken place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, apart from the Cultural Welcome Award which recognises achievement over a number of years.
To be recognised for a Manchester Culture Award, nominees must be involved in one or more of the following: visual art, music, theatre, performance, dance, film and broadcast media, literature, digital art, photography, craft, or heritage arts.
Nominations are open until midnight on Sunday 21 June.
