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.
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.
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.”
