Plans take shape for Oldham’s year in the spotlight
Oldham has been confirmed as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2026, and the council says preparations for a year-long programme of events and community projects are well under way. The title brings with it a £50,000 grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, intended to support events and activities that champion the borough’s cultural achievements and local heritage.
Organisers are pointing to neighbouring boroughs to highlight what the year could bring. Rochdale’s events during its recent Town of Culture year attracted tens of thousands of visitors, with highlights including a mural festival and the Feel Good Family Picnic. Oldham’s leaders hope a similar boost in footfall and civic pride can be realised here.
Rising Up is the theme — and delivery is already starting
The town’s bid centred on a theme called Rising Up. The council describes the programme as having three strands; two are already set out in public materials: reach, which will aim to widen participation and support creative skills development, and rise, focused on energising the town centre with events. Details about the final strand have been signalled but not fully published.
There are tangible signs of activity. The council says thousands of people have already attended Festival Oldham and the Khushi Festival, and the next major free event will be Nostalgic Oldham on Saturday, September 19, offering another day of entertainment in the town centre. The authority has also announced that 13 local artists and groups will create new work across the borough as part of the Rising Up programme.
- Mural, music and theatre commissions are planned.
- Community art and creative projects will appear across the borough.
- Opportunities for residents to get involved are promised throughout the year.
“Being Town of Culture is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate Oldham’s creativity, bring communities together and give local people more opportunities to experience and take part in culture right on their doorstep.”
The council’s statement underlines that the programme will include a range of activity — from public murals and theatre to community-led creative projects — with work appearing in different places across the borough. The authority says plans are "progressing really well" and that there is "lots more to look forward to" during the year.
What residents should expect and what is still to come
For residents the practical impact will be a fuller events calendar through 2026, new public artworks and increased outreach to widen participation in creative activities. For businesses and the town centre, organisers point to the potential commercial upside demonstrated by other boroughs’ Town of Culture years — increased visitors, more activity in public spaces and higher footfall.
Caution is required on what is not yet published. While the council has confirmed early events, artist commissions and the £50,000 fund, the complete programme, timetable and measures of success for the Town of Culture year are still being finalised. Residents and businesses will want to see more detail on funding allocation, accessibility of events and how borough-wide involvement will be encouraged beyond the town centre.
| Recent Greater Manchester Towns of Culture | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bury | Inaugural holder in 2020 |
| Stalybridge | Subsequent holder |
| Stockport | Subsequent holder |
| Bolton | Subsequent holder |
| Rochdale | Recent holder; now bidding for first UK Town of Culture, 2028 |
Oldham’s Town of Culture year begins amid clear local enthusiasm. The next months should show whether the energy from early festivals and the commissioned artists can be sustained and spread across the borough. For residents this is as much about everyday opportunity — community arts, workshops and accessible events — as it is about headline festivals and murals.
As the year approaches, the council has promised more announcements on events and projects. Oldham people will be watching to see whether the promise of widening participation and energising the town centre translates into tangible cultural change across the borough.
