Fire and light return to Rochdale
Rochdale Town Hall and its surrounding gardens will once again provide the backdrop for the borough’s Ignite Fire Festival, with the free event returning from 20 to 22 November 2026. The evening programme will run between 5pm and 8pm on each of the three nights, giving residents the chance to experience a large-scale outdoor arts event in one of the town’s best-known historic settings.
The festival attracted around 10,000 people last year and organisers are preparing to bring another ambitious programme to the town centre. The main attraction will be a light and fire trail made up of six walk-through zones, all shaped around the theme of the human body. Visitors will be taken through an installation exploring human metabolism and the processes that keep people alive, using technology, light and theatrical presentation.
Historic England has described Rochdale Town Hall as “one of the finest municipal buildings in the country”.
The trail will mark the North West premiere of the installation. It has been created by Walk The Plank and has previously been shown in Ireland and Canada. Its arrival in Rochdale adds an international dimension to a festival that remains firmly rooted in the town’s civic centre and public spaces.
A historic setting brought back to life
The Grade I-listed Town Hall was built in 1871 and reopened two years ago after an ambitious restoration programme. The work repaired many of the building’s original features, and the hall has since been nominated for a number of awards. For festival-goers, the restored building will form part of the wider experience rather than simply serving as a backdrop.
The event will also make use of the Broadfield Park Slopes, positioned between the Town Hall and St Chad’s Church. The historic slopes were restored earlier this year, with improvements including a refurbished fountain, new accessible paths and upgraded landscaping. Those changes have renewed an important stretch of Rochdale’s town-centre landscape and will provide the setting for the festival’s outdoor fire displays.
What visitors can expect
Alongside the main trail, the festival programme will include a Fire Garden featuring illuminated slopes and gardens behind the Town Hall. The area will contain hand-made fire sculptures and pyrotechnic displays. Music and performance will run through the evenings, with the 20-member Drum Machine collective bringing its energetic drumming to the event.
- A six-zone fire and light trail based on the human body.
- A Fire Garden with sculptures and pyrotechnics.
- Fire-spinning performances from Rochdale’s Skylight Circus Arts.
- Live fire shows by interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
- Performances from the 20-strong Drum Machine drumming collective.
Special Fireflies performances by Rochdale’s Skylight Circus Arts will add fire-spinning to the programme, while Travelling Light Circus will stage live shows involving fire and audience interaction. The combination of installations, music and circus performance means the festival will offer several different ways to experience the site, from a slower walk through the trail to more concentrated live performances.
| Event detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Festival | Ignite Fire Festival |
| Dates | 20–22 November 2026 |
| Time | 5pm–8pm each evening |
| Location | Rochdale Town Hall and gardens |
| Cost | Free to attend |
With no admission charge, the festival is set to be an accessible addition to Rochdale’s winter calendar. It also gives residents another reason to use the town centre after dark, while showcasing the Town Hall, Broadfield Park Slopes and the surrounding civic quarter. The event’s return underlines the role of Rochdale’s restored heritage spaces as places for public celebration, culture and community life.
