Oldham named Greater Manchester's new Town of Culture

Oldham has been announced as Greater Manchester's Town of Culture for 2026-2027. With the accolade comes a £50,000 grant to fund a 12-month programme of community events, festivals, performances and exhibitions that celebrate Oldham's arts and culture scene. The Greater Manchester Town of Culture project is inspired by the national City of Culture scheme, which was introduced by Mayor Andy Burnham in 2009, when he was Culture Secretary.

Council leader Arooj Shah has described the accolade as a "huge moment of pride for Oldham and a real vote of confidence in our town". She said: "With over £450 million of regeneration transforming our town centre, this recognition shows that Oldham's future is bright and full of opportunity. It's particularly special to be announcing this in the same week we open our fantastic new events space and our brand-new market .

Together, these investments are helping us create a vibrant town centre where culture, community and business can thrive. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: "Oldham's year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture is a powerful statement about the kind of city-region we are building, where culture plays a central role in bringing people together and shaping the future of our towns. There's a real creative energy building across the borough, driven by the people who live and make...