Rochdale - Greater Manchester’s Town Of Culture For 2025

Rochdale is set for a spectacular year of festivals, performances, exhibitions and art making fantastic opportunities for lots of amazing days out. Its year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture began last month with a magical nature themed parade drawing over 2,500 people to Rochdale Town Hall Square and an outdoor gallery featuring 24 new pieces of public art has just opened. 

The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene. Rochdale is building on the town’s cultural capital and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement with an ambitious programme that runs until March 2026. ‘People power’ will be centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop and deliver much of the line-up of creative activity alongside a number of big events. 

What’s On in Rochdale 2025: Festivals, Art, Food & Family Events

On Friday 4 July ‘The Herds’ a major new work of public art and climate action by the team behind Little Amal comes to Heywood, with 139 puppeteers bringing more than 70 life-sized animal puppets to the streets around Mutual Mills and into Queen’s Park, as the worlds of culture and climate crisis collide as part of Manchester International Festival.

Also as part of the festival from 4-20 July, Rochdale hosts an exciting new work by world renowned Shilpa Gupta. The Mumbai-based artist is working with residents on ‘You Are the Place’ a multilingual sound installation taking in different perspectives in a thought-provoking piece about waiting, persistence and hope.

Whilst work is under way restoring Touchstones Rochdale, the town’s art gallery and museum, the team is working on a new event and will be staging ‘Side by Side’ a seven day festival on Rochdale Town Hall Square from 20 to 27 August.

In September, ‘Common Walls’ a new urban arts festival, curated by the Butterfly Effected will happen across Rochdale town centre, giving visitors a chance to see murals being created by some of the UK’s most exciting urban artists who will be in town for over a week.   

As part of Refugee Week a Crafting Heritage Exhibition will be staged at Rochdale Town Hall from 18 – 22 June showcasing the incredible work of crafting heritage trainees alongside talented students from local primary schools. Organised by Cartwheel Arts, the trainees who have experienced forced migration, have been teaching children skills including Ukrainian Petrykivka, Argentinian loom weaving, Pakistani block printing, Indian Diwali tea light making, and Congolese doll making. 

Street Eat, the food and drink festival that attracts thousands of visitors every year is returning to Rochdale Town Hall Square on Saturday 28 June, organised by Rochdale Business Improvement District for another serving of food, drink, free entertainment and live music.  Visitors will have their taste buds tickled and thirsts quenched as well as enjoying lots of free live music. 

On Sunday 22 June Rochdale Pride returns with a parade on Rochdale Town Hall Square and Esplanade.  

The popular free days out for families - the Feel Good Family Picnic return in July and August for four days, along with live music, the Merhaba Halal Food Festival in August, a regular Teenage Market, Ignite Fire Festival in November and much more over the coming months. 

In September a Rochdale Comedy Festival will be held for the first time in venues across the borough. 

There will be plenty of opportunities for children and teenagers, with a young producer's scheme, staging a Youth Arts Festival in spring 2026. 

Don’t Miss What’s Next for Rochdale 2025

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “There’s so much to be excited about and a real buzz around Rochdale.  We’ve already got a diverse programme with lots more to come and I’m looking forward to working with residents, artists and community organisations to deliver a really fun and creative year.” 

Find out more about what’s on and get the latest news as its announced at www.rochdale.gov.uk/TownOfCulture, www.rochdalecreates.co.uk and follow @rochdale.creates on Instagram. 

Looking to discover Rochdale further? Head over to Explore Rochdale.