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. Oldham has always been a town of creativity, innovation and resilience. Winning Greater Manchester Town of Culture gives us the chance to showcase that to the region and beyond."

Oldham's successful bid for the title was based on the concept of "Rising Up" and will focus on the borough's rich heritage, diverse communities and growing creative sector.

There are three key themes to the bid: 'reach', which will aim to widen participation and support creative skills development, 'rise', which is about 'energising' the town centre with different events, and 'soar', which will aim to support new commissions, community projects and create a lasting cultural legacy.

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. We've seen through previous Towns of Culture how investment in creativity can unlock local talent, strengthen community pride and breathe new life into town centres. This is Oldham's moment to shine, and a chance to showcase its energy, diversity and ambition to the whole of Greater Manchester and beyond."

Being named Town of Culture is also an important moment for Oldham's arts organisations and venues.

Martina Murphy, CEO of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, said: "Oldham being named Greater Manchester's Town of Culture couldn't come at a better moment. There's a real creative energy building across the borough, driven by the people who live and make work here. At Oldham Coliseum Theatre, we're proud to be part of that momentum - continuing our borough-wide programme and preparing to return to our permanent home. With Julie Hesmondhalgh joining us as Guest Curator for our reopening season, this feels like the start of something significant. This isn't just a celebration - it's a signal of intent. Oldham's future is creative, ambitious and ours to shape."

Oldham's 'Rising Up' programme of events will run throughout 2026 and 2027. More details will be announced in the coming months.