Salford set to Celebrate Centenary

Communities from across Salford are being given the opportunity to be involved in and enjoy a celebration of the city’s centenary next year.

The year 2026 marks one hundred years since Salford was officially granted city status by a Royal Charter by King George V. Residents, communities, businesses and visitors are all being invited to take part in festivities from street parties to arts and culture programmes.

Salford City Council has today (Wednesday 16 July) announced that 2026 will be a celebratory centenary year, with a meeting of its full council agreeing to support a cultural, civic and educational programme during the year.

The authority has agreed to set aside up to £1.5m from its earmarked reserves as a maximum amount of funding that could be used to support the centenary programme underpinned by a strong focus on partnerships and securing external funding. The full council decision also commits the authority to develop an initial cultural programme and identity for the year-long celebration and to establish a steering group to ensure partners across the city can contribute and help to shape the developing programme.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This is a remarkable moment in time for Salford and it is right that we all have the opportunity to come together to celebrate what makes Salford great. Our history has its roots in our mills, docks and working-class heritage. We have become a modern, global city, with world-class media, arts and education institutions. Our communities remain strong, with proud neighbourhood and cultural identities and sense of place. 

"This funding is a commitment to giving back to the people of Salford. Over the last 100 year’s it has been the people, the innovators, the artists, the pioneers and the community champions who have provided the inspiration, passion, dedication and true Spirit of Salford that has helped make the city great. 

"We have a city to be proud of, and it is only right that we celebrate the first 100 years, whilst we also look ahead to how we collectively shape the next 100 years of Salford’s history. This is the chance for us all to join together to celebrate our past, present and future.”

The full council decision paves the way for the authority to work with partners across the city, from educational institutions to community and voluntary groups, from other public service organisations, to big and local businesses that call Salford home, to develop a year-long calendar of celebrations, educational programmes and events.

Deputy City Mayor Jack Youd added: “This is a proud celebration of the Spirit of Salford, the likes of which our city has never seen before, and the scope and scale of what we can achieve and deliver – as a city – is exciting. It’s our chance to come together as Salfordians. We already know that there are some significant other milestone anniversaries in 2026 – it’s 100 years since the General Strike, a pivotal moment in the working class movement. It’s the 180th anniversary of Peel Park. We’ll be reopening the historic and fully restored Buile Hill Mansion again.

“Alongside this, we want to create a Salford 100 legacy, ensuring there is a lasting benefit for everyone in our city, and particularly in our communities, neighbourhoods and the young people who are the city’s future. There is a lot to be excited about, and this is just the start.”