Salford is celebrating 100 years of being its own city with FREE community events throughout 2026

Salford is marking 100 years of city status this year, and to celebrate is launching a programme of free community events.

The city-wide celebrations – which are set to weave in the true character of the city and its communities – will launch on 21 April to coincide with the date Salford was officially granted city status in 1926, and they will run throughout the year culminating in a spectacular finale moment in the autumn.

Salford City Council has appointed renowned creative organisations Walk the Plank and From The Other as co-creative producers for the programme.

The partnership will explore the past, celebrate the present, and imagine the future through a cultural programme spread across all eight neighbourhoods in Salford.

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Salford gained city status 100 years ago — it’s time to celebrate 🙌

We’ve teamed up with outdoor arts experts @walktheplank + boundary-breaking @sftoc creators 'From the Other' to deliver a bold, cultural programme across all 8 neighbourhoods #Salford100 #SalfordCentenary pic.twitter.com/zcn9g7LH9r

— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) January 22, 2026

From a monumental living portrait of the city projected onto local buildings in Salford Everywhere, to Songs of Salford where emerging and established musical collaborators are brought together, and The Wagon Train, a pop-up festival shaped by each neighbourhood it visits, each event is set to amplify the city’s cultural community.

The programme is also hoping to help ensure the arts and world-class culture is accessible to all.

“We’re immensely proud of Salford’s thriving cultural sector and it’s fantastic that two of our most renowned cultural organisations will be delivering the Salford Centenary Cultural Programme,” commented Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett.

“Both organisations bring a wealth of experience, creativity and unrivalled local knowledge to this project, and I’m extremely excited to experience the unique activities they will deliver as part of our centenary year.

“2026 promises to be a truly special year for the city, with this cultural programme at the heart of the celebrations.”

Read more:

• Manchester’s ‘super duper’ family festival full of FREE activities is back early next year
• Science and Industry Museum announces new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’
• The UK’s biggest LEGO convention is coming back to Manchester next month

There’s also plenty of different ways to get involved too, and you can find out more on the Salford 100 website here.

Featured Image – Breige Cobane (Supplied)