Festival Oldham 2026
Festival Oldham returns to Oldham town centre on Saturday 30 May 2026, 12 to 4pm, with a spectacular celebration of culture, community and creativity set to kick-start the summer season.
This year’s free outdoor arts festival will also officially launch Oldham’s Greater Manchester Town of Culture programme, Rising Up, marking the beginning of an exciting year of arts and culture across the borough.
Inspired by all things green, floral and full of summer energy, Festival Oldham 2026 promises a blooming wonderful day of entertainment featuring local, regional and national outdoor artists performing across the town centre.
Visitors can enjoy an exciting programme of street theatre, dance, visual arts, family performances and live music throughout the day.
The main stage on Parliament Square will host performances from:
- Taste of Sabrina
- Baked À La Ska
- Untold Orchestra
- Snow In August
New for 2026 is Dancing Town, a showcase celebrating some of the very best dance talent from across the borough.
Festivalgoers can also enjoy an incredible line-up of outdoor performances including:
- Bee-Yond the Garden Gate by Limelight Circus
- Easy Lay Eggs by Fair Play
- The Pigeons by Circii
Alongside all the fun, the majestic Summer Lion by Creature Encounters will also roam through the town centre across the day.
Witness a breath-taking murmuration of starlings created by Burnley Brow Primary School in response to the exhibition Oldham Wakes by Sophie Tyrrell, currently on display at Gallery Oldham until September.
