Hello, welcome to our live blog covering the Centenary of Salford becoming a city.
2026 marks one hundred years since Salford was officially granted city status by a Royal Charter by King George V and there’s a range of events, both ongoing and one-offs, to mark the centenary.
We’ll be at the scene of today’s events and will be looking over some of our existing coverage as we celebrate Salford’s 100.
100 today!!! 🎈
21 April 1926 – Salford became a city
Happy Birthday Salford! Make sure you follow along on our socials today and get involved with the celebrations 🎉 #Salford100 #SalfordCentenary pic.twitter.com/h7sWpKUwr5
— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) April 21, 2026
14:00 – Salford student’s artwork chosen for landmark 100th anniversary beer
Anhelina Serhiienko, second-year graphic design student has created the winning artwork for a new limited edition pale ale by Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co. The ale has been brewed especially to celebrate 100 years since Salford was granted city status.
Serhiienko said: “It is an honour to have my design chosen, I am so excited to see it live”.
The beer, ‘1926’, went on sale today, April 21 with a percentage of proceeds being donated to Talk About It Mate, a Salford-based men’s mental health organisation.
Kit McAvoy, founder and head of export at Seven Bro7hers, said the brewery was “incredibly proud” to be part of the city’s centenary celebrations.
Read more of our coverage of this story here.
13:00 – “Happy Birthday beautiful Salford”: Award-winning actor celebrates 100 years of Salford
Salford has recieved a 100th birthday message from the Salfordian Doctor himself, Christopher Eccleston.
He said: “Our parents brought us up to be honest, hard-working, original and to think of other people. Those four things perfectly describe the soul of that city”.
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Coronation Street stars Aaron McCusker, Pauline McLynn and Catherine Tyldesley also joined the festivities, wishing Salford a happy 100th birthday across Facebook, Instagram and X.
There’s only one place to celebrate Salford’s 100th Birthday… in the pub on its most famous Street!? #SalfordCentenary #Salford100 pic.twitter.com/Hw1d0ffaX0
— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) April 21, 2026
How communities in Salford are celebrating the city’s 100th birthday:
Salford Museum and Art Gallery – Your Salford 100
Saturday 14 February 2026 – Sunday 10 January 2027
100 groups and individuals have selected objects and artworks from the museum to showcase the city’s story over its past 100 years. Tickets are free of cost and visitors can expect to be taken on a historic journey about Salford.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery – Salford Voices
Saturday 21 February 2026 – Sunday 10 May 2026
Art with Heart are determined to capture what it truly means to be from Salford during its centenary celebrations, keeping Salfordians at the heart. Salford Voices will work with community groups and the city’s most adventurous artists to create a brand-new podcast, a public art exhibition and a series of pop up events across Salford. Tickets to this journey across the past, present and future of Salford are free and therefore not required for entry.
Imperial War Museum North – Childhood Memories: Salford in the Second World War
April 7 2026 – May 7 2026
Brian and Norma are two volunteers who grew up in Salford during WWII. They are holding multiple talks throughout April and the start of May, sharing stories about the Salford Blitz, life as an evacuee and the celebrations of VE Day. The talks will take place on April 7, 9, 14 and 23rd and May 14 and 27th. More information can be found on the IWM website here.
Height Library – Then & Now SALFORD: 1977 – 2026 Photography Exhibition
Tuesday 21 April 2026 – Saturday 25 July 2026
This exhibition will display photos in Salford taken by Steve Chapman and Phil Portus in 1977. Most of this work remained unseen, until they were shared at other exhibitions in 2024 and 2025. Both photographers have collaborated with two A Level students, Ella Fletcher Reede Wallace from Pendleton Sixth Form College. The students are presenting their own contemporary images of Salford to go alongside the historic ones. The exhibition will bring together past and present perspectives of the city and form a ongoing documentary project to celebrate Salford.
