The Manchester Culture Awards are back for 2026 with nominations now open for the prestigious annual awards that recognise the very best of the city's cultural and creative highlights of the last twelve months.
Launched by the city council back in 2018 to acknowledge Manchester's rapidly growing reputation for culture and the arts, the awards pay tribute also to some of the many talented individuals working behind the scenes in the arts across the city.
Over 400 nominations were received last year recognising different events, individuals, and organisations big and small that together help make Manchester the exciting and vibrant place it is.
This year's awards see nominations invited across 12 different categories including Best Event, Best Performance, and Young Creative of the Year.
New for this year is the Outstanding Storytelling Award to recognise the creation of compelling and relevant stories through word, film, digital media or other cultural forms.
This year also once again sees a special award made in partnership with the Manchester Evening News. The Cultural Welcome Award will be presented to an organisation or venue that provides a great welcome to everyone - whether as audience members, visitors, or participants. with the winner of the award chosen by a public vote.
Nominees for each of the awards must either be based in the city of Manchester or have a strong track record of delivering activity for the benefit of people who live in or visit the city, or that benefits the local economy.
Nominations are welcome from the professional, amateur and community sector, as well as from members of the public.
All nominations must reflect activity that has taken place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, apart from the Cultural Welcome Award which recognises achievement over a number of years.
To be recognised for a Manchester Culture Award, nominees must be involved in one or more of the following: visual art, music, theatre, performance, dance, film and broadcast media, literature, digital art, photography, craft, or heritage arts.
Nominations are open until midnight on Sunday 21 June.
Councillor Shazia Butt, Executive Member for Culture, Libraries and Leisure, Manchester City Council said: "Culture and creativity play a huge role in making Manchester the vibrant and exciting place it is, and it's thanks in no small part to our richly diverse creative communities here in the city that we're known around the globe for our world-class cultural and creative output.
"We're a city that fully embraces culture and the arts, and the creative scene here in Manchester is fantastic. We can't wait to get this year's nominations in and hear more about who you think deserves an award."
Full list of nomination categories:
Bright Spark: Young Creative of the Year
A young person (aged 13–25) who is inspiring future generations of Mancunians and others through their creativity or is supporting others to be creative.
Excellence in Creative Health and Wellbeing
Fantastic creative activity that helped people feel better in their body and/or mind.
Champions of Equality and Social Justice
Making change and creating opportunities for equality and diversity to thrive.
Our Planet: Action on Climate Change
Taking action to positively benefit the environment and support climate change, or raising awareness and encouraging others to act.
gniting Creativity: Culture, Education and Talent Development
Doing great work supporting others to develop their learning, creativity, skills and talents.
Making it Happen: Best Business Partnership
A partnership that supports culture and helps it flourish in Manchester.
The Best Event
A brilliant creative or cultural event that deserves recognition.
The Best Performance
A standout performance, in any art form, that was amazing and captivated the audience.
The Best Exhibition
An arts or heritage exhibition that inspired and left a lasting impact on visitors.
Independent Creative Award
A person working independently in the creative sector who is inspiring and innovating through their artform and projects
Outstanding Storytelling
Creating compelling and relevant stories through word, film, digital media or other cultural forms
The Cultural Welcome Award
An organisation or venue that provides a great welcome to everyone; whether as audience members, visitors, or participants. This award is in association with the Manchester Evening News with the winner chosen by a public vote
A number of Special Recognition Awards for significant contribution to culture over a number of years will also be made by the judges at the awards ceremony, which takes place on Saturday 14 November at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel.
Previous recipients of Special Recognition Awards include poet Lemn Sissay, former Halle Music Director Sir Mark Elder, poet performance artist dramatist and writer SuAndi OBE, former Director of HOME and outgoing Director of Culture for Manchester City Council Dave Moutrey OBE, DJ Paulette, Abasindi Black Women's Co-operative, and former CEO of Manchester Jewish Museum Gareth Redston.
For more information about the awards and to make a nomination visit manchester.gov.uk/culture-awards