15th - 21st June 2026
Programme
A multi-venue festival of free performing arts, music and comedy across Middleton. Most performances are available for walk-ups, some have booking available, and a few need booking due to limited capacity.
Monday 15 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open from 7pm Monday 15 June and runs until Sunday 21 June.
Tuesday 16 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open until Sunday 21 June.
Just turn up
World Refill Day with Enviro Eddie
Rochdale Development Agency
Feed the recycled fish with a single-use water bottle in exchange for a free reusable bottle, and chat to the team for recycling tips and advice.
Drop in at Middleton Gardens.
Wednesday 17 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open until Sunday 21 June.
Thursday 18 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open until Sunday 21 June.
Booking needed
It's A Small World ft Rowetta
Middleton Popstars Academy
A local performance from Middleton Popstars Academy as part of the opening week of Middleton Fringe, featuring Rowetta.
Book via Popstars Academy.
Booking needed
K-ESTATE + Clint Boon DJ Set
K-ESTATE + Clint Boon
K-ESTATE are a four-piece Manchester collective blending house-pop and electronic funk with a bold, street-style edge. The night continues with a DJ set from Clint Boon.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Friday 19 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open until Sunday 21 June.
Just turn up
The Goblin of Alky Woods
MAD Sustainable Design
Venture through the trees to find the Goblin of Alky Woods, crafted from willow and other natural and sustainable materials.
Installation open from 12 noon Friday 19 June until Sunday 21 June.
Just turn up
Grannies on Stilts
Another Level Entertainment
Comical stilt-walking grannies bringing cheeky walkabout energy to Middleton Gardens.
Free walkabout performance.
Just turn up
Manc Sinatra
Manc Sinatra
Classic crooner energy in Middleton Gardens, with Manc Sinatra bringing the songs, charm and local character.
Free outdoor performance.
Just turn up
Wonderband Roaming Brass
Wonderband
Roaming four-piece brass bringing live music into Middleton Gardens.
Free outdoor performance.
Just turn up
History of Middleton & District Sunday Football League
Middleton & District Sunday Football League
A 50 year collection of trophies, programmes and memorabilia from Middleton's Pub Team Sunday League.
History talk at 6pm on Friday.
Just turn up
Radical Abundance: How to Win a Green Democratic Future
Keir Milburn
Book launch with author Keir Milburn, put on by Greater Manchester Tenants Union, Middleton Branch.
Free event.
Just turn up
Open Mic
Hosted by Music S Duff
A relaxed evening of live music, spoken word, good vibes, strong coffee and craft beers.
Message @musicsduff for a performance slot, or walk in on the night.
Booking needed
Crown Comedy
Howard Anstock, Aaron Wood, Rhi Adams & Jordan Ducharme
Some of the best acts on the UK comedy circuit bringing big energy and even bigger punchlines.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Saturday 20 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Exhibition open until Sunday 21 June.
Just turn up
The Goblin of Alky Woods
MAD Sustainable Design
Venture through the trees to find the Goblin of Alky Woods, crafted from willow and other natural and sustainable materials.
Installation open until Sunday 21 June.
Booking available
Bite-sized West African Drumming Workshops
Drum Happy
Step into the vibrant world of West African rhythm and feel the power of drumming come alive.
You can pre-book your slot or simply drop in on the day. We'll do our best to fit you in, though there may be a short wait for the next available slot.
Just turn up
Live Portrait Booth
Hannah Robinson
Imagine a photo booth, but instead of a photo you take home a live portrait drawn in front of you.
Drop in and take part.
Just turn up
GROW
Steph Wild
An immersive nature-based wellbeing experience with sensory planting, grounding and reflective seasonal ritual.
Drop in and take part.
Just turn up
Industrial Flowers
The Playful Indian
Three floral chicken-wire sculptures created as a tribute to Middleton's industrial heritage.
Free installation for Saturday 20 June.
Just turn up
Everything's A Poem If You Try Hard Enough
Skye Lilly
Skye Lilly is a Manchester-based poet and performer bringing their typewriter to craft bespoke poems just for you outside The Britannia Inn during the day.
Drop in for a bespoke poem between 10am and 3pm, then catch the festival poem performance at 5pm, shaped by the day's conversations and typewriter poetry.
Booking available
Me, You, A Brew & A VR View
Daniel Astbury / CREATIF
A seated community experience combining conversation, tea and virtual reality. Slots are available every 20 minutes.
You can pre-book your slot or simply drop in on the day. We'll do our best to fit you in, though there may be a short wait for the next available slot.
Just turn up
Vote for Rashford
Joshua Miles & Max Mulrenan
Blending poetry, music and montage, Vote for Rashford explores resilience, family and self-belief, inspired by Marcus Rashford and teenagers' experiences across Greater Manchester.
Free pop-up performance.
Just turn up
Tie-Aspora
Handmade EHA
A multimedia artwork exploring heritage, diaspora and the ways cultural identity can be carried forward and bloom.
Free exhibition.
Just turn up
Create a Bug Hotel
Status 4 All
Family-friendly outdoor activity building a bug hotel and learning why it matters for wildlife and gardens.
Children under 10 need adult support.
Booking needed
Middleton Artist of the Year
CazArt, All Seasons & Carol Higginson
Bring your own art to start and finish within 2.5 hours. Children's and adult categories available.
Follow CazArt on Facebook for more information.
Just turn up
Floral on Stilts
Another Level Entertainment
Free walkabout live art curiosity and photo opportunity in Middleton Gardens.
Free walkabout live art and photo opportunity.
Booking available
Chip Shop Prophecies: Scrappily Ever After
Madame Fry
One-to-one live readings where your chip scraps are interpreted as fortunes in a playful performance blending chippy culture with fortune-telling. Slots are available every 15 minutes.
You can pre-book your slot or simply drop in on the day. We'll do our best to fit you in, though there may be a short wait for the next available slot.
Just turn up
SLIDING
Adam York Gregory & Gillian Jane Lees
A curated slideshow film drawn from a vast archive of found 35mm slides, forming a reflective and nostalgic film.
Includes a live unboxing, presentation and conversation with Gillian and Adam at 3.30pm.
Just turn up
Veg Workshop
Madame Zucchini
A playful vegetable-based creative workshop for families and festival visitors.
Drop in and take part.
Just turn up
Woodland Wing Mobiles Workshop
Nate James Frost
Create a magical nature frame using sticks, twigs, natural materials and crafty decorations.
Drop in and make your own artwork to take home.
Booking needed
Still Here, Shiny
Charly Murmann
A one-to-one durational performance exploring queerness and disability through playful prompt cards, connection and conversation.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Just turn up
MIDDGEON FLASH MOB
Tracing Steps and Creative Health
A pop-up MIDDgeon appearance in Middleton Gardens, bringing playful Fringe energy into the town centre.
Free pop-up performance.
Booking available
Dead Ringers
Lowri Evans
Gather around the bar for a performance from your barmaid de jour, Lowri Evans. Serving more than just pints, this is fun storytelling in the heart of Ring O Bells pub - but beware, not all is as it seems.
Booking available via Eventbrite.
Booking available
NIGHTBOY: MIDDLETON GHOSTS INCORPORATED
Roseby Franklin / DogRose Productions
A comedic, site-responsive promenade performance blending local folklore, ghost stories, clowning and audience interaction. Slots are available every 40 minutes.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Just turn up
RIDE
ZoieLogic Dance Theatre
Three blokes, one 1980s Ford Orion, and a journey like no other. Experience RIDE by ZoieLogic - an athletic, high-octane dance theatre show where the car has a mind of its own. Think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang meets 80s nostalgia. Don’t miss it!
Free outdoor performance.
Just turn up
Like A Rolling Jones
Like A Rolling Jones
The UK's most authentic Bob Dylan tribute, equipped with the hits and a handful of harmonicas.
Free live music.
Just turn up
Syncere
Syncere
A genre-fluid Manchester band building momentum with harmonic original music.
Free live music.
Just turn up
Jam with Dan Presents
Nessa May, Isha Hafeez, Emily Briggs, Ushiku Crisafulli, Charlie Rosse, Aisha Akram, Sam Pallen and Jimmy Solo
Live music, poetry, stand up and jam-session energy inside The Britannia Inn as part of the Saturday Fringe programme.
Free live music, poetry, comedy and open mic energy.
Just turn up
Puppet Rave Workshop
Bin Collective
An interactive puppet-led workshop from Bin Collective, working with repurposed and recycled materials.
Drop in and take part at the bandstand.
Just turn up
The IndieTweeners
The IndieTweeners
A four-piece covers band playing Britpop, Manchester anthems and indie classics.
Free live music.
Just turn up
Puppet Rave
Bin Collective
The world's first Puppet Rave, where every raver is a puppeteer. Party, performance, participatory art and sculpture collide.
Free participatory performance at the bandstand.
Booking needed
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me
412 and The LBT in association with Richard Jordan Productions
A twisted coming-of-age story blending pitch-black humour and heartache.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Booking needed
Neu Division
Neu Division
The sounds of Joy Division live at The Crown Inn.
Free tickets via Eventbrite.
Just turn up
DJ Aza Bombaza
Aza Bombaza
DJ set from Aza Bombaza.
Free DJ set.
Sunday 21 June
Just turn up
Back Where They Belong
Olivia Kendall with Steve Whitworth
Playful photographic collages reimagining Middleton by placing well-known public figures into familiar local spaces, celebrating the town's identity and pride.
Final day to view the exhibition.
Just turn up
The Goblin of Alky Woods
MAD Sustainable Design
Venture through the trees to find the Goblin of Alky Woods, crafted from willow and other natural and sustainable materials.
Final day to view the installation.
Just turn up
Graffiti Workshop with Evan Barlow & Liz Chandler
GJ Outdoor Education & Evan Barlow
A graffiti workshop and consultation for the external design of the classroom at Rhodes Lodges.
Free workshop.
Just turn up
Middleton Proms in the Park
Rotary Middleton Proms in the Park
A free afternoon of music, laughter and community cheer at the bandstand in Jubilee Park. Bring a picnic and enjoy the music.
Free event, no tickets needed.
