Global street artists to transform Rochdale town centre into outdoor gallery this September

Friday, 29 August 2025 01:58

By David Murphy

Some of the world’s most celebrated mural artists are coming to Rochdale this September for a brand new international arts festival that promises to bring colour, culture and creativity to the borough.

Rochdale will play host to the inaugural Common Walls International Mural Festival, which will see large-scale artworks painted live on 10 prominent buildings in and around the town centre. Running from Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 September 2025, the event is expected to draw large crowds of locals and visitors keen to watch world-renowned artists at work.

The lineup includes a stellar international cast: Insane51 from Greece, Swiss artist Onur, Glasgow-based Smug1, SecaOne, AYLO, Epod and Manchester's own Lei Mai. Together, they’ll transform the skyline into a giant outdoor art gallery, with murals that reflect the rich history, identity and diversity of Rochdale’s communities.

All artworks will be created within a 30-minute walking radius of Rochdale town centre. Festival organisers say a printed and digital map will be released in early September to help visitors follow the creative trail.

The live painting will take place throughout the week, offering the public a unique opportunity to watch large-scale mural production from concept to completion. Each piece is expected to be finished by the weekend, setting the stage for a major public celebration on Saturday 13 September.

That day, the town centre will come alive with free family activities and urban arts attractions. The festival finale includes BMX freestyle stunt shows, interactive graffiti jams with live artist battles, pop-up galleries, street art workshops, live music, and talks with participating artists. A range of fringe events will also take place, promising a full weekend of entertainment rooted in community culture and visual storytelling.

Festival organisers say the event aims not only to elevate Rochdale’s profile on the global street art map, but also to inspire local creativity and bring people together through a shared celebration of art in public space.

More information about the festival, artist profiles and the full activity programme will be released in the weeks ahead.

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