A woman smiles while holding an award certificate on a "Culture" branded stage.
A woman smiles while holding an award certificate on a "Culture" branded stage.

40 organisations, events, projects and individuals have been shortlisted for nine categories featuring in the Culture Burnley Awards 2026.

Our awards programme celebrates the people, organisations, and projects that help the borough thrive and it culminates in a glittering awards night at the Burnley Mechanics Theatre on Thursday, 16 April – the second of its kind following the success of our inaugural awards in 2024.

And some of the names among the winners and highly commended that night two years ago again feature on this year’s shortlist, such as Burnley Youth Theatre, Burnley Film Makers, Burnley Canal Festival, Burnley Words Festival and singer Jess McGlinchey, who are joined by a host of finalists hoping for a first taste of success at these awards.

Here’s the full list of shortlisted nominees:

Culture For All Award

  • Lancashire Language Academy
  • Burnley Signing Choir
  • Burnley Words Festival
  • Burnley Live
  • Super Slow Way
  • The Caravan Gallery Burnley Pride of Place Project
  • Burnley Canal Festival
  • Basically Cheer Community Interest Company (CIC)

Outstanding Cultural Organisation Award

  • British Textile Biennial
  • Super Slow Way
  • Towneley Hall Museum and Art Gallery
  • Creative Spaces Burnley

Cultural Partnership Award

  • The Nasheed Project
  • Unity Ambassadors Project
  • Trouble at Mill
  • Burnley Believes 2025

Outstanding Cultural Event Award

  • Padiham on Parade
  • Painting Padiham
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Burnley Light Opera Society
  • From The Moor British Textile Biennial
  • The Nasheed Project
  • Burnley Words Festival

Creative Excellence Award

  • Madge Nawaz
  • Stephie Jessop
  • Jess McGlinchey

Nurturing Creativity Award

  • Andy Cooke Basics Junior Theatre School
  • Footlights Pendle
  • Mentors in Ballet Education
  • Burnley Youth Theatre

Volunteer Excellence Award

  • Vivien Storey, The Hub, Padiham
  • Volunteer Experience Guides of Towneley Hall Museum and Art Gallery
  • Jane Hellebrand, Gawthorpe Textiles Collection
  • Burnley Film Makers
  • Sophie Gibson, Burnley Empire Trust

Rising Star Award

  • Burnley Nature Festival
  • Burnley Themed Walks Programme
  • Painting Padiham
  • Burnley Canal Festival

#OutdoorTown Award

  • Ruby Whittaker
  • Grace Blizzard

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Will be announced on the night.

The evening will once again be hosted by renowned radio presenter John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore, whose illustrious career spans five decades and stints at Red Rose Radio in Preston and The Bay in Lancaster before moving to BBC Radio Lancashire, bringing the fun and unpredictability of commercial radio to Auntie Beeb.

The awards are part of the lead up to our Burnley 2027 Year of Culture, which aims to raise the profile of culture in Burnley, drive growth, foster innovation, and create a lasting legacy of benefits – including promoting social cohesion, civic pride, and environmental sustainability.

Charlotte Steels, Head of Culture, says: “Congratulations to all the shortlisted nominees. It’s wonderful to see so many local organisations and individuals being recognised, and it is testimony to the huge impact they have on our borough, bringing tens of thousands of people together each year through events and projects held across Burnley and Padiham’s venues, streets, parks, and public spaces.

“Awards like this are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people behind the scenes from volunteers and grass roots community groups to the organisations who plan and deliver our large annual and biannual festivals.

“This is all part of the development as we look to build partnerships, and create cultural initiatives, events, and projects that contribute to the lasting legacy everyone involved in Burnley 2027 Year of Culture is striving for.”

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities for April’s awards are still available for local businesses and organisations to showcase their commitment to creativity, community, and culture.

“Sponsorship offers fantastic visibility, positive brand association, and a chance to support the people shaping Burnley’s creative future,” adds Charlotte.

Two levels of sponsorship are available – one for the headline sponsor of the main event, which costs £3,000, and provides prominent branding, public recognition, and association across all 10 award categories.

The second level is for category sponsors – an opportunity to sponsor one of the 10 categories and be acknowledged on the night – which cost £300 per category. Secure your sponsorship before the deadline of 8 February.