A total of 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
Ruby Whittaker
Grace Blizzard
#OutdoorTown Award
Burnley Nature Festival
Burnley Themed Walks Programme
Painting Padiham
Burnley Canal Festival
A 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.
Email csteels@blcgroup.co.uk to find out more and secure your sponsorship before the deadline of 8 February.
