Ashton town centre is poised for an exceptionally lively year in 2026, bolstered by the inaugural allocation of Pride in Place funding. This significant investment will finance a comprehensive programme of community events designed to invigorate the area throughout the coming year.
Funding and Strategic Vision
The Ashton Neighbourhood Board has officially confirmed that an £8,000 grant will be directed to Ashton’s Town Team. This funding is earmarked for delivering a series of seasonal activities with clear strategic objectives: to increase visitor numbers, provide substantial support for local enterprises, and proudly celebrate the town's distinctive identity. The planned events are strategically timed to coincide with the highly anticipated reopening of the redeveloped Market Square, creating a synergistic boost for the town centre.
This £8,000 forms part of a much larger, transformative government investment totalling £41 million across the wider Tameside area. Notably, Ashton itself is set to benefit from almost £20 million of this funding over the next decade. The overarching Pride in Place programme is a national initiative focused on three core pillars: enhancing the quality of public spaces, implementing measures to create safer streets, and fundamentally strengthening community pride and cohesion.
Ashton's 2026 Event Calendar
Residents and visitors alike can anticipate a packed and diverse calendar of activities for 2026. The confirmed schedule includes:
- Amazing Ashton – Saturday, 21st March: A day featuring live music performances, comedy entertainment, and a variety of family-friendly activities.
- Sci-Fi Celebration – Saturday, 2nd May: This event will support the annual gathering organised by Hyde Fundraisers, offering themed activities and character appearances.
- Independent Business Awards – July: A dedicated month to celebrate and actively promote Ashton’s vibrant community of independent traders.
- Dinosaur Show – Saturday, 8th August: An interactive family day showcasing dinosaur puppets and educational displays.
- Heritage Day – Saturday, 19th September: A celebration of local history through vintage photo exhibitions and informative heritage panels.
- Small Business Saturday – Saturday, 5th December: Festive crafts, special giveaways, and character appearances to kick off the holiday season.
Leadership and Community Impact
Phill Brown MBE, Chair of the Ashton Neighbourhood Board, emphasised the significance of this development: “This first allocation of Pride in Place funding represents another key moment for Ashton. We’re investing in our shared future, creating safer streets, showcasing our heritage and strengthening the heart of our community to build on the transformation already underway across the town centre.”
He added, “These events will be a celebration of Ashton’s spirit. We’re proud to create opportunities that bring people together, highlight our heritage and strengthen the sense of belonging that makes our town special. There will be more announcements of further projects in the coming weeks.”
Councillor Bill Fairfoull, Chair of Ashton Town Team, also commented: “I would like to thank the Ashton Neighbourhood Board for facilitating this funding. This now allows us to bring an exciting programme of events to Ashton in 2026. These events will support the many hundreds of small businesses who operate daily in Ashton and hopefully encourage more families to visit the town centre.”
Event organisers have indicated that this announced programme is merely the beginning. They expect to reveal additional events in the lead-up to the official Market Square reopening celebrations, promising an even fuller calendar for the community.
