Happy birthday, Salford!
Today (Tuesday 21 April 2026), Salford marks 100 years since it was granted city status.
On this day in 1926, King George V visited Salford and formally recognised its status as a city, reflecting its growth, industry and importance at the time.
A century on, Salford is marking this historic milestone with a series of moments taking place across the city. Updates from across the day can be followed on Visit Salford Instagram.
While today marks the official centenary, activity will continue throughout the year, reflecting different aspects of Salford’s history and identity as part of the Salford 100 programme. Find out more on the Salford 100 website.
Celebrating Salford’s centenary
Public services and voluntary groups across Salford joined together in a unique way to wish the city a happy centenary birthday. More than 300 workers from local organisations formed two giant, human ‘100’ numbers on the civic lawns in front of Salford Civic Centre in an eye-catching moment to mark the milestone. Today, 21 April 2026, is one hundred years to the day since Salford was granted city status by King George V. Celebrations have been taking place in communities across Salford.
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