Stoke-on-Trent's year-long centenary programme brought communities together, raised the city's national profile and created a platform for future cultural work, a council review has concluded.

The programme marked 100 years of city status during 2025. More than 70 major events and hundreds of smaller community activities were held, including festivals, exhibitions, performances, sporting events, heritage projects and neighbourhood celebrations.

The review says the celebrations strengthened civic pride, showcased Stoke-on-Trent's culture and heritage and created opportunities for children and young people to take part.

Thousands joined city events

More than 15,000 people helped set a Guinness World Record at the Big Centenary Tea Party. Celebrations also reached the Houses of Parliament and Stoke-on-Trent's twin city of Erlangen in Germany.

Around 1,000 participants took part in the People's Parade, while an estimated 10,000 spectators attended despite wet weather. The parade formed the centrepiece of the first Stoke-on-Trent Day celebrations.

The council worked with more than 40 partner organisations. Schools, colleges, volunteers, community and faith groups, cultural organisations and local businesses all contributed to the programme.

National and international attention

The review says travel coverage helped present Stoke-on-Trent as a cultural destination and generated more than £1 million in estimated publicity value. Time Out included the city among the UK's best places to visit.

National and international reporting, together with the centenary's social media campaign, generated more than 11 million impressions and introduced the city's heritage and creativity to new audiences.

Partnerships formed during the centenary are now contributing to work on the city's heritage emergency and the development of a new Culture and Heritage Strategy. Future100, a vision for Stoke-on-Trent's next century, is intended to build on that momentum.

Programme funded outside the General Fund

The council says the centenary programme did not place pressure on its General Fund. Funding came from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, together with sponsorship, grants, donations and support from partners, volunteers and organisations across the city.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the centenary had given the city an opportunity to celebrate what makes it special but had grown into something larger.

“People, businesses, schools, volunteers, community groups, cultural organisations and council teams all came together to create something extraordinary. The success of the year belongs to the whole city.”

She said the programme had combined an ambitious celebration with responsible use of public money, adding: “The centenary showed Stoke-on-Trent at its very best.”

Further council news is available at stoke.gov.uk/news.