Since the 2019 Rochdale Uprising Mural Festival, Rochdale has become home to an array of beautiful murals from local and international artists, including Nomad Clan, The London Police, Inkie, Lei-Mai, Mr Teaone, and Folie.

More recent additions have included a celebration of Rochdale-born Lioness Keira Walsh, and a mural inspired by Joy Divisions' 'Atmosphere', which was recorded in Rochdale.

Our Town of Culture year of 2025 saw a brand new international mural festival 'Common Walls' coming to Rochdale Town Centre from 7th-14th September, featuring 10 new murals!

International artists taking part in the Common Walls International Mural Festival include Insane51, Onur, Smug1, SecaOne, AYLO, Epod and Lei Mai.

From Sunday, 7 September 2025, folks everywhere were invited to come and watch the artworks being created up close with new designs that that tell the story of Rochdale, its history, people and culture. The murals were within a 30-minute walk of Rochdale Town Centre and a map was made available to attendees.

The artworks were completed by the weekend (Saturday, 13th September 2025), and free family friendly activities and attractions were set to feature street art workshops, a graffiti jam with artists competing live, pop up galleries, live music, artist talks and a series of other fringe events.

Common Walls was part of a spectacular line up of festivals, live performances, exhibitions and art during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene.

What now?

Want to take your curiosity to the next level? Find the murals and walk the trail yourself. View and download the mural map by clicking here:

Common Walls Mural Trail Map