Luton is turning 150 in 2026!
Luton celebrates 150 years of borough status throughout 2026!
Back in 1876, Luton made history by officially becoming a borough, unlocking the power to govern itself with its very own elected council.
To celebrate, the council & partners are hosting a line-up of around 150 exciting events, public art installations, exhibitions and a massive music event in September.
This year is about celebrating every aspect of Luton’s rich and diverse history – with more surprises to come! Here’s all you need to know:
Get involved
Make your event part of the celebrations.
See what's on
Join the party all year long.
Through the ages
Look back on Luton’s past through photos.
Join the biggest celebration weekend of the year
All the stops have been pulled out for this anniversary year, you won’t want to miss these two major events! These events have been made possible by headline sponsorship from Luton Council’s airport company, Luton Rising.
Luton’s officially 150 years old…
On the anniversary week of Luton gaining borough status, Luton Council hosted a special tree planting ceremony in the churchyard of our stunning St Mary’s Church.
A soon-to-be beautiful cherry blossom tree was planted by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Mrs Susan Lousada, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Mrs Camilla King, and Mayor of Luton Councillor Amy Nicholls.
Residents added their wishes and messages of hope for our town onto the church’s ‘Tree of Hope’ with stunning bright orange ribbon.
Local poet Lee Nelson did a live reading of his powerful original poem about our town and our proud history.
A glimpse of Luton’s story over the last 150 years…
What the logo means for our town
The Luton 150 logo design celebrates our town’s vibrant past, present, and future – but there’s a few little easter eggs you might’ve missed out on first glance.
Air traffic control tower
Highlighting Luton’s strong travel links and aviation industry
Bute Mills (now Youthscape)
A nod to our industrial heritage, especially hat making
Flamingo
Symbolising Luton’s adaptability; these statues once stood in The Arndale Centre (now Luton Point) and now live in Hat Gardens
Luton Library Theatre
Representing the town’s growing arts, culture, and heritage scene
Town Hall
Marking the civic pride of this anniversary year as we celebrate becoming a municipal borough
What’s on
There’s so much going on across the town to celebrate this historic milestone, from public art and exciting exhibitions, to surprises we can’t wait to be unveiled! Find it all here.
This isn’t everything, and there’s plenty more to come. So, check back soon – we’ll be sure to keep you up to date as the year goes on.
This brand new massive live music event will be the biggest party of the year! Artists that you know and love will be gracing the stage right here in Luton.
12th September @ 2:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Head down to Stockwood Park to listen to a host of talented musicians performing classic favourites from Last Night of the Proms, as well as some special performances on the big stage.
13th September @ 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join us for a guided heritage walking tour of Luton's historic Town Hall, led by local historian Paul Hammond.
19th September @ 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Join Luton BID’s Tidy Days and help keep Luton looking its best
29th September @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Join Luton BID’s Tidy Days and help keep Luton looking its best
27th October @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
We’re transforming Hat Gardens into a pumpkin patch again this half-term. Bring the kids to the town centre for a free day out – they’ll love wheeling around mini barrows to pick their perfect pumpkin.
28th October @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Head to Hat Gardens to hear tales from A Children’s Story featuring fun spooky games and dancing with the black cat puppet!
30th October @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Luton Rising’s Fireworks Spectacular 2026 is returning this year to Popes Meadow on Saturday 7 November 2026, where communities can come together to enjoy a stunning display of colour and light in the sky.
7th November @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Our free annual Christmas lights switch-on event, sponsored by Luton Rising, Luton Lights Up for Christmas is taking place on Saturday 21 November 2026, with a day of live music and entertainment across the town centre.
21st November @ 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
Join Luton BID’s Tidy Days and help keep Luton looking its best
24th November @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Head to Hat Gardens for an afternoon full of Christmas cheer. Meet our giant walkabout performers and listen to a line-up of local artists playing all your festive favourites.
12th December @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Don’t miss a thing
Stay updated on everything happening in Luton this year – we’re keeping track of all the news as it happens.
We all know Luton is full of musical talent, but one name has been catching everyone's attention recently: country pop singer and songwriter, Olivia Lynn. We caught up with her ahead of her performance at Luton Rising presents Party in the Park later this week.
9 September, 2026
To celebrate 150 years of borough status in Luton, a new heritage trail has landed! There are 150 locations to explore to discover a hidden phrase and your chance to win an epic prize!
4 September, 2026
Big news for real ale lovers, High Town residents and Luton Town Football Club fans alike, because The Bricklayers Arms has been named one of the best pubs in the UK by The Telegraph.
31 July, 2026