The Wynnstay Hotel in Wrexham hosted an important gathering to launch a programme of events which, throughout 2026, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the city’s 1876 “Year of Wonder”.
The year 1876 saw the formation of the Football Association of Wales, the opening of the Ruabon Road Cemetery, the great four-month long Art Treasures and Industrial Exhibition, the first National Eisteddfod ever held in the town, the original Wrexham tram system, and much more besides.
This was a hugely important year in Wrexham’s history, and the meeting, attended by the Worshipful Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Tina Mannering, at the Wynnstay, on Wednesday afternoon, July 23, saw the coming together of various groups already planning to commemorate those events, and many others, next year.
Councillor Beverley Parry-Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member with responsibility for libraries, who attended the event, said: “It was a huge privilege to attend this event, and I’m sure there are exciting times ahead for the whole of Wrexham.”
Among the myriad of events already being planned are Tŷ Pawb’s programme for local schools, tours to mark the opening of Wrexham Cemetery, Wrexham Walking Festival and the Wrexham Carnival of Words literary festival.
The Football Association of Wales will also have it’s own programme of events and Wrexham Football Club’s stadium will host matches in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship when eight national teams, including Wales, will compete.
St Giles Church has two important anniversaries to mark including the installation of the bells 300 years ago and the further installation of an Ellacombe chiming apparatus 150 years ago. There will be a special service on St. David’s Day as part of the wider range of events to celebrate the day.
Music was an important feature of the Art Treasures exhibition in 1876 and this will also be reflected in the 2026 programme including events by Wrexham Symphony Orchestra and the Sirenian Singers whilst local choirs will perform across Wrexham as part of Singing Streets. Work is also starting on a new opera by NEW Sinfonia following on from their successful Gresford: Up From Underground which was produced to mark the 90th anniversary of the Gresford mining disaster.
With Wrexham Museum planning to re-open in the spring of 2026 after refurbishment, there will be exhibitions about the Football Association of Wales, Grove Park Theatre and the 1876 Art Treasures Exhibition. One of the treasures displayed at the 1876 Art Treasures exhibition was the remarkable Wonder Quilt of Wrexham, produced by military master tailor, James Williams, which is currently housed at St. Fagans National Museum of History, and it is hoped to bring this artefact back for display at Wrexham.
Amongst the other events in the pipeline for 2026 are those by Wrexham Civic Society, the Miners Project, Peregrine Circus, the RWF Fest at Hightown Barracks and an Industrial Expo and Conference at Wrexham University.
There are also two important centenaries taking place including the Grove Park Theatre, whose celebrations start this year, and the ‘Stiwt in Rhos in September 2026.
Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member with responsibility for City of Culture and the arts, added: “It will be wonderful to celebrate not only the past 150 years of our culture, arts and industry, but also the city’s present achievements, as well as looking forward to our future. With the National Eisteddfod of Wales being held in Wrexham and plans taking shape to mark the anniversary of the Year of Wonder in 2026, it promises to be an exciting time for arts and culture in the county borough.”
Wrexham Council’s interim Chief Executive, Alwyn Jones, commented “I just want to congratulate those involved for pulling this all together. Although many of these events would have happened separately, it’s a great testament to Wrexham’s community spirit and culture that we’re now going to have an entire year-long celebration of Wrexham’s heritage and reputation, both here in Wales but also internationally.”
The original idea for the year-long celebration was inspired by the guidebook Wrexham Revealed, produced by Wrexham Carnival of Words – Wrexham’s “literary festival with a difference”. The pocket-sized book provides 20 stopping points around the town centre for those wanting a self-guided tour of Wrexham’s history.
Festival director, Dylan Hughes, said: “The guidebook talks about many significant dates, but it highlights just how much happened in 1876 itself, and the 150th anniversary gives us a wonderful chance to remind ourselves how proud we should all be of Wrexham’s place in the world.”
Details of the year-long celebration and the individual events will be available on a new website which is under development and will be announced soon.
