Luton Borough Council

28/11/2025 - Luton announces year of celebration for 150th anniversary of borough status

On Saturday during Luton Lights Up for Christmas, Mayor of Luton Cllr Amy Nichols announced a year packed full of events and festivities in 2026 to celebrate Luton’s borough anniversary.

In 1876, Luton officially became a municipal borough under the Municipal Borough Act 1935. This meant that Luton gained the right to govern itself with a mayor, councillors and aldermen, and hold elections for the council. It was a big milestone for the town, as it officially recognised Luton’s growth and importance not just in the local area, but in the country.

Next year there will be an exciting programme of both brand new and elevated events to celebrate the anniversary, called Luton 150.

Councillor Hazel Simmons MBE, leader of Luton Council, said: “2026 is set to be an exciting year for Luton, as we celebrate our 150^th anniversary of borough status. We have lots of exciting events in the works, as well as some surprises that we can’t wait to unveil.

“We know that Luton is much more than just the last 150 years, but we want to use this next 12 months to celebrate how far we have come and look forward to the future. We’ll be celebrating everything that makes Luton special: our heritage, diversity, communities, creativity, industrial legacy, and the friendship of neighbours.”

The logo for the year celebrates Luton’s past, present, and future through its iconic skyline. Each element tells part of the town’s story:

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
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
flamingo – symbolising Luton’s adaptability; these statues once stood in The Arndale Centre (now Luton Point) and now live in Hat Gardens

Next year, the council wants as many people as possible to celebrate this milestone. Local event organisers and community groups are encouraged to reach out to us to see how they can get involved. Please email [email protected].

To keep up to date with events and celebrations next year, make sure you’re following Luton Council on social media, or sign up for our email newsletter e-Luton to get the latest news direct to your inbox.