Throughout 2026, People’s History Museum (PHM) is exploring the events and legacy of the 1926 General Strike, one of the largest and most significant industrial disputes in British history. A century on from this historic watershed, the national museum of democracy will present a public programme of screenings, talks, and archive open days, headlined by the major exhibition On The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarity. Together, these events will reflect on the causes, consequences, and continuing relevance of the General Strike, inviting visitors to consider its lasting impact on workers’ rights, collective action and democratic change.
For history lovers
Taking place exactly one hundred years after the country came to a standstill, when millions of workers stood together in solidarity, the 1926 General Strike centenary open day on Saturday 9 May brings together historians and archive specialists. Hosted by PHM with support from John Rylands Library, National Co-operative Archive, and Working Class Movement Library, the day will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions, archive encounters, exhibition tours, and workshop sessions.
Full price tickets are £10, with concession £8 and free places available. Booking here.
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For creative minds
Join artist Helen Mather for The Fabric of Protest workshops, where you’ll be stitching, chatting, and exploring protest inspired art and its role in carrying messages of solidarity. There are two sessions to choose from. Saturday 21 March’s workshop will be inspired by women-led strikes and related posters of the 1970s and 1980s that were designed to communicate strike demands and mobilise workers and the public; and on Saturday 30 May participants will be delving into the experiences of workers who have fought to unionise or gain recognition from their employers.
Everyone will have the opportunity to create a response in textiles, no experience is necessary and the workshops are suitable for ages 12+.
Full price places are £15, with concession £10, and free places available. Booking here.
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For film lovers
On Saturday 28 March there will be a special film screening of Iron Ladies, which tells the story of the working class women whose iron will and determination made them the backbone of the 1984 to 1985 Miners’ Strike. Watch the film and then join the discussion with documentary contributor and community activist Lorraine Stansbie, one of the founding members of Barnsley Women Against Pit Closures, chaired by Amy Todd, PhD researcher at PHM.
Full price tickets are £10, with concession £6 and free places available. Booking here.
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For archive explorers
On Saturday 18 April, join PHM and Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) researcher Dan Edmonds for a special archive session uncovering original materials from the 1926 General Strike. This event offers a rare opportunity to examine the archives and chat to activists. Explore documents, pamphlets, and personal stories that capture this pivotal moment in British history, and discover how the strike continues to shape debates around work and solidarity today.
This is a free event with donations encouraged (£15 recommended). Booking here.
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For curious minds
On Thursday 7 May, visit People’s History Museum after hours for Remembering the past, fighting for the future, an evening of author talks and conversation. Delivered in partnership with The University of Manchester, this special event brings together leading voices to explore the political context and lived experience of the 1926 General Strike and its continuing relevance today. Authors Ralph Darlington, Edd Mustill, and Dr Ian Manborde from Equity UK will reflect on the nine days that brought Britain to a standstill, alongside present day debates around workplace rights, collective action, and AI protections.
The evening includes a complimentary drink from Gather café, a private view of On The Line, and the opportunity to meet the speakers at a post-talk book signing.
This is a free event with donations encouraged (£15 recommended). Booking here.
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For families
Strike Den! is new for 2026, inviting younger visitors to People’s History Museum to explore themes of solidarity in a Family Friendly way. Taking place every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the Easter holidays, there are stories of protest, courage, and change to be found in the reading corner, the chance to dress up as a protest hero and take your position on the soapbox, and lots of artwork to inspire creativity. Plus, there are the galleries to explore, including interactive experiences such as the Match Girls’ Strike arcade style game and Banner Bingo.
Entry to PHM and Strike Den! activities are free and part of the museum’s Family Friendly experience. Find out more here.
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The full programme of all the spring events exploring the history of strikes and solidarity at People’s History Museum is available here. A dedicated summer season will follow.
About the exhibition
On The Line opens at People’s History Museum on Saturday 21 March 2026 (until Monday 2 November 2026). Beginning with the 1926 General Strike it takes visitors on a journey through one hundred years of turbulent industrial relations that followed and features objects and archive materials from PHM’s nationally recognised collection. The exhibition is part of the General Strike 100 national partnership of museums, libraries, archives, and groups, with exhibitions and events programmed across the country. The exhibition is generously funded with support from The TUUT Charitable Trust, GMB Union, and Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.
People’s History Museum’s opening hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays. Gather café is open 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays, serving hot food until 3.00pm. PHM has a Changing Places toilet and lifts to its galleries. Museum entry is free, with most visitors donating £10. For further information about PHM and its latest programme of events and exhibition visit phm.org.uk, and you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to receive PHM’s e-newsletter.
ENDS
For further information about PHM, to arrange a visit or interview please contact Fido PR:
laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
Images:
There are links for individual images for each event within the release, which are shared collectively here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/q0zivswy6eoycpffbf8n0/AJhaCaTdnMAWFsABnFOLlco?rlkey=3ucdt2blk4387hnlda8vgecfe&st=62bf2i3m&dl=0
This link gives you images of People’s History Museum and On The Line exhibition.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ez4brvdhtkfx3jp4ctxl1/AAJohkTsYxEpZZQ7ErHvuBI?rlkey=sdpczqhji8byytm3vnnac6wzi&st=eto9booi&dl=0
Notes to editors:
About People’s History Museum
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the UK’s national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, featuring banners, badges, posters, photography and more, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, collaborating with communities to create authentic content, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
People’s History Museum encourages visitors to be empowered by the past to make a change for the future. We are all together in the fight for a fairer world.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development agency for creativity and culture. ACE have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 they will invest over £467 million of public money from government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
About The TUUT Charitable Trust
The TUUT Charitable Trust was established by the trade union movement in 1969. The Trust aims to support the most vulnerable in society through donations to registered charities.
www.tufm.co.uk/about-us/charity
About GMB Union
GMB is an organising and campaigning union for all workers, currently numbering some 500,000 members. Founded in 1889, it has a long and proud history that stretches through the General Strike of 1926 to the Grunwick Dispute, of 1976-78, and the recent Glasgow Women’s Strike, of October 2018, which secured gender equality for thousands of women across the city, transforming lives and opportunities.
www.gmb.org.uk
About Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM)
The London Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) group was formed in July 1984, four months into the year-long miners’ strike of 1984-5. Founding members Mike Jackson and Mark Ashton had organised a bucket collection to support the striking miners on the June 1984 London Pride march and decided that more needed to be done to raise awareness of the miners’ cause in the London lesbian and gay community.
www.lgsm.org
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