The volunteers were honoured at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery in recognition of their contribution to the 2026 festival, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Blackburn town centre. He said: "The National Festival of Making continues to showcase the very best of Blackburn with Darwen, and our volunteers are at the heart of its success. Lauren Zawadzki, co-director of the National Festival of Making, said the event could not take place without volunteers. Crowds have flocked to the 2026 National Festival of Making in Blackburn (Image: Danny Crompton)She said: "A festival on the scale of the National Festival of Making simply wouldn't happen without the dedication of our volunteers. The National Festival of Making has become one of Lancashire's largest cultural events, celebrating creativity, manufacturing and innovation while bringing together artists, makers and communities from across the UK.