diff --git a/alembic/versions/349a3890596_increase_length_group_name.py b/alembic/versions/349a3890596_increase_length_group_name.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e84bd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/349a3890596_increase_length_group_name.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Increase length group name
+
+Revision ID: 349a3890596
+Revises: 5083efccac7
+Create Date: 2016-11-30 14:30:15.681269
+
+"""
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '349a3890596'
+down_revision = '5083efccac7'
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    ''' Increase the length of group_name to 255 characters instead of 16.
+    '''
+    op.alter_column(
+        'pagure_group', 'group_name',
+        type_=sa.String(255),
+        existing_type=sa.String(16)
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    ''' Decrease the length of group_name to 16 characters instead of 255.
+    '''
+    op.alter_column(
+        'pagure_group', 'group_name',
+        type_=sa.String(16),
+        existing_type=sa.String(255)
+    )
diff --git a/pagure/forms.py b/pagure/forms.py
index 3663446..71e6542 100644
--- a/pagure/forms.py
+++ b/pagure/forms.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class NewGroupForm(EditGroupForm):
         'Group name  <span class="error">*</span>',
         [
             wtforms.validators.Required(),
-            wtforms.validators.Length(max=16),
+            wtforms.validators.Length(max=255),
             wtforms.validators.Regexp(STRICT_REGEX, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
         ]
     )
diff --git a/pagure/lib/model.py b/pagure/lib/model.py
index db1abd2..95a2843 100644
--- a/pagure/lib/model.py
+++ b/pagure/lib/model.py
@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ class PagureGroup(BASE):
     __tablename__ = 'pagure_group'
 
     id = sa.Column(sa.Integer, primary_key=True)
-    group_name = sa.Column(sa.String(16), nullable=False, unique=True)
+    group_name = sa.Column(sa.String(255), nullable=False, unique=True)
     display_name = sa.Column(sa.String(255), nullable=False, unique=True)
     description = sa.Column(sa.String(255), nullable=True)
     group_type = sa.Column(