The government has received 398 bids representing over 400 towns for the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition, with a shortlist due in the coming weeks.
More than 400 towns across the UK have applied to become the first UK Town of Culture, the government has confirmed.
Following the launch of the competition last year, the government received 398 bids representing over 400 towns. A shortlist will be announced in the coming weeks.
Every bidding town was invited to submit a postcard to champion its bid. The postcards were shown in a digital display at the Museum of Liverpool on 2 July and will remain within National Museums Liverpool’s national collection alongside the initial bids.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the independent panel judging the bids, visited the museum to see the display. The visit marked a return to the city that secured the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008 and prompted the introduction of the UK City of Culture competition.
Laura Pye, director of National Museums Liverpool, said “The Museum of Liverpool is itself a lasting legacy of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. It stands as a powerful reminder that investment in culture creates benefits that endure long after the spotlight has moved on – not only in our buildings and public spaces, but in the confidence, pride and opportunities it creates for communities.”
The winner of the UK Town of Culture competition will host a season of culture in 2028. Previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition are Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.
As UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford ran a programme of 5,000 events, more than 75% of which were free. According to the government, the programme drew an audience of three million, involved over 800 organisations and resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations, with over 100,000 residents taking part in key projects.
