Lancashire town of Blackpool makes the City of Culture shortlist as four finalists revealed
Four places are now in the running for the UK City of Culture 2029 title and a £10 million prize - including Blackpool.
Blackpool is on the shortlist of just four places shortlisted to be UK City of Culture 2029.
The Lancashire resort town joins Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham in the running for the prestigious title that will unlock significant benefits for their local communities, such as increased investment, more access to cultural activities, and job creation.
Councillor Lynn Williams MBE, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool has been entertaining people for generations, and now we have the chance to show the country exactly what our town is made of.
“Being shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 is a chance to celebrate everything that makes Blackpool what it is. Our music, dance, comedy and entertainment, the Ballroom, the Tower, the Opera House, the Grand Theatre; our bandstands, festivals, fireworks and Illuminations. It is in Rebellion, our community arts groups and theatres. It is in the traditions passed down through generations, but also in the new things that are shaping our culture today, from gaming and digital creativity to new music, art and performance. Blackpool has never been a town that stands still.
"It is proud, working-class culture that has always been about bringing people together, having fun and making something happen. We have always been a town that entertains the country, and there is nowhere quite like Blackpool."
This competition, which is being heavily supported by our sister title Blackpool Gazette, supports a key part of the government's drive to boost pride in every part of the country and ensure every town and city benefits from economic growth by devolving more power, funding and decision-making to local leaders alongside the pride in place programme. Each shortlisted place is now guaranteed to receive at least £125,000 to take forward elements of their bid, with one place ultimately going on to take the title and a prize fund of £10 million.
The four locations were recommended by the UK City of Culture expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond. The shortlist was whittled down from nine outstanding longlist applications which also included Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Swindon.
As part of their bids, places were asked to explain how they would use culture as a catalyst to transform their place and the lives of communities through boosting growth, opportunities and pride.
Responding to the announcement, Chris Webb MP for Blackpool South said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our town. This is brilliant news for Blackpool and a huge boost for us.
“I want to thank everyone who got us to this point. Blackpool Council and Creative Blackpool for the ambition and hard work behind this bid, our theatres, music venues and grassroots arts organisations who have been laying the foundations for years, and everyone who has backed the bid so far.
“Every Lancashire MP who signed the letter I coordinated in support of Blackpool’s bid. Securing cross-party backing from every MP across the county sent a powerful, united message: Blackpool’s cultural success matters not just to our town, but to the whole of Lancashire.
“Blackpool has always brought people together through culture, but this is about much more than our history. It’s about opportunities for the next generation, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and leaving a legacy that lasts long after 2029. Culture should be part of every young person’s life here, whatever their family can afford.
“For too long Blackpool has been defined by what people think they know about it. I’ve been making our case in Westminster and this is our chance to show the country what Blackpool really is – a town with a rich cultural heritage, a thriving creative community and huge potential. Being shortlisted is a big step forward, but there’s more to do.
“Blackpool deserves the City of Culture title and I’m confident in our chances. For me we’re the clear winner. Now it’s about bringing the town together and showing everyone what we can achieve. Let’s show Blackpool in a new light.”
Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North said: “This is brilliant news for Blackpool and I’m absolutely delighted we’ve made the shortlist. We have so much to be proud of, and it’s great to see Blackpool getting the recognition it deserves.
“Anyone who knows Blackpool knows what a huge part culture plays in our town. From our theatres and music venues to the smaller arts organisations doing great work in our communities, we have an enormous amount of talent here. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.
“Winning the title would be a real opportunity for Blackpool. It could bring investment, create jobs and give more young people the chance to get involved in culture, whatever their background. We know the challenges Blackpool faces and we need opportunities like this to help build a brighter future.
“There’s still a long way to go, but we should take real confidence from getting this far. I’ll continue to do all I can to make the case for Blackpool and I hope the whole town gets behind the bid. We have every reason to believe in what Blackpool can achieve.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Every place has a story worth telling of its own unique history, identity and contribution. It has been amazing to see this year’s bidders for UK City of Culture showcase what makes their community claim such a special place in our national story. Great culture is everywhere, but the opportunity to showcase it, to put it on display and to show how it is woven into our national story is not.
“That is the beauty of the UK City of Culture competition, it is an undiluted celebration of what makes our largest towns and cities so brilliant.
“Congratulations to Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham on making the shortlist. They are proud of their incredible culture, and they are right to be. I wish them the best of luck for the final stage of the competition.
“For all those places that have not made the shortlist, your journey does not end here. Their energy, enthusiasm and cultural contribution is seen and valued and the bids you have created will open up opportunities for years to come."
The UK City of Culture 2029 winner will be announced in early 2027.
Previous winners Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford have shown the vast benefits of winning the prestigious title, which include attracting millions of pounds in additional investment to help boost regeneration, a year in the cultural spotlight with hundreds of events encouraging long-lasting participation in the arts, growth for local tourism and a lasting boost to community pride.
Last year Bradford led a showstopping cultural programme of over 6,500 events - over 80% of which were free - that resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations. Bradford’s year in the spotlight also led to increased opportunities for local people to get involved with events, with over 88,000 residents taking part in key projects throughout the year. 87% of Bradford 2025 audiences also agreed that the event made them feel proud of their local area.
There is also evidence that bidding to win UK City of Culture in its own right brings many benefits, including supporting a place to develop its cultural strategy and bring together key partners.
Sir Phil Redmond, Chair of the UK City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, said: “Once again there is a hard choice ahead. The four places on the shortlist continue to demonstrate both the variety and strength of creative ambition across the UK.
“Each place represents a different view, or aspect, epitomising what culture is, the sum of all we do together, and while each approaches it differently, they all share the common aim of reminding the rest of the UK of who they are, where they are and why they are worth visiting.
“I look forward to doing that myself, along with the rest of the Advisory Panel in the near future.”
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, brings culture into the heart of communities and gives people an opportunity to get involved in everything the arts have to offer. The nine longlisted bidders received a £60,000 grant to strengthen their applications which were assessed.
All bidding places, including those who were unsuccessful, will receive detailed feedback on their bids including areas for development. DCMS will also engage with them on how best they can maintain momentum and realise their cultural ambitions in the future.
Full list of longlisted bids: (*shortlisted place)
- Blackpool*
- Inverness-Highland
- Ipswich
- Middlesbrough
- Milton Keynes*
- Portsmouth
- Sheffield*
- Swindon
- Wrexham*
- The first-ever UK Town of Culture competition is also ongoing with fifteen shortlisted towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Corby, Great Yarmouth, Grimsby, Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Leith, Lerwick, Pontypridd, Port Talbot, Rotherham, Sandown, Stockton Town Centre Ward and Strabane. The shortlisted places will now work to develop and finalise their full bids, which will explain how they would use culture to create transformational opportunities and better lives for people living in their local area ahead of a winner being announced next year.