31 March 2026 marks the deadline for towns across the UK to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) for the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.
The new national programme, led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), is designed to recognise and invest in the cultural identity of towns — from grassroots creativity and heritage to everyday community life.
What is UK Town of Culture?
UK Town of Culture is a new UK-wide competition that builds on the success of UK City of Culture, shifting the focus to towns of all sizes.
The aim is to celebrate the cultural contribution of towns, support local creativity, and strengthen pride in place.
The winning town will deliver a major cultural programme in 2028, expected to run for around six months.
What was submitted today?
The Expression of Interest is the first stage of the process.
At this point, towns are not required to submit detailed plans. Instead, they are asked to outline:
- Their town’s story and identity
- What makes their culture unique
- How they would use culture to bring people together
- Their readiness to deliver a programme
If a high number of applications are received, the initial assessment will focus on one key element: the strength of the town’s story.
Funding available
The competition includes a total prize fund of £3.5 million:
- £3 million for the overall winning town
- £250,000 each for two finalist towns
- £60,000 development funding for shortlisted places
Shortlisted towns will use the development funding to strengthen their full applications, including research, consultation, and programme planning.
What happens next?
The competition will now move into its next stages:
Spring 2026
Shortlisted towns will be announced.
Spring – Autumn 2026
Shortlisted places will develop full applications, supported by £60,000 funding.
Autumn 2026
The selection panel will visit shortlisted towns.
Early 2027
Finalists and the overall winner will be announced.
2028
The winning town will deliver its cultural programme.
What are judges looking for?
Applications are assessed against a set of criteria, including:
- A strong and distinctive local story
- Community involvement and participation
- Accessibility and inclusion
- Creative ambition and quality
- Strong partnerships
- Clear and realistic delivery plans
The programme is intended to be shaped by communities, with an emphasis on grassroots involvement and broad public access.
Why this matters
The launch of UK Town of Culture represents a shift in how cultural investment is directed — recognising that culture is not limited to major cities, but is embedded in towns across the UK.
Alongside the funding, the process of bidding itself is expected to bring benefits, including stronger collaboration between organisations, increased visibility, and a renewed focus on local identity.
Looking ahead
With the first stage now closed, attention turns to the shortlist announcement expected later this spring.
The competition will continue over the coming year, leading to the selection of the UK’s first Town of Culture in early 2027.
More updates will follow as the shortlist is announced.
