More than 400 towns across the UK have entered the race to become the country's first-ever UK Town of Culture, as ministers prepare to unveil a shortlist in the coming weeks.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed it received 398 applications representing more than 400 towns following the launch of the inaugural competition last year. The initiative aims to celebrate local identity, boost investment and expand access to arts and culture across the UK.
To mark the milestone, the Museum of Liverpool hosted a digital exhibition featuring postcards submitted by every bidding town, offering a snapshot of the places, communities and cultural ambitions behind each application. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and independent judging panel chair Sir Phil Redmond visited the exhibition ahead of the shortlist announcement.
The exhibition returns the spotlight to Liverpool, whose designation as European Capital of Culture in 2008 helped inspire the creation of the UK City of Culture programme. The government hopes the new Town of Culture initiative will replicate that success for smaller communities.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “For far too long, towns across the UK have felt left out of our national story.
Today we celebrate the local pride that has always existed in towns around the country within this amazing display of postcards from bidding towns.
Through UK Town of Culture, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life. That contribution is clear to see today and I hope each and every town is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their community in the competition”.
Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: “The number of towns that have entered the competition is incredible. It is a distinct moment in its own right, when people overwhelmingly wanted to demonstrate the sense of pride they have in their own communities.
It is why we invited every one of them to send a postcard, a snapshot, of where they are, who they are, and how taken together, each contributes to our shared national story.
The postcards, along with their initial bids will form part of our national archive so future generations can look back and appreciate this significant cultural moment of history”.
After the exhibition, the postcards will be preserved in the National Museums Liverpool collection as a permanent record of the inaugural competition.
Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said: “It is a great honour to welcome the Secretary of State to Museum of Liverpool, a venue built to celebrate a city’s history, culture and people, past and present.
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.
We wish the hopeful towns every success and look forward to seeing how their ambitious cultural visions continue to inspire local communities and visitors alike”.
The winning town will stage a year-long cultural programme in 2028, following in the footsteps of previous UK City of Culture hosts including Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.
Ministers believe the benefits extend beyond the eventual winner. The bidding process itself is intended to encourage civic participation, strengthen local partnerships and inspire residents to engage with cultural activities.
The government points to Bradford's City of Culture programme as evidence of the model's impact. During its cultural year, the city delivered around 5,000 events, attracted an audience of approximately three million people, involved more than 800 organisations and secured significant investment for local cultural institutions, while tens of thousands of residents took part in community projects. Photo by John Bradley, Wikimedia commons.
