Could A Northern Ireland Town Be Crowned The First UK Town Of Culture?

From the market town of Ballymena, to the coastal charm of Portrush and the island town of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland’s towns are being urged to show what makes them worthy of this status. 

Towns now have 11 weeks to apply. The winner will deliver a vibrant cultural programme, enabling them to invest in their local area, create a lasting sense of pride in their town, and open doors to the arts for everyone. 

The inaugural Town of Culture competition was announced in October by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. It is open to small, medium and large towns - giving them a platform to tell their unique story and shine a spotlight on the vital role towns play in our national life. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 

“There is so much for Northern Ireland towns to be proud of - from the rich, local history to unique festivals and celebrations. Now it’s time they take centre stage and showcase the unique stories they have to tell. 

“We have seen the transformative power of culture through the UK City of Culture competition. I want to make sure that Northern Ireland towns have the same opportunity to make a real difference to their local community and show the world exactly why their town is so special.” 

UK Town of Culture Chair, Sir Phil Redmond said: 

“I am delighted to have been asked to Chair the new Town of Culture competition, as in the past it has been hard to adequately demonstrate the depth, breadth and diversity of the UK’s cultural landscape through the UK City of Culture’s urban lens. 

“The two competitions will complement each other while providing more opportunities for more places to both demonstrate and celebrate that creativity is not confined to the great urban concert halls, theatres or galleries. It is in everything we do together. In every town, village, neighbourhood, street or road.

“UK Town of Culture asks what makes your town special? What makes its people proud to be there? And why should that be celebrated?” 

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said:

“This competition offers towns across Northern Ireland a great opportunity to celebrate their culture and heritage on a UK-wide stage, providing a boost to the local culture and arts scene. 

“I would encourage towns across Northern Ireland to seize this opportunity and apply.” 

Towns will submit Expressions of Interest, to be judged by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond. The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition. 

Three finalists - one small, one medium, one large town - will be chosen. The winner will be crowned UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive a £3 million prize. The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of what they put forward in their bid. 

The deadline for Expressions of Interest for UK Town of Culture 2028 is 31 March 2026, with the shortlist of towns expected to be announced this Spring. 

Building on proven success 

The UK Town of Culture competition builds on the success of UK City of Culture, which has delivered transformative benefits for its four winners. Bradford, last year’s title holder, is projected to benefit from £389 million in growth across the district, with city centre footfall up 25% during its year in the spotlight. Early estimates show audiences for its City of Culture programme exceeded 3 million, with 80% of local residents surveyed saying it improved their wellbeing and made them feel proud of where they live. 

 The search for UK City of Culture 2029 is already underway for Expressions of Interest from cities, larger towns, regions and groups of places. The winning place for UK City of Culture 2029 will be awarded £10 million. 

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