Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth miss out on UK City of Culture 2029 shortlist

Four towns remain in the race

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has narrowed the UK City of Culture 2029 competition to Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham. Each shortlisted place will receive at least £125,000 to develop its proposal, and the eventual winner will share in a £10m prize fund to pay for a year of large-scale events and community activity. The shortlist was recommended by an expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, who will visit each place before a final decision. The winner is due to be announced in early 2027.

Three towns eliminated

Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were all on the nine-strong longlist, where each place received £60,000 to help prepare its bid, but none progressed to the shortlist. In Ipswich, MP Jack Abbott said he remained proud of the town and argued that the bid had changed how Ipswich sees itself. Amy Vaughan, bid director for Ipswich 2029, said the town had shown what it can achieve when it comes together. Middlesbrough's Labour MP Andy McDonald described the area as a cultural powerhouse and said the town would go ahead with its plans regardless. Middlesbrough Council has already scheduled a programme of events in 2030 to mark the town's 200th birthday and build on the bid. In Portsmouth, MP Amanda Martin said she was absolutely gutted, while council leader Steve Pitt said the city would keep driving its cultural identity. Portsmouth is also opening a free exhibition marking the city's centenary of city status at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, spanning three galleries and 20 themed sections.

Government response

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy addressed the places that did not make the cut:

For all those places that have not made the shortlist, your journey does not end here.

Culture Minister Stephanie Peacock said the field had been highly competitive and that each shortlisted location had something unique to offer. DCMS said the cultural spotlight has helped previous winners Derry-Londonderry, Hull and Coventry attract millions of pounds in extra investment. Bradford, the current holder of the title, led a cultural programme of more than 6,500 events in 2025, over 80% of them free, which resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations.

Milton Keynes and Wrexham

Milton Keynes was given city status in 2022, and council leader Jane Carr, a Liberal Democrat, called the shortlisting a huge honour:

This is a huge honour and a tribute to the hard work and vision of everyone who has helped to shape Milton Keynes' bid.

The bid includes a proposed £76m, 4,000-capacity entertainment venue at Elder Gate that could be open by 2029, subject to public consultation. Wrexham, which also received city status in 2022, is the other shortlisted place with city status, and the shortlist includes Blackpool, which is a larger town and is also eligible under the competition's rules.