UK Shortlists 15 Towns for 2028 Culture Prize as Winner Stands to Gain £3 Million
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 9
UK Shortlists 15 Towns for 2028 Culture Prize as Winner Stands to Gain £3 Million
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 9
Summary
Fifteen places from nearly 400 applications have been shortlisted for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028, including Pontypridd, Birkenhead and the Isle of Bute.
Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to develop a full bid before judges pick three category winners early next year—one each for small, medium and large places.
One overall winner from those three will secure a £3 million grant to stage cultural events in 2028, while the two runners-up will get £250,000 each.
The shortlist spans all UK nations and population bands, from larger towns such as Basildon and Rotherham to smaller entrants including Lerwick, Sandown and Strabane.
The new contest will run alongside UK City of Culture 2029, extending a model that previously backed places including Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.