City of Culture 2029: Portsmouth makes longlist of nine in running for title and is up against Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham

The city’s bid is one of nine to be longlisted in the race, which means it will be given £60,000 to develop a full application. The winner of the contest will not only hold the crown for a year, but will receive £10m.

As well as Portsmouth on the longlist, Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham have made it through.

Plymouth had submitted a bid and was one of the early favourites, but has not made the cut. Other cities which were in the running but have fallen by the wayside include Peterborough, Bristol, Exeter, Carlisle, Hereford, the Isle of Thanet and Reading.

Portsmouth’s bid is being led by arts organisation Portsmouth Creates, and chair Bernie Topham said: “We are truly ecstatic that we have made the longlist of cities in the running to become UK City of Culture 2029.

“Even at the very start of this process we have seen and felt firsthand the incredible power that a competition like this can have on a community and place.

“This is a hugely proud moment for everyone here in Portsmouth, now we must continue working together to put Portsmouth on the map… Because together We Are Pompey 2029!”

Gemma Nichols, CEO of Portsmouth Creates said: “Reaching the longlist is a significant moment for Portsmouth and for everyone who has helped shape this bid so far.

“But this bid is not just about winning a title - it is about unlocking potential for the city’s residents, while showcasing a side of Portsmouth that goes far beyond its traditional

maritime identity.”

Portsmouth City Council leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “This is an exciting step forward for Portsmouth and gives us real confidence in the strength and ambition of this bid.

“Our city is rich in history, creativity and character, but what truly sets it apart is our people - the communities, organisations and individuals whose energy, talent and pride shape

Portsmouth every day. This is about the people whose lives we want to impact, raising the city’s profile and building something meaningful that lives on far beyond 2029.”

Gemma added: “Getting through to the next stage of the competition shows the city’s ambition is being recognised nationally and gives us a strong platform for the work ahead. This next phase is about listening deeper to our communities, collaborating and building a bid that is ambitious, authentic and deeply rooted in the people and places that make Pompey what it is, because together We Are Pompey 2029”

The government has talked up the benefits of being named City of Culture, saying that previous hosts have attracted “millions of pounds in additional investment and thousands of visitors to their area, as well as generating new jobs”.

Today’s announcement comes as over 230 towns have thrown their hat into the ring to become the UK’s first Town of Culture by registering their interest in bidding for that title. Many towns have also declared that they will be submitting a bid, to highlight their unique story and the elements of their local culture and heritage that they would celebrate should they be successful.

The competition is open to applications from small, medium and large towns for just under two more weeks, with the winner then tasked with delivering a vibrant cultural programme in 2028. In Hampshire Lymington and Basingstoke are working on bids.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.

“I look forward to seeing what the nine longlisted places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people.”

The UK City of Culture longlist was recommended by an independent expert advisory panel, chaired by television producer and screenwriter Sir Phil Redmond, who created Grange Hill, Hollyoaks and Brookside.

The longlisted places have been told to finalise their bids to explain fully how they will use culture to “create transformational opportunities and better lives for people living in their local area”.

As well as the £10m prize pot for the winner, the three next-best applications will receive £125,000 each to help them to take forward elements of their bid.

Sir Phil Redmond said: “Once again, the UK City of Culture competition is providing bidders the opportunity to both demonstrate and experience a focused year, using culture as the creative catalyst for change, raising awareness and changing perceptions. Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and more recently Bradford, have all demonstrated the quality and depth of cultural activity embedded across the UK, as well as the benefits of simply taking part.

“The competition brings people together, to talk to each other rather than at each other, sharing commonality and tolerating difference. Above all, allowing places to demonstrate their own pride in their places. It is for these reasons that the new UK Town of Culture competition has been launched, to share the opportunities as wide as possible, with Expressions of Interest (EOI) due by March 31.”

The UK City of Culture 2029 winner will be announced later this year and will follow Bradford’s tenure as UK City of Culture 2025 - it saw off Southampton in the final reckoning.