Setback for Plymouth after failing to be selected for ‘City of Culture' longlist

Plymouth has failed to secure a place on the longlist for UK City of Culture 2029 after the Government revealed the nine locations progressing to the next stage of the national competition.

The announcement, made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport earlier today (18 March), confirmed that Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham will go forward to develop full bids.

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Each longlisted place will receive £60,000 in funding to support the next phase of their application, with the eventual winner set to receive £10 million to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2029.

Plymouth’s exclusion has been described as disappointing by city leaders, who had hoped the bid would showcase its heritage, creative industries and cultural ambitions.

Councillor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member for Culture at Plymouth City Council, thanked those involved in the submission while acknowledging the setback.

“I want to share my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Plymouth’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029,” she said.

“While we are extremely disappointed not to progress, the assessment panel highlighted just how strong Plymouth’s cultural offer already is.”

She added that the bid had demonstrated the city’s long history and creative present, describing Plymouth as a place where culture “connects us, defines us, and will remain central to our city’s growth”.

The council also paid tribute to Plymouth Culture, which led the work on the expression of interest, and to the artists, organisations and residents who contributed ideas.

More than 1,000 people were said to have taken part in shaping the proposal, and, despite not progressing, Cllr Laing insisted the process would leave a lasting legacy.

“This is not the end of anything, it is the continuation of our momentum,” she said. “We will keep telling Plymouth’s story, nurturing creativity and building the confident, connected coastal city we all know we can be.”

The UK City of Culture competition, which runs every four years, is designed to drive economic growth, tourism and community engagement through culture. 

Previous hosts have included Hull, Coventry and Bradford, who currently hold the 2025 title.

Plymouth is one of three South West cities to be rejected for the 2029 bid, with Exeter and Bristol also failing to make the longlist.

Alongside the City of Culture programme, the Government has also launched a new UK Town of Culture competition for 2028, aimed at smaller communities. 

More than 230 towns have already registered interest, including Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the initiatives were intended to “restore pride in every part of Britain” and highlight the contribution of communities nationwide.