Plymouth has launched a bold bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029, a prestigious national title that would bring £10 million of funding to the city.
The winning city secures the funding for a year long celebration of arts and culture, alongside national recognition and long term economic and social benefits.
The competition is run by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport and takes place every four years. Bradford currently holds the title, with previous winners including Londonderry, Hull and Coventry.
Plymouth City Council says the bid is about more than a single cultural year and is being positioned as a driver for regeneration, inclusive growth and opportunity across the city.
Cllr Jemima Laing, deputy council leader and cabinet member for culture, said:
"This is an incredibly exciting moment for Plymouth to show the power of creativity to improve the lives of everyone.
"This gives us an opportunity to put culture at the heart of our city plans, supporting regeneration, new jobs and investment while ensuring growth is inclusive and benefits communities across the city."
The bid will be led by Victoria Pomery, chief executive of The Box, alongside Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture.
Victoria Pomery said the timing could not be more important for the city. She said:
“This is a real now or never moment for Plymouth a city so intrinsically linked to the UK’s histories.
"We have spent years building the cultural partnerships and infrastructure that will enable Plymouth to live up to the title of City of Culture, and the timing aligns perfectly with the wider ambition for growth, regeneration and opportunity in the city.”
Hannah Harris said Plymouth’s strength lies in the breadth of its culture and the people who create it. She said:
“Plymouth is a city that embraces culture from football to food, Beryl Cook to Joshua Reynolds, history to adventure. This competition gives us an opportunity to show the UK, and beyond, how a key coastal city can use creativity to reimagine its future.”
If Plymouth is longlisted, it will receive £60,000 to help develop a full bid. The overall winner will receive the £10 million prize.
Previous host cities have used the title to unlock further investment, support jobs and skills, and strengthen communities long after the cultural year ends.
The council says the bid will showcase everything from music, performance, heritage and visual arts to film, festivals, sport and community-led projects, while celebrating Plymouth as a city shaped by the sea.
Plymouth previously bid for City of Culture in 2017. City leaders say the cultural landscape has changed significantly since then, following more than a decade of sustained investment in arts and culture.
The first major deadline is 8 February 2026, when Plymouth must submit its initial Expression of Interest.
If longlisted, a full bid will follow in summer 2026.
A programme of creative community engagement will begin from 19 January 2026, with drop in sessions planned across the city so residents can share ideas and help shape Plymouth’s vision for 2029.
Details of how to get involved are expected to be published on the Plymouth Culture and Plymouth City Council websites.
For Plymouth, the bid is being framed as a citywide moment, with leaders calling on communities, creatives and residents to help define what a UK City of Culture year could look like on the south coast.
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