Grimsby shortlisted for UK Town of Culture
Grimsby is the only entrant from Lincolnshire or East Riding to make a shortlist of 15 towns
Last updated 9th Jul 2026
Grimsby has been shortlisted to be the first-ever UK Town of Culture in 2028. Local MP Melanie Onn called it “a hugely proud day for Grimsby”.
The likes of Louth, Boston, Scunthorpe, Beverley, Driffield and Pocklington have not been successful with their bids. Grimsby is the only entrant from Lincolnshire or East Riding to make a shortlist of 15 towns.
Shortlisted towns are in three different categories of small, medium and large towns. There will be a winner in each of these.
Whichever town is eventually crowned overall winner and the UK Town of Culture will get £3m to hold a range of cultural activities and events throughout 2028. The scheme imitates the UK City of Culture, which has seen the likes of Hull and Bradford gain national attention and a tourism boost.
The two winners in the town size categories not named the overall winner will also get £250,000 each to develop part of the cultural programme they put forward. Grimsby is one of only four shortlisted in the large town category.
Shortlisted towns like Grimsby will now get £60,000 each to develop their full bids, which will be assessed further by an independent judging panel. Bids will need to explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.
There were 398 entries to be the UK Town of Culture from over 400 towns. The shortlisted towns were recommended by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond.
Grimsby’s expression of interest was accompanied by a social media campaign to back its bid under the slogan “#GY28”. The bid has been led by the council, with cross-party support for it, and the Horizon Youth Zone, along with wider creative and heritage sector support.
Cllr Freeston said it was “a proud moment for Grimsby” and the shortlisting “reflects the strength of our partnerships and the passion of our communities, especially our young people, who have led this bid with energy, pride and belief in our future. Grimsby has always had an extraordinary story to tell, and we now have an exciting opportunity to build on this momentum and showcase our town on a national stage.”
Horizon Youth Zone’s chief executive, Lucy Ottewell-Key, said: “This moment belongs to our young people and our communities, who have led this bid with ambition, imagination and belief. Being shortlisted shows that Grimsby’s voice has been heard on a national stage.”
A defining feature of Grimsby’s submission is ‘Ambition’, the specially commissioned poem written by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage for Horizon Youth Zone. Ending with the line “Step forward, the future starts at your feet,” the poem is proudly displayed at Horizon and has become a powerful symbol of confidence, hope and creative drive, reflecting the spirit of the town and the people behind the bid. Grimsby’s submission presents it as “a town on the edge where the strongest stories begin,” drawing on its rich heritage and character.
Ms Onn (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) was an early advocate for a Grimsby bid. “Today is a hugely proud day for Grimsby,” she said. “Being shortlisted for UK Town of Culture is a fantastic achievement and recognition of everything that makes our area so special.
“When I first spoke publicly about the idea nine months ago, I could never have imagined how much it would capture people’s imagination. When I drive around town and see businesses with Town of Culture posters in their window, it never fails to make me smile.
“People here are so passionate about their town, and rightly so. This is a town that is on the up, we have so many things happening, and it’s really exciting!”
She said “a huge amount of credit” had to go to Horizon Youth Zone. “The application focused a lot on promoting culture for young people and Horizon are a really key part of that.”
Ms Onn added: “Over the coming months, we will continue developing our full bid, listening to residents and organisations across the town, and making the strongest possible case for why Grimsby deserves this national recognition.”
All towns that bid were invited to submit a postcard to celebrate their bid, which were showcased last week by National Museums Liverpool. Grimsby’s entry is by local artist Francesca Young, taken from part of a piece called Homeward Bound.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns. When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.”
The full list of towns nominated are:
- Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
- Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
- Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham
The overall winner will be announced early next year.