Milton Keynes City Council will bid for UK City of Culture 2029 title
The UK City of Culture programme is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Milton Keynes City Council has confirmed that the city will bid for the UK City of Culture 2029 title.
The UK City of Culture programme, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), shines a spotlight on a city’s strengths while supporting new, transformative cultural activity.
The winning place will receive £10 million to deliver its programme, with runners‑up receiving £125,000 and all longlisted areas receiving £60,000 to develop their proposals.
Milton Keynes City Council is leading the bid, working in partnership with organisations from across the city, including The Open University, Stadium MK and Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture.
Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking, said:
“Becoming a City of Culture in 2029 would be a powerful moment for Milton Keynes — a chance to build on our bold design heritage, supercharge our cultural offer, and show the rest of the country why this is one of the most exciting, inventive and welcoming cities in the UK.
"This is about celebrating the spirit of Milton Keynes and shaping our next chapter together.”
The winner of the UK City of Culture 2029 title will be announced towards the end of 2026.