Plymouth announces bid for UK City of Culture 2029
This isn’t Plymouth’s first attempt at the accolade, the city previously submitted a bid in 2017
Last updated 13th Jan 2026
Plymouth is to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2029, with the winning city set to receive £10 million in funding for a year-long celebration of arts and culture.
Plymouth City Council say the bid aims to highlight Plymouth’s vibrancy, and showcase it's strengths as a coastal city as well as its dynamic histories.
Alongside featuring music, performance, heritage and visual arts, the bid will also showcase Plymouth’s pioneering approach to marine research and social enterprise.
Organisers say the plan will focus on involving communities across Plymouth, creating more ways for people to engage with culture and amplifying local voices throughout the process.
The competition, led by the Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), takes place every four years.
Previous UK City of Culture winners include Bradford (2025), Derry/Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and Coventry (2021).
Longlisted places will receive £60,000 to support the development of their bids, with the overall winner receiving £10 million in prize funding
Securing the title could bring long-term cultural and economic benefits to Plymouth while providing funding for a cultural programme in 2029.
Building on Plymouth’s growing cultural scene
This isn’t Plymouth’s first attempt at the accolade; the city had previously submitted a bid in 2017.
Plymouth City Council say since then, sustained investments have transformed the local cultural landscape, with stronger infrastructure and creative collaborations ready to support the new bid.
Victoria Pomery, CEO of The Box and Head of Culture for Plymouth City Council, 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.”
"Plymouth’s bid aligns with wider priorities such as new housing developments, city centre regeneration, and positioning the city as an innovation hub.
"The organisers hope to show how culture can drive sustainable growth while strengthening community ties."
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, 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, amplify the voices of its communities and drive a new form of sustainable regeneration and growth.”
Commenting on Plymouth’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2029, Fred Thomas MP said:**** “I’m absolutely thrilled that Plymouth is putting in a bid to be UK City of Culture 2029.
“Everyone here in Plymouth knows just how rich and vibrant our cultural scene is – arts, sport, performance, heritage and much more – Plymouth has it all.
“This is our chance to showcase what our incredible city has to offer and widen access to arts and culture across the city, no matter who you are or where in the city you live.
“I’m fully behind this bid and would encourage everyone in Plymouth to get behind it too.”
How residents can get involved
Creative community engagement will be central to Plymouth’s bid, with people across the city encouraged to contribute ideas and help shape the vision for 2029.
Community drop-in sessions will begin on 19th January 2026, with updates published on the Plymouth Culture and Plymouth City Council websites.
An Expression of Interest will be submitted by 8th February 2026, followed by a full bid in summer 2026 if Plymouth is longlisted.