Scottish towns bid to become first-ever UK Town of Culture 2028

A number of Scottish towns will be going head-to-head to be named the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture 2028.

The winning town will be given £3 million to deliver the cultural elements from its bid, as part of a programme from the UK Government.

Three finalists will be chosen – a small, a medium and a large town – with the two runners-up set to receive £250,000.

The deadline for expressions of interest closed on March 31, with a shortlist of contenders to be drawn up by a judging panel, expected to be announced in the spring.

Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to progress its bid, and the winner will be announced early next year.

Which Scottish towns are in the running?

Leith

The port town has shared its proposals for the title, supported by 70 organisations including Hibs FC and rock band Idlewild.

The bid area spans the community council areas of Leith Central, Leith Harbour & Newhaven, and Leith Links, home to around 50,000 residents.

If successful, plans for the town include large-scale events on the waterfront, year-round community-led festivals, public realm improvements and £1m Community Culture Fund.

Leith is no stranger to recognition, having been ranked the fourth coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out in 2021 and 16th in 2023.

Leith has submitted a bid for the title of Town of Culture 2028 Susie Gray

The bid boasts: “The home of The Proclaimers whose “Sunshine on Leith” remains the people’s anthem, Irvine Welsh and Trainspotting, undisputed Lightweight Champion of the World Ken Buchanan, Scottish Colourist JD Fergusson, and pioneering physician and suffragette Grace Ross Cadell; the place where a cure for scurvy was found, the site of the UK’s first vertical whisky distillery, where the first set of rules for golf were written, and where the first ship to cross the Atlantic purely using steam was built. Leith is a place rich with culture, innovation and history.

“It is also an area of sharp contrasts where pockets of significant deprivation sit alongside rapid development.

“The partnership bid seeks to address these tensions, widening opportunity, creating pathways, building skills development and employability in order to protect what makes Leith distinctive while building a stronger future for its communities through a celebration of culture, investment, pride and developed partnerships.”

“Leith is more than a town of culture. Leith is culture”, Irvine Welsh said as he put his name to Leith’s bid for UK Town of Culture 2028.

Susie Gray, volunteer bid mobiliser and executive director of Premier Scotland, commented: “I am hugely lucky to work with some of the most recognised cultural organisations in the world, and still nothing beats coming home to Leith.

“It wears its heart on its sleeve. It believes in the power of a song. It’s wildly eclectic and endlessly inventive, a place where creativity belongs to everyone and is passionately shared.

“Having seen up close the impact of City of Culture on Hull, it’s exciting to see the programme broadened out to towns across the UK. Leith could do so much with the investment and opportunity that comes with an accolade like UK Town of Culture, it would be spectacular, and more people could discover its magic.”

Dalkeith and Penicuick

Midlothian alone has two towns in the running for the accolade.

Dalkeith was selected as Midlothian Council’s bid for the title, while Penicuik has submitted a separate community-led application.

Both bids will be equally supported by the council, the local authority has said.

Dalkeith’s bid will run on the theme of ‘Meeting Points’, reflecting its history as a place where people, routes and stories converge.

Penicuik was the first to declare its interest in the title earlier this month after a grassroots campaign by the community to promote its heritage and culture.

Galashiels

Galashiels is hoping to use the competition to give the town the opportunity to “come together and build something that belongs to the whole community”.

The bid will focus on its rich history, from textiles to creative spirit, and is being championed by a small working group of local organisations and community voices.

Kirkcudbright

Known as Scotland’s Artists’ Town, Kirkcudbright has a long history of creativity and cultural activity.

The bid for Town of Culture aims to build on the existing legacy while also exploring new opportunities for the town, its residents and the wider region.

As part of the application, the views of the local community are being gathered on how the title could benefit the area and how potential funding could be used to support culture and creativity locally.

Stornoway

Speaking on Stornoway’s bid, councillor Duncan Macinnes, chair of the Stornoway Area Forum, said: “Stornoway’s bid will highlight the town’s strong cultural identity shaped by its Gaelic heritage, musical traditions, history, landscape and natural assets, and strong community.

“While there will be strong competition from across the UK, we will be working closely with local partners to submit a compelling proposal that reflects both the town’s heritage and its ambitions for the future.”

What is a Town of Culture?

The UK Government’s secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, announced the competition last month to celebrate “great culture”.

“Great culture is not confined to our largest metropolitan centres; it is everywhere, rooted in communities across the country”, she said.

“But for too long that talent and contribution has gone unrecognised.

“Every town has its own story and unique contribution. Our government believes it should be seen and valued, and reflected in the story we tell ourselves about ourselves as a nation.

“Everybody deserves the chance to share their pride in the place they call home and to have access to quality art, music, dance and drama wherever they live.”

The winner will be announced in early 2027.