Plymouth falls at first hurdle in attempt to be 2029 UK City of Culture

Plymouth has failed to make the longlist for UK City of Culture 2029.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed in an embargoed announcement that nine places have progressed to the next stage of the competition — but Plymouth is not among them.

Plymouth had entered the race with high hopes and a £10 million bid, positioning itself as a city with a rich cultural identity and a powerful artistic and maritime heritage. In launching its campaign, city leaders said the bid would “celebrate Plymouth’s unique story” while driving regeneration, investment and civic pride.

There had been optimism that Plymouth could follow in the footsteps of previous winners such as Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford — all of which used the title to unlock significant economic and cultural benefits, attracting visitors, investment and national attention.

Today’s announcement makes clear that Plymouth will not have that opportunity in 2029.

The longlisted locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

Each of those places will now receive £60,000 to develop full applications, as the contest moves into its next phase ahead of a final decision later this year.

The competition, overseen by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, is widely seen as a catalyst for transformation, with the eventual winner set to receive a £10 million government funding package to deliver a year-long cultural programme.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the longlisted places represent communities from across the UK that are helping to “tell the story of who we are as a nation”, while emphasising the wider benefits of participation in the competition.

While the longlist marks the end of the road for Plymouth’s bid, there is evidence from previous competitions that the process itself can still leave a lasting legacy — helping cities sharpen their cultural strategies, strengthen partnerships and build momentum for future investment.

The winner of UK City of Culture 2029 is expected to be announced later this year.

The Beagle says: This is a bitter disappointment that will be felt across Plymouth: a huge campaign was already getting underway to get behind the bid, which focussed on the Ocean City's artistic heritage and industry. Stakeholders included the Theatre Royal, Plymouth Community Homes and Plymouth Argyle Football Club, while MP Luke Pollard offered his support. The success of the recent Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy retrospective (and the Beryl Trail) put the city on the UK cultural map and fuelled optimism for the bid.