Key Points
- Wrexham has been shortlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029 alongside Blackpool, Milton Keynes, and Sheffield.
- Wrexham is the sole Welsh candidate on the final shortlist with hopes of being crowned the UK’s first ever Welsh UK City of Culture.
- Each of the four cities on the shortlist will be allocated £125,000 to develop various aspects of their bids.
- The ultimate winner will receive a prize fund of £10 million.
- The shortlist has been whittled down from nine longlisted entries, the unsuccessful entries being Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Swindon.
- The winner of the UK City of Culture 2029 is scheduled to be announced in early 2027.
- The shortlist was selected by an expert panel for UK City of Culture 2029, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond.
- The Welsh Conservatives have reacted positively to Wrexham’s shortlisting with the likes of Sam Rowlands MS recognizing the possibilities for the city.
- Wrexham’s bid, called Wrecsam2029, is led by Joanna Knight OBE and revolves around community, collaboration, creativity and “hwyl”.
- Previously Wrexham had failed to be selected as the UK City of Culture 2025.
Wrexham (Wales Times) October 22, 2026 — It has been named on the four-place shortlist for UK City of Culture 2029, alongside Blackpool, Milton Keynes and Sheffield. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced the shortlist on 22 October, confirming that each finalist will receive at least £125,000 to develop its proposals, while the winner will receive a £10 million prize fund.
The announcement means Wrexham remains in contention to become the first Welsh city to hold the UK City of Culture designation. The title is awarded every four years and is currently held by Bradford, following previous holders Derry-Londonderry, Hull and Coventry.
As reported by the Welsh Conservatives, Sam Rowlands MS, the Member of the Senedd for Fflint Wrecsam and the party’s Shadow Minister for Finance, Education and Families, welcomed the development. The party said Wrexham’s inclusion on the shortlist was a significant achievement for the city and placed it among the final four contenders.
Wrexham’s candidacy is being led under the Wrecsam2029 banner. Joanna Knight OBE, chair of the bid, said the shortlisting was “an incredible moment” and described the support received from people and organisations locally, nationally and internationally as “phenomenal”.
As reported by the BBC, Ms Knight said:
“There’s a real sense that something very special is happening here. Just imagine what becoming the first Welsh UK City of Culture could mean… the opportunities are enormous.”
Why has Wrexham been shortlisted?
The DCMS said bidding places were asked to explain how they would use culture as a catalyst to transform their area and improve community life through boosting growth, opportunities and pride.
Wrexham’s bid proposes large-scale festivals, local showcase activities and year-round public installations. According to ArtsProfessional, the Wrecsam2029 programme is built around community, collaboration, creativity and a sense of “hwyl”, a Welsh word commonly understood as a spark of joy or spirit.
The city’s bid has also stated an ambition to make Wrexham “the world’s most playful place”. The BBC reported that Wrexham’s recent profile has been raised by the takeover of Wrexham AFC by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and the accompanying documentary series, Welcome to Wrexham.
Wrexham Council said the shortlisting placed the city in the final round of the competition, where it will compete with Blackpool, Sheffield and Milton Keynes. The council described the title as capable of bringing “huge economic and cultural benefits” to the winning location.
What happens next in the competition?
The four shortlisted places will now develop their bids further ahead of the final decision. The DCMS said the UK City of Culture 2029 winner will be announced in early 2027, while Wrexham Council stated that the result is expected in December or January.
An independent panel of judges is expected to visit the shortlisted cities before selecting the winner. Milton Keynes City Council said the panel would visit all shortlisted locations as part of the next stage.
The shortlist was drawn from nine longlisted applications. The other longlisted places were Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Swindon. Each of the nine longlisted bidders had previously received a £60,000 grant to strengthen its application.
The expert advisory panel that recommended the final four is chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, the creator of Brookside and Hollyoaks. He said the four places demonstrated “both the variety and strength of creative ambition across the UK” and represented different views of what culture means.
What have politicians and bid leaders said?
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy congratulated all four shortlisted places. In the DCMS announcement, she said the bidding cities had demonstrated “the pride that resides in their communities through the remarkable culture available to them”.
Ms Nandy added:
“Congratulations to Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham on making the shortlist. They are proud of their incredible culture, and they are right to be.”
Welsh Secretary of State Stephen Kinnock also congratulated Wrexham. He said Wales’s newest city had “a huge amount to offer in heritage, culture and sport” and said Wrexham now had a real chance to become Wales’s first City of Culture, bringing investment, more visitors and greater community pride.
The Welsh Conservatives’ statement, published on Sam Rowlands MS’s official page, said the party welcomed the announcement that Wrexham had been shortlisted. It confirmed that Wrexham was one of four finalists alongside Blackpool, Milton Keynes and Sheffield.
Nation.Cymru reported that actors Rhys Ifans and Matthew Rhys, along with television presenter Carol Vorderman, are among the public figures backing Wrexham’s bid.
How does Wrexham’s bid compare with its rivals?
| Shortlisted place | Location | Key status |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | England | Finalist for UK City of Culture 2029 |
| Milton Keynes | England | Finalist for UK City of Culture 2029 |
| Sheffield | England | Finalist for UK City of Culture 2029 |
| Wrexham | Wales | Only Welsh finalist; bidding to become first Welsh UK City of Culture |
Blackpool Council leader Councillor Lynn Williams MBE said the town had “been entertaining people for generations” and highlighted its music, dance, comedy, entertainment venues, festivals and Illuminations.
Milton Keynes City Council leader Councillor Jane Carr congratulated the other shortlisted cities and said thousands of residents, organisations and creative groups had helped shape the city’s bid.
Sheffield City Council leader Councillor Fran Belbin said the shortlisting was “fantastic news” and described Sheffield as a city built on creativity, innovation and community spirit.
Background of the development
The UK City of Culture title is awarded every four years by the UK Government through DCMS, working with the devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Previous winners are Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.
Wrexham previously entered the contest for the 2025 title but lost out to Bradford. ArtsProfessional reported that Wrexham announced its intention to bid for the 2029 competition soon after that result.
The DCMS said previous title holders have attracted millions of pounds in additional investment, supported regeneration, increased tourism and created opportunities for residents to take part in cultural activity. It cited Bradford’s 2025 programme, which included more than 6,500 events, over 80% of which were free, and involved more than 88,000 residents in key projects.
The government also said that bidding itself can bring benefits, including helping places develop cultural strategies and bring together key partners. Unsuccessful bidders will receive detailed feedback and support from DCMS to maintain momentum.
Prediction: What could this mean for Wrexham residents?
For Wrexham residents, the shortlisting provides a guaranteed £125,000 to develop parts of the bid, even before the final result is known. If Wrexham wins, the city would receive a £10 million prize fund and could expect a year-long cultural programme, increased visitor interest and potential investment in cultural organisations and local events.
The outcome could also affect local businesses, tourism operators, artists, venues and community groups. The DCMS said the title can unlock increased investment, wider access to cultural activities and job creation, while previous winners have seen growth in tourism and long-term participation in the arts.
