Stockton shortlisted to become UK's first Town of Culture
Nearly 400 places from across the country entered the landmark competition
Last updated 10th Jul 2026
Stockton has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture.
This comes as the Government confirmed that it has received an incredible 398 bids from over 400 hopeful towns as part of the competition.
15 towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title.
The shortlisted towns are:
• Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
• Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
• Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham
Shortlisted towns will now receive £60,000 each to develop their full bids, which will be assessed by the independent judging panel. One finalist will then be selected from each category with the overall winner being announced early next year.
Chris MacDonald, MP for Stockton North, said: "It's fantastic recognition for the culture in Stockton. I've been banging on about this for so long, really trying to raise the profile and the great work of our Labour Council as well. And it's more than just the amazing theatres we've got, you know, the Globe, the Georgian theatre, the music venues, it's also our heritage as well.
"We have the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200th anniversary last year, the friction match this year too and the investments that we've been making to the opening of our new Riverside Park as well, the redevelopment that's happening in Stockton, the great opportunities for people to get involved in public festivals as well and I'm so pleased that that's been recognised but now we need to push on and see if we can make it down to the winning position.
"We've got a huge ambition for the future. The people of Stockton have, the Labour Council has as well. And winning the Town of Culture would really help us to put that ambition into practice. But what we really need is to get everyone behind it.
"So I really want to see everyone in Stockton, whether you live in Stockton itself or you live in Billingham or Norton, across the whole borough, getting together to make sure that we can put Stockton right at the top of that list and win.
"The thing that's different about Stockton when it comes to culture, it's not just about the performances and the shows and all of those sorts of things, though many people travel to Stockton for that. It's a real expression of the kind of people we are, who the people of towns like Stockton, Billingham and Norton really are.
"And I remember when there were riots happening around the country and lots of really divisive attacks in communities. I was stood on Stockton High Street for the Stockton International Riverside Festival, with so many other people, people of different faiths, races and different communities all together, all celebrating together. And that's how culture brings us together."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I want to say a massive congratulations to the fifteen shortlisted towns and I wish them luck in the next round of the competition.
“The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns. When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.
“I am so glad that so many towns have applied and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community.”
Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: “The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.
“That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.
“I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape. I’d like to thank them all for that.”
The shortlisted places will now work to finalise their bids, which will explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.
From these 15 shortlisted towns, the independent panel will recommend the best small, medium and large town from the full applications they receive. An overall winner from these three towns will be designated the “UK Town of Culture 2028” and receive a £3 million grant from the government. The additional two towns, from the other two categories, will be selected as finalists and receive £250,000 each to carry out part of their programme.
The Government says the UK Town of Culture competition is part of their ambition to restore pride in local areas in every part of Britain and deliver a decade of national renewal, following the announcement of the Pride in Place Programme last year.
In the North East, these were the towns who had made an initial bid, which Stockton won:
• Alnwick
• Amble
• Barnard Castle
• Bedlington
• Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Hexham
• Peterlee
• Shildon
• Stockton Town Centre Ward*