Blackpool has formally submitted its application to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to become the UK City of Culture 2029, a move backed unanimously by every Member of Parliament across Lancashire.
Cross‑county backing and the next stage
The bid was lodged ahead of the deadline for longlisted places to complete their full submissions. In a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP and Chris Webb MP for Blackpool South were joined by 15 fellow Lancashire MPs in giving their support. Among those to sign was Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The submission now goes before DCMS’s independent expert advisory panel, which will assess the nine longlisted applications against the competition’s criteria. Blackpool was one of nine places longlisted earlier this year.
What the bid highlights
The letter to DCMS sets out the range of cultural assets and events the town says justify the bid. It details permanent venues and annual events as well as a network of grassroots arts organisations working within local neighbourhoods.
- Key cultural venues named: Showtown Museum, the Grundy Art Gallery, the Tower, the Grand Theatre and the Winter Gardens.
- Major events cited: the World Dance Championships and the Blackpool Illuminations.
- Local reach: the bid stresses Blackpool’s role as a cultural hub serving communities across Lancashire, from Preston to Pendle and Burnley to Blackburn.
The submission also draws attention to a sequence of anniversaries around 2029: the Blackpool Illuminations marking 150 years, 135 years since the Tower and Grand Theatre opened, and the Winter Gardens having its 150th anniversary the year before.
“This is a landmark moment for Blackpool. Every single MP across Lancashire has put their name to this bid and that is a measure of just how much this means to our town and our county,” Chris Webb MP said.
He added that Blackpool’s cultural life is not confined to a single building or postcode and argued that winning the title would be transformational for both Blackpool and the wider county.
The competitive field
Blackpool was longlisted alongside eight other places from across the UK. The bid team must now satisfy the advisory panel that their plans meet the competition’s expectations for artistic programming, legacy and community reach.
| Longlisted places |
|---|
| Blackpool |
| Inverness‑Highland |
| Ipswich |
| Middlesbrough |
| Milton Keynes |
| Portsmouth |
| Sheffield |
| Swindon |
| Wrexham |
The advisory panel will consider submissions from all nine longlisted places before selecting a winner. The decision-making process evaluates cultural planning, potential to reach new audiences, and the lasting benefits a title would deliver.
Local implications
If successful, the City of Culture title can bring a higher national profile, increased tourism and opportunities for local arts organisations through new investment and programming. The bid team highlights that Blackpool’s cultural offer is already diverse, ranging from museum displays to major public events which attract visitors from across Lancashire and beyond.
With full parliamentary backing across the county and a dossier that leans heavily on Blackpool’s established cultural calendar and historic venues, the town will now await the independent panel’s assessment.
Whatever the outcome, the submission underlines a long‑running effort to recast Blackpool’s identity beyond the pier and promenade, to emphasise its role as a creative and cultural centre for the North West.
