The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed the longlist on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, naming Ipswich alongside Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham. Nine places were longlisted rather than the eight originally anticipated.
Bristol, regarded by many as a cultural hotspot, was among those that did not make the cut. Ipswich did – from a field of 17 applicants.
Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said the announcement was a moment for the whole town to savour.
"This is fantastic news for Ipswich and a huge moment for everyone who has worked so hard to get us here. Being longlisted in this highly competitive national competition shows the strength of this town's story and the talent, creativity and ambition that exists here."
Abbott, who has been among the bid's most vocal supporters since its launch, added: "This bid has always been about the future of the town. It is about unlocking investment, creating opportunities for young people and showing the rest of the country what Ipswich is capable of. The hard work continues, but today is a real milestone and something the whole town can be proud of."
What it could mean for Ipswich
The stakes could hardly be higher. Past UK City of Culture winners have seen hundreds of millions of pounds of additional investment flow into their local economies, with thousands of jobs created and tourism significantly boosted. For the first time, the 2029 competition also comes with a confirmed £10 million cash prize to help the winner deliver its year-long cultural programme.
Bradford, the current holder, offers a glimpse of what is possible. Last year, the city delivered 5,000 events – more than 75% of them free – attracting an audience of three million and involving over 650 local artists and organisations. More than 87,000 residents took part in key projects throughout the year, and over 11,000 pupils benefited from education programmes in the first six months alone.
Previous winners Derry-Londonderry, Hull, and Coventry have each demonstrated how the title can reshape a town or city's identity and economic fortunes over the long term.
We believe Ipswich is ready for the same.
A town-wide effort
DanceEast, our nationally acclaimed dance house on Ipswich's waterfront, has been leading the development of the bid. Bryony Hope, the organisation's head of communications and development, said the longlist announcement was recognition of the ambition that has been building across the town.
"Being named on the longlist for UK City of Culture 2029 is an important moment for Ipswich and recognition of the ambition that exists here. The bid has been shaped by genuine partnership, collaboration and leadership — from Ipswich Borough Council and cultural organisations through to businesses, community organisations, residents, children and young people, and Ipswich Town Football Club. We are all united by a shared belief in the role that culture can play in strengthening communities and supporting our shared future."
Hope added that young people are central to the vision: "Ensuring that the next generation can access and shape culture in Ipswich is a central part of the vision behind the bid."
Large organisations in the town have supported the bid from the outset. Ipswich Town FC chairman Mark Ashton said the club was "proud to be supporting Ipswich's bid," describing it as "about celebrating everything that's good about our town." Suffolk New College principal and chief executive Alan Pease said that winning City of Culture "would open doors for our students and strengthen Ipswich's reputation as a place where talent can thrive."
Backing the bid way before the longlist
When Ipswich launched its bid campaign in January, urging residents, businesses and organisations to sign up publicly ahead of the Expression of Interest deadline, Ipswich.co.uk was among the first to put its name behind it – not because the outcome was guaranteed, but because we believed in the town.
While Newsquest, publishers of the US-owned-and-edited Ipswich Star championed City of Culture bids in Reading, Swindon, Blackpool, Carlisle and Herefordshire, we have been championing only Ipswich's bid, from the moment it was announced. We've contributed to public forums, pushed back against misinformation and negativity on social media, and made the case — repeatedly — that Ipswich deserves to be taken seriously on a national stage.
Today's longlist confirmation is vindication of that belief, but also a reminder of the importance of having a truly independent local media fighting for our town – and only our town.
What happens next
Each of the nine longlisted places will receive £60,000 – up from £40,000 at the last competition – to develop a full application. The shortlist will be announced in summer 2026, with panel visits to shortlisted places following in September. The winner will be announced in winter 2026.
Ipswich is the only place from the East of England on the longlist, giving the town a strong regional case to make. But the national field is formidable. From Sheffield's globally influential music and film culture to Portsmouth's civic pride and Wrexham's Hollywood story, every longlisted place will be making a compelling argument.
Bryony Hope made clear that DanceEast and its partners are focused on doing exactly that: "We are proud to see Ipswich recognised nationally and we welcome the opportunity to build on this momentum. Our focus now is on working with partners and young people across Ipswich, our region, nationally and internationally, to develop the strongest possible case to become UK City of Culture 2029."
A shrewd decision in hindsight
Alongside today's longlist announcement, the government confirmed that over 230 towns have already registered interest in the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition – a similar but separate contest for smaller areas in 2028. Ipswich qualified for both Town and City of Culture, but the decision to stretch its ambition and go for the City of Culture title now looks a shrewd one, given how many entrants have already put themselves forward for Town of Culture.
The bottom line
Making the longlist is not the destination – it is the starting pistol. But for a town that has spent years fighting for recognition, being named among nine places from a field of 17 applicants is a statement of intent and an achievement in its own right. Now the real work begins. If you have not already signed up to support the bid, there has never been a better moment. Visit ipswich2029.com and be part of it.
