Exclusive:'Making City of Culture 2029 shortlist is our chance to show the country what Blackpool is really capable of'

Leaders have described Blackpool making the final four destinations for City of Culture 2029 as a “landmark moment” that will help “reframe people’s expectations of the resort”.

Today the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) officially announced Blackpool has been shortlisted as one of the final four places to be named UK City of Culture 2029.

Blackpool will now compete with Wrexham, Sheffield and Milton Keynes to win the accolade, which would mean a £10M, year-long celebration of arts and culture for local people to enjoy, creating new jobs and opportunities across the Fylde coast.

The resort’s tourism leader Kate Shane said being crowned City of Culture would “showcase Blackpool to new audiences, inspire more people to visit, support local businesses and create lasting economic and social benefits for the town.”

While the town’s MPs Chris Webb and Lorraine Beavers, who were present at the DCMS briefing yesterday, said this was “our chance to show the country what Blackpool really is” and it was “great to see Blackpool getting the recognition it deserves”.

Working with the Arts Council England place partnership funded Creative Blackpool development group, Blackpool Council submitted an Expression of Interest to the DCMS in January, before submitting a full bid in August.

Since the announcement, almost 30,000 people from across the country, including leading celebrities and businesses, have all joined the call for Blackpool to be awarded the title.

Adam Knight, Chair of Creative Blackpool said: “Our City of Culture year will reframe people’s expectations of Blackpool.

“With a playful and intelligent programme of events designed to surprise and excite everyone, our proud working-class roots and resilient spirit will shine through bold new creative collaborations.

“Our famous welcome will be extended world-wide and will encourage people to take a second look at the potential of their own seaside towns and coastal communities.”

Judges for the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel will now visit each of the four places, before announcing a winner in early 2027.

The announcement follows a packed programme of events in Blackpool, which has seen hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy a series of world-class free events, including the 100th anniversary celebrations of Stanley Park, the two-day Air Show, the World Fireworks Championships, Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert. The tenth anniversary of the Lightpool Festival got underway yesterday.

The events show Blackpool’s diverse and always-on approach to culture, and follow a year where the town has celebrated the works of Claude Monet, William Shakespeare and Sir Ken Dodd, as well as a special concert with the Halle Orchestra ahead of David Bowie’s collection coming to Showtown museum in 2027.

Kate Shane MBE, Managing Director of Blackpool Tourism Limited, said: “We are thrilled that Blackpool has made it through to the next round. Wherever I go, I hear the same message: people believe in Blackpool and are proud to support our bid.

“To be crowned City of Culture 2029 would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase Blackpool to new audiences, inspire more people to visit, support local businesses and create lasting economic and social benefits for the town and its communities.”

The bid has been backed by local, national and internationally recognised artists, businesses, performers, political leaders and celebrities, all asking the government to bring the accolade to Blackpool.

Successful local celebrities including the Pet Shop Boys’ Chris Lowe, punk star John Robb, explorer and author Jordan Wylie MBE and Blackpool’s most famous British export, Sooty, joined Blackpool fans such as Stephen Mulhern, Toyah Wilcox, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Laurence Llewellyn Bowen to throw their support behind the bid.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool has never needed to be told how to put on a show. We’ve been entertaining people for generations, and now we have the chance to show the country exactly what our town is made of.

“Being shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 is a chance to celebrate everything that makes Blackpool what it is. Our music, dance, comedy and entertainment, the Ballroom, the Tower, the Opera House, the Grand Theatre; our bandstands, festivals, fireworks and Illuminations.

“It is in Rebellion, our community arts groups and theatres. It is in the traditions passed down through generations, but also in the new things that are shaping our culture today, from gaming and digital creativity to new music, art and performance. Blackpool has never been a town that stands still.

“We should be proud of that. It is proud, working-class culture that has always been about bringing people together, having fun and making something happen. We have always been a town that entertains the country, and there is nowhere quite like Blackpool.

“But this bid is about much more than celebrating our past. It is about our future, and particularly the future of our young people.

“City of Culture would bring new opportunities, jobs, investment and experiences, but it could also give our young people more reasons to believe in themselves, to develop their talents and to see a future for themselves here in Blackpool.

“The bid belongs to the people of Blackpool. It belongs to our performers, artists, musicians, dancers, community groups, businesses, volunteers and everyone who makes this town what it is.

“We now need the whole town behind it. We need people to get involved and show the judges why Blackpool is special.

“We have a unique culture, a huge heart and a story that deserves to be told. Now we have the chance to show the country exactly what Blackpool is capable of.”

If successful, Blackpool would receive a £10m grant from the government towards a year-long celebration of arts and culture, to be enjoyed by local people as well as increasing the tourism economy. As well as the grant, the title of City of Culture also brings additional funding, sponsorship and investment to support regeneration and events.

Even if unsuccessful, the town would receive £125,000 to take forward some elements of the bid.

Andy Charles, Blackpool Pride of Place Director, said: “Today is a landmark moment for Blackpool. Being shortlisted for UK City of Culture recognises not only our extraordinary cultural heritage but also the scale of our ambition for the future.

“Blackpool has a story unlike anywhere else in the country. We are a town that has welcomed generations of visitors, entertained millions and continually reinvented ourselves. Being shortlisted is recognition that culture can be a catalyst for transformation, helping to create jobs, improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities and drive economic growth.

“Giving City of Culture 2029 to Blackpool would put us on a national stage, attracting new visitors, new investment and new opportunities for local people. Most importantly, it would help unlock the potential of communities right across the town and ensure that culture plays a central role in Blackpool's future success.

“We are proud to have reached this stage and excited about being one of the final four and the opportunity ahead.”

Blackpool Council has worked closely with local cultural organisations and creatives, including Creative Blackpool, LeftCoast, Grand Theatre, Aunty Social, House of Wingz, Bootleg Social, The Old Electric, Abingdon Studios and Blackpool and the Fylde College to develop the incredible programme of events and projects presented in the bid.

Over the last few months, those conversations have opened up amazing ideas about how to accelerate Blackpool’s cultural future, shaped both from within the town and through a wide network of regional and national partners, including Factory International, Opera North and Marlborough Productions.

Support from across the Fylde Coast and the county has strengthened programmes even further thanks to the backing of Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Combined County Authority and Business in the Community.

Chris Webb MP for Blackpool South said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our town. This is brilliant news for Blackpool and a huge boost for us.

“I want to thank everyone who got us to this point. Blackpool Council and Creative Blackpool for the ambition and hard work behind this bid, our theatres, music venues and grassroots arts organisations who have been laying the foundations for years, and everyone who has backed the bid so far.

“Every Lancashire MP who signed the letter I coordinated in support of Blackpool’s bid. Securing cross-party backing from every MP across the county sent a powerful, united message: Blackpool’s cultural success matters not just to our town, but to the whole of Lancashire.

“Blackpool has always brought people together through culture, but this is about much more than our history. It’s about opportunities for the next generation, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and leaving a legacy that lasts long after 2029. Culture should be part of every young person’s life here, whatever their family can afford.

“For too long Blackpool has been defined by what people think they know about it. I’ve been making our case in Westminster and this is our chance to show the country what Blackpool really is – a town with a rich cultural heritage, a thriving creative community and huge potential. Being shortlisted is a big step forward, but there’s more to do.

“Blackpool deserves the City of Culture title and I’m confident in our chances. For me we’re the clear winner. Now it’s about bringing the town together and showing everyone what we can achieve. Let’s show Blackpool in a new light.”

Blackpool Council has also been working with local businesses and attractions, such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Grand Theatre, Showtown, Blackpool Tourism Ltd, Blackpool BID, Business in the Community and Cuffe and Taylor to highlight the opportunities that City of Culture could bring to Blackpool.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “I know the team behind the bid have been working incredibly hard to reach this point, so the success is a deserved reflection of their efforts and a testament to their ability to capture everything that makes Blackpool so special.

“To be named City of Culture would be a huge boost for everyone who lives in, works in or is looking to visit Blackpool. It’s a chance to show off how unique and fabulous our town is and give all new visitors reasons to return in the future.”

“Blackpool has such a bright future, and I couldn’t be prouder to see our town in the running for this honour.”

More than 60 organisations, including membership bodies acting on behalf of other groups, have signed or submitted their own letters of support for the bid, including the leaders of Fylde and Wyre councils, the Lancashire Combined County Authority, many of our Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprises, Blackpool Heritage Forum, health bodies, business organisations, educational institutions, plus significant cultural organisations including Factory International, the V&A, Southbank Centre, British Esports Federation, the Crafts Council and Arts Lancashire on behalf of Lancashire’s National Portfolio Organisations and others.

Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North said: “This is brilliant news for Blackpool and I’m absolutely delighted we’ve made the shortlist. We have so much to be proud of, and it’s great to see Blackpool getting the recognition it deserves.

“Anyone who knows Blackpool knows what a huge part culture plays in our town. From our theatres and music venues to the smaller arts organisations doing great work in our communities, we have an enormous amount of talent here. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.

“Winning the title would be a real opportunity for Blackpool. It could bring investment, create jobs and give more young people the chance to get involved in culture, whatever their background. We know the challenges Blackpool faces and we need opportunities like this to help build a brighter future.

“There’s still a long way to go, but we should take real confidence from getting this far. I’ll continue to do all I can to make the case for Blackpool and I hope the whole town gets behind the bid. We have every reason to believe in what Blackpool can achieve.”