Blackpool has been invited to submit a bid to be the UK City of Culture 2029.
The council, working with the Arts Council England place-partnership funded Creative Blackpool development group is preparing a bold and ambitious proposal to submit this summer.
If successful, Blackpool would receive £10m to host a year-long celebration of arts and culture designed for local people, while boosting the visitor economy and creating new jobs and strengthening the town's creative identity for years to come.
Blackpool’s cultural life is rich, varied and proudly homegrown. From Showtown Museum, which honours the town’s iconic entertainment heritage, to the Grundy Art Gallery, a National Portfolio Organisation presenting contemporary work from national partners and Blackpool's own creative talent. Our cultural landscape also includes the work of many other organisation, venues and community groups - each contributing to a vibrant ecosystem that spans major international events like the World Dance Championships, to grassroots arts programmes delivered in neighbourhoods across the town like LeftCoast.
The timing could not be more fitting. In addition to the 150th anniversary of the Blackpool Illuminations, 2029 marks 135 years since the opening of The Blackpool Tower and the Blackpool Grand Theatre, while the Winter Gardens celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2028.
Together, these milestones highlight the depth of Blackpool’s cultural legacy—and the opportunity to showcase its future.
I Back Blackpool
Our hometown is truly one of a kind. Blackpool’s rich mix of culture, creativity, and entertainment means there’s something here for everyone, no matter their age, background, or story. Earning the title of City of Culture 2029 would shine a national spotlight on the talent, imagination, and resilience that already define our community. It would celebrate the people who make this place extraordinary and give every resident a reason to feel proud of our bold, vibrant, and culturally dynamic town.
Complete the form to back Blackpool and support our bid.