Bangor has officially entered the race to become the UK Town of Culture 2028, as part of a nationwide competition celebrating the culture, creativity and community spirit of towns across the United Kingdom.

Although Bangor holds city status, it is eligible to compete because the competition is based on population size rather than legal status. With around 17,000 residents, Bangor falls within the “town-sized” communities the competition has been designed to support, making it one of the smallest cities in the UK eligible to bid.

As part of its submission, Bangor has also created a digital postcard showcasing some of the city’s best-known landmarks, including Garth Pier, Bangor Cathedral, Pontio, the city centre and its green spaces. The postcard now features on the official UK Town of Culture digital map alongside entries from communities across the UK.

Bangor’s digital postcard describes the city as:

“A small city with a big spirit”, highlighting its unique location between the mountains of Eryri and the Menai Strait, its rich history, welcoming Welsh atmosphere and wealth of outdoor adventures, culture and heritage.

In a statement announcing the submission, Bangor City Council said:

“Bangor City Council is delighted to announce that Bangor has officially submitted its Expression of Interest to become the UK Town of Culture 2028.”

The council added that the bid reflects the city’s ambition to celebrate everything that makes Bangor special.

“Our Expression of Interest reflects our ambition to celebrate everything that makes our city special, from our rich history and proud Welsh heritage to our vibrant arts and cultural scene and stunning natural surroundings.”

The council said that, if invited to progress to the next stage, the bid would provide an opportunity to showcase Bangor on a national stage while helping attract investment, visitors and new opportunities for the city.

What is the UK Town of Culture?

The UK Town of Culture is a new Government initiative designed to recognise and celebrate places where culture, creativity and community play a central role in local life.

Run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the competition aims to showcase towns with a strong cultural identity while encouraging tourism, supporting local businesses and creating a lasting legacy through arts, heritage and community-led projects.

Unlike the long-established UK City of Culture programme, which focuses on larger urban areas, the Town of Culture competition is aimed specifically at town-sized communities. Eligibility is determined by population rather than official city status, allowing Bangor to compete despite being a city.

Following the Expression of Interest stage, an independent advisory panel will select a shortlist of places to develop full bids. Each shortlisted community will receive £60,000 to prepare its proposal before a winner is chosen in early 2027.

The successful town will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month programme of cultural events and activities throughout 2028, while two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to help deliver elements of their cultural programmes.

North Wales Well Represented

Bangor is not the only North Wales community hoping to secure the title. Caernarfon and Holyhead have also submitted Expressions of Interest, meaning three communities from the region will be hoping to impress judges and progress to the next stage of the competition.

The shortlist was originally expected to be announced in the spring but, due to the high number of applications received, councils have since been advised that successful places are now expected to be notified later this month.

For Bangor, a successful bid would provide a unique opportunity to showcase the city’s rich Welsh heritage, thriving arts scene, university, history and spectacular natural setting to a national audience, while helping attract new visitors, investment and opportunities for both the city and the wider North Wales region.

The city council says this is “just the beginning” and plans to share more about the bid over the coming months, celebrating the people, places and stories that make Bangor an exceptional place to live, work and visit.