Three Scottish locations have been shortlisted for the UK's first ever Town of Culture award, despite two of them not being traditional towns. Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands and the archipelago's largest settlement, is shortlisted in the small towns category. It is joined there by the Isle of Bute, located just off the Ayrshire coast, which was named the best place to live in Scotland by The Sunday Times in 2022.
Scottish Contenders in the Running
The Sunday Times judges said at the time: "Bute stands head and shoulders above all the other Scottish Islands for commutability, and it’s full of adventurous locals fizzing with ideas to make their neighbourhoods shine." In the medium towns section, Edinburgh's popular port district of Leith is nominated. They are among the final candidates for a whopping £3 million grant but have already managed to scoop some money.
The 15 shortlisted towns were selected from nearly 400 applicants and will receive £60,000 to develop full bids to win the award in 2028, in conjunction with 2029’s City of Culture award. Described by judges as a "breath of fresh air", Leith was noted for its diversity, creative roots and trendy places to eat.
Prize and Categories
The winning town will be crowned "UK Town of Culture 2028," bagging a £3 million government grant and hosting a season of culture that year. The shortlisted towns are split into three categories, with one winner from each category making up a list of finalists, and runners-up receiving a £250,000 grant.
The full list of shortlisted towns includes: Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward; Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot; Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby, and Rotherham.
Government and Panel Reactions
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns. When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life. I am so glad that so many towns have applied and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community."
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also running its fifth UK City of Culture award, with previous winners being Derry-Londonderry in 2013, Hull in 2017, Coventry in 2021 and Bradford in 2025. The winner of that competition will receive a £10 million prize with the similar intention of it being spent on delivering cultural activities, restoring pride in local areas and securing growth.
Panel Chair's Comments
The Town of Culture shortlist was decided by an independent panel chaired by Brookside, Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Sir Phil Redmond. Sir Phil said: “The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have and continue to contribute to our national story. That, of course, has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners. I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list."
