Town of Culture
Thank you Weston-super-Mare!
Whilst Weston-super-Mare has not been selected for the shortlist for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028, we couldn’t be prouder of what this journey has achieved.
Our application brought together an incredible partnership of local organisations, artists, community groups, volunteers, businesses and residents who all shared a common ambition – to celebrate everything that makes Weston-super-Mare such a vibrant, creative and welcoming place.
The response from our community throughout the process has been inspiring. The passion, ideas and commitment shown by so many people demonstrated exactly what makes Weston-super-Mare special. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed their time, creativity and enthusiasm in helping shape our bid.
The competition attracted an extraordinary level of interest, with 398 towns from across the UK applying and only 15 being shortlisted. We congratulate those towns that have progressed and wish them every success.
The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor Owen James, said:
“Whilst naturally we are disappointed not to have progressed on this occasion, I could not be prouder of what our town has achieved. The real success of this bid wasn’t simply the application itself, but the way our community came together to tell the story of Weston-super-Mare. The passion, creativity and collaboration shown throughout this process have been outstanding and are something we should all celebrate.
I would like to thank every organisation, volunteer, artist, business and resident who contributed their time, ideas and enthusiasm. Together, we demonstrated the very best of our town. We remain committed to championing the culture, creativity and heritage that make Weston-super-Mare such a special place. This may not have been our turn this time, but our cultural journey is far from over.”
The work undertaken through this process has strengthened partnerships across the town and reinforced a shared ambition to continue investing in culture. Weston-super-Mare already boasts a rich and diverse cultural offer, from its theatres, museum, festivals and public art to its independent creatives, musicians, performers, heritage organisations and community-led initiatives.
Weston-super-Mare Town Council looks forward to continuing to work alongside its partners to celebrate, support and grow the fantastic cultural opportunities that already exist here, whilst creating new opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Thank you once again to everyone who helped us tell Weston-super-Mare’s story. Together, we will continue to champion the creativity, talent and community spirit that make our town such a special place.
This may not have been our turn this time, but our cultural story is only just beginning.
Towns across the UK can put themselves forward through a national competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The first step is submitting an Expression of Interest, which sets out the town’s story, its ideas and how local people could benefit.
A shortlist of towns will then be invited to develop a full bid, with funding to help shape their plans with the community. From there, three finalists will be chosen, and one will be named UK Town of Culture 2028, receiving £3 million to bring a year of events and activity to life.
The bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 is being supported by a plethora of local organisations, councils and cultural groups working together to showcase Weston-super-Mare’s creative strengths.
On 2nd July 2026 we submitted a digital postcard showcasing what makes our town so special. Take a look at our entry and explore inspiring submissions from towns across the UK on the official UK Town of Culture Digital Map:
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