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Middlesbrough bids to become UK City of Culture 2029

By Shivani Rawat

August 10, 2026 3 Min Read

Culture city bid a ‘once in a lifetime chance’

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Stuart Whincupin Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough was one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title

Stuart Whincup/BBC Schoolchildren dancing in costume at Middlesbrough's popular Orange Pip Market. They have yellow masks attached to their heads and their arms are outstretched. They are wearing jeans and blue trousers with green, and yellow skirts wrapped around their waists. They also have black stripes across their noses. — Middlesbrough was one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title

Middlesbrough has submitted its bid to become UK City of Culture 2029 showcasing its ”creativity”, an art institution boss has said.

It was one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title in March and now judges will cut the list down to a final three, before a winner is announced.

The culture title brings with it millions of pounds of extra investment and hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Dr Laura Sillars, director of the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) said this was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the area.

She said the town was “a fascinating place with groundbreaking art projects and an incredible community spirit”.

Middlesbrough has already been chosen to host the Turner Prize, the biggest contemporary art prize in the world, later this year.

Sillars said Middlesbrough’s bid has been supported by partners across the region and the title could provide a “game-changing moment” for the town.

At Happy Rooms, a family attraction designed by artists celebrating colour, creativity and play, there is agreement that this is “Middlesbrough’s time to shine”.

Mima director Dr Laura Sillars says the culture bid is a “game-changing moment”

Stuart Whincup/BBC Dr Laura Sillars, Director of MIMA, smiles at the camera in one of the rooms. She's wearing a red suit and black top and the background is blurry. It looks like art or dance studio with a brown, wooden floor. — Mima director Dr Laura Sillars says the culture bid is a “game-changing moment”

Middlesbrough has a fast growing digital sector and those behind the bid believe a win would help drive growth, create new jobs and encourage talent to stay in the region.

Bini Araia, from the town’s International Centre, said there was much good in the town, that people rarely saw.

“On one road in Middlesbrough we have 20 different nationalities, happily living side by side,” he said.

“Students, asylum seekers, surgeons living in harmony – how beautiful is that?”

Middlesbrough was one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title in March

Stuart Whincup/BBC Crowds watch on a sunny day as a group of young dancers perform in the street. There is green and orange bunting drapped across the street and many people are wearing T-shirts. The tall, town clock can be seen against a blue sky background. — Middlesbrough was one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title in March

He said for more than a quarter of a century Middlesbrough’s Mela had become one of the most spectacular multi-cultural festivals in the North East.

The town has been longlisted along with Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

The winner will, for the first time, receive a cash prize of £10m to deliver a year of cultural activities.

The victor is expected to be announced at the end of the year.

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said the bid was about “celebrating the creativity of our residents, artists and businesses and changing how people view” the town.