The North East areas bidding for Town of Culture

The deadline has passed for areas to submit their official bid to become the UK's first Town of Culture 2028.

The competition is aimed at boosting local pride and will run alongside the existing UK City of Culture contest, which was won by Bradford in 2025.

So which towns in north-east England have thrown their hat into the ring?

There are three categories within the competition which are based on the size of an area's population.

They are:

• Small town (less than 20,000 people)
• Medium (20,000 - 75,000 people)
• Large (75,000+)

There will be a winner in each category and from these, an overall winner will be selected.

The overall winner will receive £3m for a cultural programme in 2028 and the two other finalists will receive £250,000 each to put on part of their bid.

In Northumberland, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnwick, Hexham, Blyth and Amble are competing for the title.

North Northumberland Labour MP David Smith said if Berwick won it would be a "fantastic recognition for the town".

Berwick's bid is being organised by a collection of local organisations including the town council, cultural venue The Maltings and Berwick Barracks.

Meanwhile, Amble's mayor Luke McTaggart said he believed the small fishing town had a "unique offer" compared to others around the country.

"When I grew up, we only had a pizza and a kebab shop but now we have so many independent businesses, our High Street is incredibly vibrant and when we have empty units they don't stay empty for long," he said.

More than 1,000 people from Alnwick took part in a series of consultation events designed to help shape the town's bid.

Rosie Bush, a teacher at Duchess's Community High School, said: "I think it's great that our young people are being asked for their ideas as they have a real passion for the area."

Blyth Town Council said it wanted to share its story of energy - industrial, renewable and creative - with the rest of the country.

It said the bid would tell the story of a town once forged by shipbuilding, coal mining and the sea, and now helping to power the UK's renewable energy future.

Hexham said its bid would centre on the town's "powerful border heritage".

Artistic director and chief executive of Queen's Hall Arts, Katy Taylor, said the bid "gives us the chance to build on the town's already rich cultural offer, deepen our partnerships and think ambitiously about what culture can do for our community — while raising Hexham's profile on a national stage".

On Tyneside, Gateshead Council said 2028 was already a "landmark moment" for the town as it marked the 30th anniversary of the Angel of the North and the centenary of the Tyne Bridge, currently undergoing major restoration.

The cabinet member for culture, sport and tourism, Labour's Angela Douglas, called the application an "audacious move" but said it matched "our spirit, ambition and pride".

Jarrow Town Council said, if shortlisted, Jarrow Forward would work with young people, community groups, businesses, residents and creatives to develop a programme that reflected Jarrow's heritage, community strength and cultural ambition.

Leader of South Tyneside Council Tracey Dixon said: "This is an exciting opportunity to share and celebrate the national story emanating from Jarrow with the whole of South Tyneside, the wider North East region and the rest of the UK and beyond."

Across the Tyne, the home of Mercury Prize winner Sam Fender, North Shields, entered the competition after recently marking its 800th anniversary.

North Tyneside Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson said the anniversary and the area's existing cultural quarter meant the bid had a "strong foundation".

"The programme is a real opportunity to use arts, culture and heritage to support regeneration and strengthen local pride," he said.

In County Durham, Bishop Auckland, Stanley, Shildon and Barnard Castle have entered the competition.

Stanley Town Council said its campaign would aim to shine a light on "hidden Stanley" and celebrate the town's mining heritage, industrial heritage and ties to the film industry.

Labour MP Sam Rushworth said he was "really proud" to be the MP for three places which submitted bids - Bishop Auckland, Shildon and Barnard Castle.

He added he had been "closely involved" in Bishop Auckland and Shildon's bids.

"I can share that both include plans to move culture and tourism out of the flagship sites and into the town centres, to support economic regeneration," he wrote on social media.

Meanwhile, on Teesside, Stockton said its bid "aims to rebalance the cultural map- proudly showing that our small northern town punches above its weight in not only driving the future of culture, talent and ambition, but bringing world class culture to Stockton as that's what our residents expect and deserve".

The finalists and overall winners are due to be announced in early 2027.

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