Portsmouth is working together for UK City of Culture 2029
To mark the next stage of Portsmouth’s ambitious bid for the UK City of Culture 2029, hundreds of local people, cultural organisations and businesses are coming together to demonstrate the collective ambition behind the bid and the strength of support building across the city.
Dominic Jones CEO The Mary Rose Trust said:
“Portsmouth is a city bursting with creative energy, diverse voices and ambitious ideas, and this bid is an opportunity to unlock even more for our communities and our cultural future. From our unique maritime heritage to the creativity, we see across the city today, backing We Are Pompey 2029 is about celebrating who we are and sharing that story with the world”
Longlisted alongside Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham, Portsmouth is facing strong competition as it sets its sights on becoming the first city on the South Coast to secure the title.
Gemma Nichols CEO of Portsmouth Creates said:
“This is a bid shaped by the people of Portsmouth, a city defined by its creativity, ambition and strong sense of community. We Are Pompey 2029 is about bringing everyone together to tell our stories, celebrate our talent and use culture to create new opportunities and a lasting legacy for the city.”
Work has begun across the city to build a bold, community-led bid that reflects Portsmouth’s creativity, heritage and future ambition, with Team Portsmouth united behind a shared vision to put the city on the national cultural stage.
If successful, the bid would create a lasting legacy for Portsmouth, helping to drive sustainable economic growth, attract investment and tourism, create new businesses and high-quality jobs, raise aspirations and develop skills, strengthen civic pride and community cohesion, and place cultural regeneration at the heart of the city’s long-term ambitions.
The next couple of months are focused on setting Portsmouth apart, engaging with Portsmouth’s wide communities and partnership working designed to build momentum behind the bid. The shortlist is expected to be announced in autumn 2026, with visits from the UK City of Culture 2029 Expert Advisory Panel anticipated later in the year.
