UK Town of Culture 2028: Our bid for Margate
We are pleased to share the expression of interest submitted for Margate to become the first UK Town of Culture in 2028.
This ambitious bid follows the incredible community support shown during the recent Isle of Culture campaign.
The district-wide bid for City of Culture was not shortlisted. However, the energy and passion of our residents proved that Thanet is ready for the national stage.
By focusing on Margate as the district’s cultural heart for this competition, we aim to secure a title that will bring investment, pride, and opportunity to the entire district.
Read the Expression of Interest submission
The UK Town of Culture is a prestigious new national competition. It was launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in late 2025.
The competition offers the following funding:
- The winning town: Will receive £3 million to run a world-class, six-month cultural programme.
- Two runners-up: Will receive £250,000 each to support local creative projects.
Margate was selected as our lead contender because it has a unique mix of heritage and modern creative spaces.
Our bid highlights three main strengths:
- Famous local places: Margate is home to the well-known Turner Contemporary, historic Dreamland, and a busy community of independent creatives.
- Our local story: The town has a long history as a place for rest, relaxation, and rebellion. This makes it the perfect place to tell our Town of Culture story.
- Growing our economy: This bid aligns with the work already happening to improve Margate. We want this cultural investment to create lasting improvements and new jobs for local people.
The competition criteria means our bid must focus on one specific town. However, the benefits will be felt across Ramsgate, Broadstairs, and all our surrounding villages.
If successful, the 2028 programme will benefit the whole Isle of Thanet.
Permalink- Spring 2026: Shortlist of towns to be announced by the government.
- Late 2026: Final bids submitted (if shortlisted).
- 2028: The inaugural UK Town of Culture year begins.