Inverness makes longlist for £10m City of Culture 2029 prize

The Highland capital is the only Scottish city to make this stage of the competition and will receive further funding to advance its bid.

The city put forward a joint Inverness - Highland application, which will cover the whole region, and will face competition from Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham to take the title.

Holding the City of Culture accolade could open the Highlands up to attracting millions of pounds of additional investment and thousands of extra visitors, according to the UK government, which is organising the contest.

Cllr Bill Lobban, Convener of The Highland Council, said it was an “extraordinary moment” for Inverness.

He said: “I am delighted that Inverness and the Highlands have been longlisted for UK City of Culture. This is an extraordinary moment which recognises the creativity, resilience and cultural richness of communities spread across one of the most unique and diverse regions in the UK.

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“This bid celebrates our landscapes, our languages, our young people and our shared ambition for a confident, connected and sustainable future. We are delighted to take this next step and to showcase the Highlands as a place where culture drives opportunity, innovation and pride.”

The announcement on the Inverness bid comes shortly after the city opened its new £39m Inverness Castle experience, with the museum created in the landmark which served as a sheriff court and prison until 2020.

All nine longlisted places will receive £60,000 each to help them to develop their full bids for the competition - up from £40,000 since the last competition.

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The longlist for the City of Culture was published as the UK government also pushes forward its Town of Culture 2028 honour, with Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis among those known to be bidding for the prize.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.

“I look forward to seeing what the nine longlisted places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people.”

The UK City of Culture longlist was recommended by an independent expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond and supported by Deputy Chair, Claire McColgan. Panel members have been selected based on their wide range of expertise from across the UK.

Inverness and the other longlisted places will now work to finalise their bids, which will explain how they would use culture to create transformational opportunities and better lives for people living in their local area.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said:“I’m delighted to see Inverness make the longlist to be named the next UK City of Culture. I would like to congratulate the city and the bid team on reaching this stage of the competition.

“With its blend of significant historical sites, contemporary festivals and impressive landmarks - such as the newly-restored Inverness Castle - the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ has a unique story to tell. It also has huge potential to demonstrate how culture can drive long-term investment and positive change across the region."