Celebrating Milton Keynes: Our City, Our Culture, Our Future!Milton Keynes has officially been shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2029, standing proudly alongside Blackpool, Sheffield, and Wrexham!
As a community arts centre at the heart of this vibrant city, we couldn’t be more thrilled. This is a massive honor and a powerful tribute to the passion, hard work, and creative vision of every single person who helped shape our bid.
"The last nine months have been nothing short of inspiring. Thousands of residents, local organisations, and our incredible creative community came together with a shared belief in the cultural future of Milton Keynes. We can’t wait to share this momentum and optimism with the judges!" — Cllr Jane Carr, Leader of Milton Keynes City Council
Why This Matters to Our Community
The UK City of Culture is the nation's most prestigious cultural title. It celebrates how creativity can transform neighborhoods, bring people together, and create lasting social impact.
Real Impact: Past winners have seen incredible changes—in Hull (2017), over 90% of local residents took part in cultural events, while Bradford (2025) generated around 7,000 new jobs and a brand-new performance venue.
A Boost for Local Creators: Every shortlisted city receives £125,000 to start bringing elements of their bid to life right now.
Proud to Call Milton Keynes Home
We are on the cusp of our city's 60th anniversary, and we have so much to look forward to in this landmark year and beyond.
Whoever is announced as the winner in January 2027, our arts community enters this exciting milestone year with our heads held high. As our bid proves: we’re just getting started.
What does being shortlisted for City of Culture mean to you and your creative projects here in MK? Let us know in the comments below!
