Portsmouth makes community-led City of Culture bid

Portsmouth has officially submitted a bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.

It marks the culmination of a large-scale community engagement exercise undertaken across the city.

Under the campaign banner We Are Pompey 2029, organisers said the bid had been shaped by the voices, ideas, ambitions and creativity of more than 12,000 local people.

Contributions from residents had informed the submission, creating a bid that aimed to reflect Portsmouth's identity, heritage, communities and future aspirations, they said.

Chief executive of Portsmouth Creates Gemma Nichols said: "The response has been overwhelming.

"It demonstrates the pride people have in Portsmouth and their belief that culture can play a powerful role in creating opportunity, strengthening communities and shaping the city's future."

Portsmouth has produced a campaign film, Mission Pompey 2029, bringing together 125 people from across the community.

It follows an urgent mission to deliver Portsmouth's bid, racing across the city and through Portsmouth Harbour, before reaching its final destination.

The film features British sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, best known for being the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe non-stop in 1969.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council Steve Pitt said: "The submission of our UK City of Culture 2029 bid represents the collective ambition, creativity and determination of our city.

"The journey has already shown what makes Pompey special. We are a city that backs itself, supports one another and rises to challenges together."

Portsmouth is one of nine cities hoping to secure the UK City of Culture 2029 title.

It is awarded by the UK government every four years, with Bradford the most recent winner in 2025.

A shortlist of the final four cities will be announced this autumn, followed by visits and presentations to the competition's expert advisory panel.

The winner is expected to be announced in January 2027.