Portsmouth has officially thrown its hat into the ring for UK City of Culture 2029

Portsmouth City Council, working hand-in-hand with the cultural powerhouse Portsmouth Creates, has announced that it’s submitting a formal expression of interest to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The longlist is expected in February 2026, and if Portsmouth makes the cut, it could be the start of one of the most transformative chapters in the city’s modern history.

This bid isn’t just about chasing a title. It’s about momentum. It’s about pride. And it’s about unlocking opportunities that could reshape Portsmouth’s cultural landscape for decades.

Council leader Cllr Steve Pitt summed up the feeling neatly, calling Portsmouth “bursting with creativity and community spirit”. He emphasised that the bid aims to bring real benefits: investment, growth, and fresh platforms for local talent. With Portsmouth’s 100th anniversary of city status coming up in 2026, the timing couldn’t be better.

The city has been here before, remember the joint bid with Southampton for the 2017 title? It didn’t quite make the shortlist, but since then, Portsmouth’s cultural scene has only deepened, diversified, and strengthened. Festivals, makers, performers, writers, and grassroots groups have built a thriving ecosystem that now gives this bid real weight.

Gemma Nichols, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Creates, said the campaign will bring “tangible economic, cultural and social benefits,” stressing how the process itself will amplify what’s already happening while opening even more creative pathways. Portsmouth Creates will lead the bid, championing local voices and celebrating the people who make Portsmouth’s culture what it is: vibrant, inclusive, and unmistakably Pompey.

And the potential pay-off? Just look at Hull’s experience after winning the 2017 title: nearly 800 new creative jobs, £300m in tourism spending, and six million visitors. There’s real evidence that City of Culture status can supercharge a place.

In a joint statement, Portsmouth MPs Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin called this “a huge moment for Portsmouth,” praising the city’s resilience, heritage, and rich creative spark. They said the bid isn’t just about competing, it’s about bringing communities together, inspiring young people, and giving Portsmouth the national spotlight it deserves.

There’s a real sense that Portsmouth is ready. Ready to compete. Ready to celebrate its identity. And ready to claim its place on the cultural map of the UK. With Portsmouth 100 approaching in 2026 and the bid now underway, the next few years could be some of the most exciting the city has seen in a century.