Hemel Hempstead snubbed in UK Town of Culture shortlist
Fifteen towns have been confirmed on the shortlist for the UK’s first Town of Culture – but Hemel Hempstead was among several Hertfordshire areas to miss out.
Bishop’s Stortford, Elstree & Borehamwood, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Hoddesdon, Letchworth, Stevenage, Tring, Ware and Welwyn Garden City & Hatfield all submitted entries to be named UK Town of Culture for 2028.
The Hemel Gazette had backed Dacorum Borough Council’s campaign to make the shortlist.
In total, the Government received 398 bids across the three categories – small towns, medium towns and large towns.
The shortlisted towns are:
- Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
- Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
- Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham
All 15 shortlisted towns will receive £60,000 to develop full bids to be judged by an independent panel. A finalist from each category will then be selected, with the overall winner announced in early 2027.
The winner will receive a £3 million grant to deliver a cultural programme for their year as UK Town of Culture, while the losing finalists will each receive £250,000 to deliver their own programmes.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the number of entries showed “how proud people are of their towns”.
“I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life,” she said.
“I am so glad that so many towns have applied, and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community.”