18/03/2026
Peterborough City of Culture 2029 Bid and the Launch of Peterborough 2033:
Peterborough has today confirmed that it will not progress to the next stage of the UK City of Culture 2029 competition. At the same time, the city is launching Peterborough 2033 – a new long-term cultural ambition that builds on the collaboration, confidence and ideas brought together through the bid process.
While we are naturally disappointed not to move forward in the competition, the experience has ignited something important for Peterborough. In just a few short months, organisations and individuals from across the city came together around a shared belief in what culture can do for our future. That collaboration, ambition and positivity now form the foundations for what comes next.
Competitions like UK City of Culture are as much about the journey as the outcome. The process challenges cities to reflect on who they are, what they stand for and what they want to become. In Peterborough, it has strengthened partnerships, encouraged new ideas and helped bring renewed focus to the role that culture can play in shaping the future of our city.
Peterborough already has an extraordinary cultural story to tell. Ours is a city of deep heritage and remarkable archaeology, from internationally significant prehistoric discoveries to centuries of history that continue to shape the identity of the city today. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the UK, where communities from across the world contribute to a vibrant cultural life that is constantly evolving. Creativity, talent and cultural energy are already present across Peterborough and are visible in our communities, our artists, our festivals and our shared civic life.
At the same time, Peterborough is a city with enormous momentum. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK and has been identified nationally as a key opportunity area for investment and growth. Major regeneration is underway across the city, new infrastructure is being developed and we are seeing increasing stability and alignment across the civic landscape. Together these conditions provide a powerful platform on which culture, creativity and community identity can grow and define Peterborough’s future.
The ambition and ideas for Peterborough’s cultural future are strong. The task now is to ensure that this ambition and confidence are shared across the entire city ecosystem – from cultural organisations and businesses to educators, civic partners and communities themselves. By continuing to work together with that shared belief, Peterborough can realise the full scale of its cultural potential.
For more than a decade, the idea of a Peterborough City of Culture bid sat on a future wishlist. Over the past few months that ambition became real. Through the leadership of the Peterborough Tourist Board and Peterborough City Council, supported by partners across the city, Peterborough stepped forward and made its case on the national stage.
That work has already accelerated important foundations for the future: building a clearer identity for Peterborough as a destination, strengthening collaboration across the visitor economy and cultural sector, and championing a resident-first approach to tourism and place-making that builds pride, belonging and confidence among local people.
Culture does not sit separately from the future of a city. It is deeply connected to regeneration, economic growth, infrastructure and the wellbeing of communities.
Peterborough 2033 is the next step in that journey, building the partnerships, confidence and ambition needed to place culture at the heart of Peterborough’s growth story. By doing so we will strengthen our identity, celebrate the creativity of our communities and ensure that Peterborough becomes known nationally for its cultural energy as well as its economic opportunity.
We thank everyone who contributed their ideas, time and support to the bid. The response from across the city demonstrates the depth of belief that exists in Peterborough’s cultural future.
We also congratulate the places that have been longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 and wish them every success as they continue their journey in the competition.
This moment is not an ending. It is the starting point for Peterborough 2033. Now is the time for Peterborough to build on these foundations and step confidently into the next chapter of its cultural story.
