New Brighton launches bid to become UK’s first Town of Culture

New Brighton has confirmed its bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, setting out a bold coastal vision for 2028 and is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to help shape the programme.

The bid forms part of a landmark moment for Wirral, with two towns entering the national competition. Birkenhead will bid in the large town category, while New Brighton will compete in the small town category, reflecting the strength and ambition of culture across the borough.

Founded in the 1830s as a grand seaside resort for Liverpool’s merchant families, New Brighton’s identity is inseparable from the Mersey and the open sea beyond. Its sweeping promenade looks across to the Liverpool skyline, a shared maritime horizon shaped by trade, migration and creativity.

From historic Fort Perch Rock and New Brighton Lighthouse at the mouth of the river, to the art deco Palace, golden sands and wide open festival spaces along the Dips and Marine Lake, the town has long been a place of gathering and spectacle.

Over the years New Brighton has welcomed tall ships, major firework displays, large-scale outdoor events and one of the giant marionettes during Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year. Today it boasts a thriving calendar of festivals, street art, live music and creative activity centred around the Floral Pavilion Theatre, alongside a growing community of independent bars, restaurants and cafés that give the town its distinctive energy.

The New Brighton Partnership is leading the bid in collaboration with Wirral Council and local partners. Jayne Casey of the New Brighton Partnership, who was also a catalyst of the Baltic Triangle regeneration in Liverpool, said: 

“The New Brighton Partnership is thrilled to be given the opportunity to bid for New Brighton to become a Town of Culture.”

“It is a real show of ambition that there will be two bids from the Wirral, one from Birkenhead in the large town category and one from New Brighton in the small town category. We are grateful to Wirral Council for supporting both bids. We feel confident about our application because we truly believe that from both big towns and small towns, colossal dreams are possible.”

New Brighton’s proposal will build on existing festivals while introducing new commissions across the beach, promenade and waterfront, including major summer spectacles and winter light installations that make full use of the town’s natural coastal setting. Central to the bid is community participation. The programme will be shaped by local voices, and everyone is encouraged to take part.

Just a short ferry or train journey from Liverpool, New Brighton offers maritime history, open skies and space to gather. Town of Culture would provide the catalyst to attract new audiences, strengthen the creative economy and secure long-term cultural and economic growth for the town.

Find out more on the Love New Brighton website.

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