Residents, artists, and community groups are invited to a public meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall in West Yorkshire on February 24, 2026, to discuss a potential bid for the first ever UK Town of Culture title and share ideas for a programme that could bring £3 million in funding to the community.
The event runs from 6:30pm to 8:00pm and is being led by Councillor Andrew Cooper, who believes the bid will provide a real boost to local music venues and arts projects. According to the Huddersfield Hub, the meeting is a chance for people to pitch their own ideas to be included in the town’s formal application.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport recently launched the competition to celebrate local identity, with the winner receiving £3 million and two runners-up receiving £250,000 each. Supporters say a successful bid would complement the Our Cultural Heart regeneration project, which is currently building a new library, food hall, and public square in the town centre.
The new buildings are expected to open in Summer 2026, just as the competition for the 2028 title moves forward. Organisers hope to build on the success of existing local events like the Woven in Kirklees textile festival to show that the town has a vibrant and committed creative community.
If the bid progresses, it could bring a summer-long programme of events to the town and help secure more support for local artists. People attending the meeting will be able to help shape the focus of the bid before it is formally submitted to the government.
