Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, has officially entered the race to be named the UK City of Culture in 2029. Peterborough City Council submitted its Expression of Interest (EOI) on 2 February 2026, seeking to bring a year-long programme of cultural events and to attract national investment to the area if the bid is successful.
The bid is supported by local organisations and has been submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which runs the competition. According to a report by BBC News, the city is highlighting its unique background in migration and industrial “making” to stand out from other bidders. Leaders hope the title will act as a catalyst for growth, similar to the economic benefits seen by previous winners such as Hull and Coventry.
Local figures and media have noted that the bid aims to change how the city is seen by outsiders — including comments from council leader Cllr Shabina Qayyum and coverage in the Peterborough Telegraph. The proposal names sites such as Peterborough Cathedral and the Key Theatre as places that could host cultural activities. The bid is tied to wider regeneration projects, including the planned culture hub The Vine and the expansion of ARU Peterborough.
Peterborough is competing against several other locations, including Blackpool, Milton Keynes and Wrexham. The government is expected to announce a longlist of places progressing to the next stage of the competition in March 2026. Council leaders are launching a public engagement campaign asking residents to back the bid and demonstrate city-wide support for the vision.
