Milton Keynes residents invited to shape culture bid

Milton Keynes residents, creatives, schools, businesses and community groups are being asked to help shape the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029, with workshops, pop-up sessions and online idea-sharing running over the next month.

The city has been longlisted in the national competition, where one place will receive £10 million to help develop culture locally. The final Milton Keynes bid is due to be submitted in August 2026.

Workshops and pop-ups across Milton Keynes

Local people are being invited to share ideas, family stories and views on what Milton Keynes means to them as the bid team builds a citywide picture of culture, creativity and local identity.

Sessions will take place around the city over the coming month. The programme includes workshops, pop-up activities, opportunities for all ages to make collages and artworks, and work with schools.

Ideas gathered through the sessions will feed into a Book of Ideas, intended to capture what residents feel makes Milton Keynes distinctive. Details of what is happening, where and when are being listed by Destination Milton Keynes.

People who cannot attend in person can also submit suggestions online through the MK Culture 2029 campaign.

Businesses and organisations asked to back the bid

Businesses, charities, arts groups and other organisations are also being asked to help spread the word.

A promotional pack has been made available through Destination Milton Keynes, including posters, social media material and other assets carrying the bid theme: “we’re just getting started.”

The council says the aim is to build a bid that reflects the city’s creativity, diversity and ambition, rather than a proposal written only by institutions. That means contributions from people who live, work, study, create or run organisations in Milton Keynes may help shape the programme the city puts forward.

Why the City of Culture bid matters locally

UK City of Culture status is designed to bring national attention, cultural investment and new opportunities to the winning place. For Milton Keynes, the bid comes as the city looks ahead to 2027, its 60th anniversary year.

Cllr Jane Carr, Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, said being longlisted was “just the beginning” and called on the city to help create something “bold, ambitious and uniquely ours.”

“We want to hear from everyone, because this bid belongs to the whole city,” she said. “Whether you’re an artist, a business owner, someone growing up here, or you just love Milton Keynes, your ideas and your voice can help shape what we hope will be a brilliant celebratory year of culture.”

August submission before autumn shortlist

The city’s final bid will be submitted in August. Shortlisted cities are expected to be announced in the autumn, with the winner due to be revealed in early 2027.

For residents, the immediate window is the next month of workshops, pop-ups and online submissions, before the bid is finalised.

Source: Milton Keynes City Council