Accrington joins hopefuls vying for Town of Culture

A bid is being prepared for Accrington in Lancashire to be crowned as the UK's new Town of Culture in 2028.

The proposal is being worked up by Hyndburn Council in the hope of attracting millions of pounds of government investment.

The new initiative, run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, aims to celebrate the role culture can play in towns across the UK.

The winning town will receive £3m to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028, with two other finalists receiving £250,000 to develop their cultural infrastructure and programming.

Hyndburn Council has committed £100,000 of additional funding in its 2026/27 budget to support the bid, Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Its Culture and Heritage Investment Panel is working on an Expression of Interest for Accrington for the competition 31 March submission deadline.

The additional budget funding will support community engagement and heritage activity across Hyndburn, building on recent investments including restoring Accrington Market Hall and town centre buildings, and the ongoing DOME heritage development project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Cabinet member for culture Kimberley Whitehead said: "From the invention of the Spinning Jenny to our world-renowned Tiffany Glass collection, from the Accrington Pals to our vibrant contemporary creative community, we have extraordinary stories to tell.

"Whether or not we're successful, we're building a cultural offer that reflects the talent, diversity, and ambition of Hyndburn's communities."

Conservative group opposition leader Councillor Zak Khan added: "We fully support this.

"They have now to get on with completing the work in Accrington town centre so there is something to show the judges."

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