Milton Keynes joins 2029 City of Culture race

Milton Keynes City Council has announced it will bid for the 2029 UK City of Culture title.

Among the city's cultural assets is the National Bowl, an outdoor venue that has staged major acts such as Queen, Michael Jackson and David Bowie.

If successful, the city could receive up to £10m of national investment.

The programme is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and awarded every four years, with the most recent recipient being Bradford in 2025.

The authority said it would set out "an ambitious plan to celebrate Milton Keynes' creativity, world‑renowned design heritage and forward‑looking cultural identity".

Others bidding for the 2029 City of Culture competition include Ipswich, Peterborough and the county of Herefordshire.

The winner will be selected by an independent panel towards the end of 2026.

The council said it was supported in its bid by local organisations such as The Open University, Stadium MK and Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture.

US entertainment firm Universal, which is building a new theme park destination nearby in Bedfordshire, has also been involved with the bid according to the authority.

Runners‑up to the title will receive £125,000, while all longlisted areas will get £60,000.

In 2029, the city is planning to open a new £76m, 4,000‑capacity venue.

Other cultural landmarks in the area include Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes Theatre and MK Gallery.

Councillor Shanika Mahendran, cabinet member for planning and placemaking, said: "Becoming a City of Culture in 2029 would be a powerful moment for Milton Keynes.

"A chance to build on our bold design heritage, supercharge our cultural offer, and show the rest of the country why this is one of the most exciting, inventive and welcoming cities in the UK."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.