We are united in our support for Wrexham’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029. This is an incredible opportunity not only for Wrexham and its communities, but for the whole of Wales.
Wrexham has a rich industrial heritage, a distinctive cultural identity and a proud tradition of community spirit. Its bid offers an opportunity to celebrate these strengths, create new opportunities for local people and showcase the contribution that Wales makes to the cultural life of the United Kingdom.
Becoming the first Welsh city to hold the UK City of Culture title would be a significant moment. It would bring national attention to a part of Wales whose stories deserve to be heard, while creating opportunities for cultural participation, investment and lasting social and economic benefits.
*****
Stephen Kinnock MP, Secretary of State for Wales:
“Huge congratulations to Wrexham on being shortlisted for the City of Culture 2029!
Wales’s newest city has a huge amount to offer in heritage, culture and sport and I’d like to wish them every success with the next stage of their bid. Wrexham now has a real chance to become Wales’s first City of Culture, bringing investment, more visitors and boosting pride in the community.”
Andrew Ranger MP, Member of Parliament for Wrexham:
“Culture is about things that bring people together, giving a sense of belonging and identity, in Welsh so beautifully encompassed by the word ‘cynefin’. This sense is already strong here, and we now have the chance to grow this even further, in every postcode of Wrexham. If we were to be the first Welsh City of Culture, this would bring undoubted benefits to North East Wales and the whole country. Wrexham’s position on the border with North West England but also a gateway to North Wales means that it is an attractive destination to those making a journey into Wales. This will undoubtedly support business and employment in our city and the wider county borough.”
Steve Witherden MP, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr:
“I am minded that my friend the Member for Wrexham will have rightly extolled the many virtues of the wonderful city he represents.
Let me say then that a Wrexham win would reverberate well beyond its city limits.
It would be a win for the working-class villages I represent in south and west Wrexham, ones with industry, solidarity, and community at their heart.
It would be a win for the whole of Wales too. We are so much more than Cardiff, Swansea, and the Valleys. Perhaps this is what unites my disparate Mid and North Wales constituency: this is a country of fantastic diversity, and it is high time the rest of the UK recognises it.”
Cllr Corin Jarvis, Wrexham County Borough Council, said:
“Wrecsam is a place built on grit, pride and hope. Our industrial heritage, culture and communities reflect a spirit shared across Wales: working hard, standing together and fighting for a better future. Yet too often, we get on with things without celebrating what we achieve.
This bid shines a light on the people, places and stories that make Wrecsam special, showcasing the Welsh spirit to the world.
City of Culture is more than a title or investment. It is about pride, ambition and recognising our potential. Just as football has shown what Wrecsam can achieve, this bid gives us the chance to show the world who we are and the future we want to build.”
*****
The next stage of the competition will see Wrexham welcome the UK City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel on 27 November, giving judges the opportunity to experience the people, places and cultural ambition behind the bid first-hand. This will be followed by a final presentation to the panel in January 2027, before the winning city is announced in early 2027. With Wrexham now one of just four shortlisted places, the coming months represent a crucial opportunity to make the case for bringing the UK City of Culture title to Wales for the very first time.