Folkestone & Hythe District Council is bringing together organisations to work on putting forward Folkestone for this prestigious title.
The competition will select one town nationally to be named UK Town of Culture, receiving £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028.
Two finalists will receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid.
Launched by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport , the competition is explained as an opportunity for places and communities to use culture and creativity to tell their story and why they are proud of their community.
Timeline
Tuesday 24 February 2026
Residents, businesses and organisations are invited to workshops at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone.
The free workshops on Tuesday 24 March are at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm and each is 90 minutes. They can be booked via Eventbrite. The aim is for the sharing of ideas to help create an expression of interest (EOI) that has to be submitted to government by 31 March 2026.
Shortlisted towns will be announced in Spring 2026. These will be awarded a grant of £60,000 to support them in developing a full application.