Eastbourne's Bid for UK Town of Culture 2028
Eastbourne has officially entered the national competition to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a major cultural programme in 2028, with two runners‑up awarded £250,000each. Shortlisted places will also receive a £60,000 development grant to shape their full bid.
Our Expression of Interest was submitted in March 2026, backed by Eastbourne Borough Council and developed with partners across the town's cultural community, including Towner Eastbourne, Make Creative, TechResort CIC, Devonshire Collective, Printers Playhouse, Creative Eastbourne and residents from every ward. Eastbourne Borough Council will act as the accountable body for the bid, providing governance, oversight and strategic support throughout the process.
Our bid, Eastbourne: Looking Out, celebrates the real Eastbourne, a town that looks out to sea, looks out for its communities, and looks out to the future. It brings together major public artworks, digital innovation, heritage storytelling, youth pathways and community‑led cultural spaces across the whole town.
Shortlisted towns will be announced in Spring 2026. Whatever the outcome, this process is already strengthening partnerships, amplifying local voices and building a cultural legacy that will last far beyond 2028.
Learn more about the UK Town of Culture here: UK Town of Culture 2028 Expression of Interest: Guidance for bidders - GOV.UK
