Hitchin has narrowly missed out on a place on the shortlist for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.

The town was among almost 400 places across the UK to submit a bid, with Hitchin Creative and Visit Hitchin leading the campaign to showcase the town's thriving arts, heritage, independent businesses and community spirit.

However, when the Department for Culture, Media and Sport unveiled its shortlist of 15 towns on Thursday (9 July), Hitchin was not among those progressing to the next stage.

The shortlisted towns will each receive £60,000 to develop full bids before an overall winner is announced early next year. The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month cultural programme in 2028, while the two remaining finalists will each receive £250,000.

Responding to the news, Hitchin MP Alistair Strathern praised everyone involved in the bid and said the campaign had highlighted everything that makes the town unique.

He said: "While Hitchin may be the best town in the country, sadly Hitchin's Town of Culture bid wasn't successful this year. I'm incredibly proud of all of the work Hitchin Creative, Visit Hitchin and others did to pull together such a fantastic effort.

"We've got so much to be proud of in Hitchin that makes our town so special, and the bid was a brilliant chance to showcase that across the town to the heart of Government!"

Hitchin launched its bid earlier this year with backing from local organisations, businesses and residents, celebrating the town's rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene and strong sense of community. The bid also secured support from North Herts Council and local cultural organisations, with organisers describing it as an opportunity to put Hitchin on the national stage.

advertisement

Although the campaign has come to an end, organisers have previously said they hoped the partnerships and momentum created through the bid would continue to benefit the town long after the competition.

The 15 shortlisted towns will now prepare detailed submissions before judges select three finalists—one from each population category—with the overall UK Town of Culture 2028 winner to be announced early next year.