uk town of culture 2028 bid

Hero image: Ripon Cathedral on an autumn morning. Photo credit: Gary Lawson

Small City, Big Landscape: Ripon’s bid for UK Town of Culture 2028

Ripon is bidding to become UK Town of Culture 2028.

This is a bold bid from one of England’s smallest cities, but also one with an extraordinary story to tell. From the nightly sounding of the Hornblower to the deep heritage of Ripon Cathedral, from the city’s market square to the wider landscape of Uredale, this is a place shaped by history, creativity, community and connection.

Our bid is built around one big idea: Small City, Big Landscape.

It is a vision that reaches beyond the city centre, celebrating not just Ripon itself but the wider rural area it serves and connects with, from Masham to Langthorpe and the villages in between.

Ripon Hornblower on Yorkshire Day credit Helen Tabor

Ripon’s Hornblower celebrates Yorkshire Day, alongside the knitted decorations that have become a much-loved feature of the city’s festivities. Photo credit: Helen Tabor

A bid inspired by pilgrimage

The theme of the bid is pilgrimage – not simply in a religious sense, but as a journey of discovery, connection, growth and healing.

Ripon has long been a place of arrival, reflection and gathering. In 2028, we want to reimagine that story for today through a cultural programme that connects people and place in new ways.

That could mean events and experiences in the city centre, creative activity in villages and community spaces, work shaped by young people, outdoor culture in the landscape, and projects that bring together heritage, arts, wellbeing and belonging.

Why Ripon, why now?

Ripon has a remarkable cultural identity, but it is often overlooked.

This bid is a chance to tell Ripon’s story nationally, with confidence and ambition. It is also a chance to use culture as a way to strengthen connections across the city and its rural hinterland, support local pride, widen participation and help shape the future of the area.

This is about more than a title. It is about making sure culture plays a central part in Ripon’s next chapter.

Rooted in partnership

The bid has been developed through Ripon Together, North Yorkshire Council and the Uredale Community Partnership, bringing together local organisations, community voices, cultural partners and stakeholders from across the area.

It reflects a shared belief that culture can help strengthen place, support wellbeing, and create a more connected future for Ripon and Uredale.

Partners

We are grateful for the support from Ripon Theatre Festival, Ripon Arts Hub, Ripon BID, Ripon Disability Forum, Ripon Cathedral, Ripon Civic Society, Ripon Museums Trust, National Trust Fountains Abbey, for their support in getting the bid over the line.

The audience at the Ripon Theatre Festival 2026 launch event on Friday 27 March were the first to hear that Ripon is formally bidding for UK Town of Culture 2028. Photo credit Ben Colson.

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Read the Uredale Culture & Green Space workshop summary

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