Wrecsam2029: Wrexham's bid for UK City of Culture

Wrecsam2029: what you need to know

Where the bid stands

In October 2026 the UK Government named the final four places in the running for UK City of Culture 2029: Wrexham, Blackpool, Milton Keynes and Sheffield. The bid team is now preparing for a visit from the UK City of Culture Advisory Panel and a final presentation to the judges.

The winner is expected to be announced in December 2026 or January 2027, and the City of Culture year itself runs from January to December 2029.

This is Wrexham's second bid in a row. The county was shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2025 and narrowly missed out, and the new bid builds on that.

What the title brings

The winning place receives an initial £10 million from the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The bid team estimates the year could bring more than £200 million of economic impact and more than two million visitors to Wrexham, along with new jobs and support for local artists and venues.

The world's most playful place

The heart of the bid is play. Wrecsam2029 wants to make Wrexham "the world's most playful place", building on the county's long history of playwork and adventure play, and on a creative scene that runs from grassroots music to the arts at Tŷ Pawb.

The bid also puts the Welsh language and Welsh culture front and centre, and aims for change that lasts well beyond 2029, with more creative careers for young people and better cultural venues across the county. More than 1,000 schoolchildren helped shape it.

The bid is built on community, collaboration, creativity and hwyl, the spark of joy and spirit Wales is known for. Its call to everyone is simple: press play on Wrexham.

Who is behind the bid

The bid is led by the Wrexham Community and Culture Trust, an independent charity, working with Wrexham County Borough Council. Joanna Knight OBE chairs the bid. More than 150 ambassadors back it, from local businesses and community groups to well known names including Matthew Rhys, Rhys Ifans, Carol Vorderman, Siân Lloyd and Colin Jackson.

This is Wrecsam is one of those recognised Ambassadors. Our members are the hotels, restaurants, attractions and guides who will welcome visitors if Wrexham wins, and we're backing the bid all the way.

See the Wrexham Public Art Trail

The bid is already changing the look of the city. The Wrexham Public Art Trail, run by the Wrexham Community and Culture Trust and coordinated by Wrexham artist Liam Stokes-Massey, is bringing murals and artworks to blank walls around the city centre. They celebrate Wrexham's markets, its industrial past, its football and the importance of play.

There are more than 40 works on the list so far, from footballers Joey Jones and Paul Mullin to Morag the Dragon, the Wrexham AFC Flower Crest, the Millennium Mural, Croeso i Wrecsam and a mural for the Wrexham band Neck Deep, with more on the way. Find them all on the Public Art Trail page.

How you can support the bid

• Join the mailing list and find out more on the Wrecsam2029 website.

• Businesses and organisations can fill in the Back the Bid form and show their support with the bid's logos, posters, stickers and email signatures.

• Sign up to become a Wrecsam2029 Ambassador, like us.

• Follow and share @Wrecsam2029 on social media.

• Take part in the bid's creative workshops and share your ideas.

Visiting Wrexham now

You don't have to wait until 2029. Wrexham already has plenty going on, from live music and markets to football at the oldest international football ground still in use.

• What's on in Wrexham: events, gigs and markets, updated every week.

• Things to do in Wrexham and history and heritage.

• Shows, gigs and comedy, including FOCUS Wales every May.

• Where to eat and where to stay, with our local members.

• Our Wrecsam2029 guide and the latest City of Culture news.

Facts on this page come from the Wrecsam2029 bid team and Wrexham Council, and were checked on 11 November 2026. We'll update it as the bid moves on.