About
About City of Culture
Every four years, one place in the UK wins UK City of Culture and gets a whole year in the spotlight – events, performances, celebrations and surprises, backed by serious investment from the public and private sectors. The four previous winners have all shown strong economic returns from their year, and made people think differently – and more positively – about those places. It’s never been to Scotland. Maybe 2029 is the time.
The Bid
There’s nothing like being a Highlander.
You know it. We know it. Now it’s time the rest of the UK found out.
Here, culture isn’t something you buy a ticket for – it’s the land, the sea, the weather, the language, the music, the long drive and the warm welcome at the end of it.
2029 in the Highlands
We live in one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe. So that’s the venue. Outdoor performances under dark skies. Music in the glens. Stories where they happened. Big artworks in big places. Made here, for here – and unforgettable for anyone who travels to see it.
We want 2029 to change things for real people – young folk deciding whether to stay, communities at the end of long roads, new Highlanders just arrived, and every creative person quietly making this place what it is.
What it means
A win means a year of events across the whole Highlands, not just Inverness – and groundwork that starts well before it.
- And after 2029 – the skills, the venues, the confidence, the habit of expecting good things to happen here.
- Jobs for local artists, makers, technical crews and volunteers
- Visitors in the quiet months, not just the summer
- More for young people to do and get involved with
- Movement on things we’ve wanted for years – better nightlife, more reasons to visit, more reasons to stay
Ready to get involved?
Fancy working or volunteering in culture and events if we win? There’ll be jobs, training and a volunteer crew like nothing this region has seen. Just want to follow along and cheer us on? That counts too. Loudly, ideally.
However you might want to be involved, sign up via email and we’ll keep you posted about events, opportunities and activities – no spam, just the good stuff.
