Middlesbrough has not made the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2029, despite being one of nine towns and cities longlisted for the prestigious national title.
The four places still in contention are Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham. The winner will be announced in early 2027 and will succeed Bradford to the title.
The winning location will receive funding to deliver a year's worth of cultural activities, drawing on its local strengths and stories. The shortlist selection would also have unlocked further funding and put Middlesbrough in line for a £10m prize.
Council and MP response
Labour MP Andy McDonald said the outcome was disappointing but added: "We've just got to dust ourselves down because, quite frankly, we're going to do this anyway."
McDonald described Middlesbrough as a "cultural powerhouse" and said the bid had been bold and compelling. He pointed to recent cultural events hosted in the town, including Turner Prize-nominated artworks, the Twisterella music festival and the Game Republic New Horizons Convention.
Mayor Chris Cooke said working on the bid had galvanised people across Middlesbrough and "laid the foundations for the next chapter".
"We've taken knockbacks before and we've always come back stronger, that's just part of who we are," Cooke said.
Plans for 2030
Middlesbrough Council has announced a programme of events in 2030 to celebrate the town's 200th birthday and build on its City of Culture bid.
"We're rolling up our sleeves to go again," Cooke said. "We'll celebrate our history, show off the talent that is going to help us thrive in the future, and give our people another reason to feel proud of Middlesbrough."
The other towns and cities that did not make the shortlist were Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Swindon.