The heart and soul of our town is officially on its way to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Ipswich has proudly submitted its full bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029! Backed by more than 100 Business Backers and Community Champions, this milestone represents a monumental community effort and showcases exactly why our vibrant town deserves to win.
After being longlisted back in March 2026 and receiving a £60,000 grant from the DCMS, the Ipswich 2029 team spent a busy summer consulting with the community. Over a thousand people from all across Ipswich had their say, from sharing brilliant ideas at library pop-ups to collaborating in youth hackathons. This incredible response highlights the passion we all share for our local culture, heritage, and future.
Welcoming Our New Ipswich 2029 Ambassadors
To coincide with the official bid submission, Ipswich 2029 has announced a fantastic new wave of Ambassadors. Drawn from the worlds of sport, film, music, theatre, and broadcasting, these incredibly talented individuals all share a deep, personal connection to Ipswich. They join our first wave of ambassadors announced in July, which included global stars like Ed Sheeran MBE, Brian Eno, and Nandi Bushell.
We are thrilled to welcome the following newly announced ambassadors who are championing our town on the national and global stage:
- Fabio Wardley: The Ipswich-born WBO heavyweight world champion who has proudly fought in front of thousands at Portman Road and always champions his hometown.
- Emma Freud OBE & Richard Curtis CBE: The beloved broadcasters and filmmakers have made Suffolk their home for decades. Emma is a proud patron of the fantastic Red Rose Chain theatre company, while Richard notes that their Suffolk home has inspired cinematic hits like Love Actually and Yesterday.
- Leif Davis & Colette Cavanagh: Representing Ipswich Town Football Club, left-back Leif Davis and midfielder Colette Cavanagh are backing the bid, celebrating the incredible support from our local community and the power of sport to bring people together.
- Karen Pickering MBE: Britain’s first swimming world champion, who spent her formative years training at Crown Pools and representing Team Ipswich.
- Laura Wright: The world-renowned soprano who sang at Portman Road and The Regent before gracing stages at the FA Cup final, Twickenham, and the Diamond Jubilee.
- Juliet Gilkes Romero & Martha Loader: Award-winning playwrights whose incredible work has been nurtured and performed right here at The New Wolsey Theatre.
- Nik Kershaw: The chart-topping singer-songwriter who played his very first gigs on the Ipswich pub and club circuit before going on to perform at Live Aid.
- Ruthie Henshall: The Olivier Award-winning West End star who built her theatre school CAST in Suffolk, inspired by Ipswich’s vibrant performing arts scene.
- Zoe Newson, Libby Purves OBE, and Digital (Steve Carr) complete this remarkable lineup, each bringing their unique stories of how Ipswich and Suffolk have shaped their successful, barrier-breaking careers.
A Bid Built by the Community, For the Community
Amy Vaughan, Bid Director for Ipswich 2029, perfectly summed up the spirit of this campaign:
“This bid has been written by the community and it carries the heart and soul of Ipswich within it. Officially submitting it to the government is a huge moment and it belongs to everyone who has helped build it… Their careers are all different, but they all lead back here to this town and this county. And that’s exactly what this bid is about – ensuring stories like theirs start here for generations to come.”
The sheer enthusiasm from our local businesses, champions, and ambassadors proves that culture in Ipswich isn’t just about art and music; it’s about our people, our community, and our collective pride. Becoming the UK City of Culture would bring transformative grassroots investment and resources, opening up incredible opportunities for the next generation of young people in our town.
As Fabio Wardley rightly noted, “From our sporting achievements to our theatres, waterfront, local businesses and the incredible people who give so much to this town, there’s a real spirit here that deserves to be recognised.”
What Happens Next?
The DCMS will now consider Ipswich’s submission alongside the other longlisted places. A shortlist of four towns and cities will be announced in autumn 2026, with each shortlisted place receiving £125,000 to further develop their bids before the ultimate winner is crowned later in the year.
Let’s keep the momentum going! Whether you run a local business, volunteer at a community group, or simply love living and working in Ipswich, your ongoing support makes a world of difference. Together, we can show the rest of the UK why Ipswich truly is a City of Culture.
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