Three towns in East Lothian have submitted rival bids in the hopes of becoming the first UK Town of Culture in 2028.
North Berwick, Dunbar, and Haddington, have all submitted bids for the honour, which carried a prize pool of more than £3m of investment, and will see the winner lavished with arts programmes and national attention throughout 2028.
The bids are being coordinated by a grassroots coalition involving the community council in each town, rather than through East Lothian Council.
The Prize was announced earlier this year by the UK Government and will follow the model of the successful UK City of Culture.
The three towns all managed to submit expressions of interest ion the award before the 31 March cutoff date.
In Dunbar, a stunning coastal hamlet halfway between Edinburgh and England, the application was prepared by a coalition of cultural, heritage, and community organisations across the Dunbar, West barns, and East Lammermuir area.
Ree Rolph, a Dunbar Community Councillor, said there has been a “100% positive” response from the community and believes Dunbar has a “distinctive story” and a strong case to put forward.
He said: “Dunbar is a town with deep heritage, a globally significant connection to John Muir, and a remarkable volunteer-driven cultural scene–from the European Land Art Festival and International Stonestacking Championship to free gigs across seventeen venues at the Dunbar Music Festival and Christmas lights handcrafted by the community.
“What sets it apart is the strength of that grassroots culture and the natural landscape that inspires it.”
Rolph said that the Town of Town of Culture award would give the town the platform to revive the CoastWord literary and music festival and produce Coastal Charter for the stewardship of Dunbar’s rugged coast.
He added: “The competition will be strong, but Dunbar has a distinctive story and the community backing to deliver on it.
“The bid has cross-party political support, a 100% positive response from public consultees and the backing of the local business community.
“Whatever the outcome, we believe the process has already brought lasting value for the town.”
The North Berwick Community Council, who have spearheaded their application along with a variety of community groups, are confident that the picturesque town has a “very strong case”.
The town was christened, in Victorian times the “Biarritz of the North” for its striking, elegant coastline and its stylish, eclectic collection of shops, cafes, and bars.
The town continues to enjoy a reputation for an exceptional quality of life, which saw named the UK’s Best Place to Live by the Sunday Times in 2024 and Best Seaside Town by National Geographic in 2025.
Ross Richardson, an elected member on the town’s community council who has spearheaded the application, touted the town’s cultural heritage:
“Our cultural identity has been formed by generations of artists and storytellers, including Robert Louis Stevenson, William Shakespeare, and Robert Burns.
“The infamous North Berwick witch trials continue to echo in contemporary culture, notably in the TV series Outlander.
North Berwick also offers unrivalled views of the Bass Rock, home to the world’s largest Northern Gannet colony, and the islands, Fidra, the Lamb and Craigleith. The Scottish Seabird Centre also calls the town home.
If successful, the town would put together a programme entitled “Culture for Everyone, Everywhere” to celebrate all aspects of the town and reach out to young people in the community who may feel excluded from mainstream arts and culture.
The campaign in Haddington is also being spearheaded by the local community council.
Haddington is a historic agricultural market town situated between the Garleton Hills on the banks of the River Tyne.
Agriculture continues to prop up the economy in the town, and locals still enjoy the weekly Haddington Farmers’ Markets on Saturdays.
The town centres around the High Street and Market Street as well as a network of traditional wynds and closes. The town boasts man independent retailers, cafes, and restaurants.
As the “Gateway to Edinburgh” suffered many attacks from marauding English armies over the centuries.
The Treaty of Haddington was signed in 1548 to end the “Rough Wooing”, when England invaded Scotland in an attempt to force the infant Mary Queen of Scots into a marriage with Henry VIII’s heir Edward.
Each of these tows could stand to gain up to £3m of investment if they with the competition, and up to £250,000 if they are selected as a runner-up.
Although East Lothian Council is not involved in the process for any of the applications, and the council had a proposal for a joint bid between the three towns rejected by North Berwick, the council has expressed excitement at the bids.
A council spokesperson said: “The fact that we have three towns in East Lothian engaging with the Town of Culture process is great news as it all helps to highlight what this area has to offer locals and visitors with our rich history, events throughout the year and cultural attractions including historic buildings, museums, galleries and our wonderful communities.
“We wish all three towns the best of luck in the competition and we are delighted that this will help to enhance East Lothian’s reputation as a visitor destination and elevate each town’s status.”
At this stage, towns can only submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the award.
Towns are invited to articulate their vision before the list is narrowed down to around 80 names by the UK’s department for Digital, Media, Culture, and Sport. The longlist is expected to be published sometime in the Spring.
It was also revealed by the Herald today that Leith has submitted its own “people-powered” bid to become the 2028 Town of Culture.
In Midlothian, both Penicuik and Dalkeith have submitted applications.
The UK Government aims to announce the 2028 Town of Culture in early 2027.
