UK City of Culture 2025 winner to be announced tonight

Tonight the winner of the UK City of Culture 2025 will be crowned live on The One Show by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.

Following months of intense competition Bradford, County Durham, Wrexham County Borough and Southampton will find out if they will take on the prestigious title from Coventry.

Previous winners, including Hull and Derry-Londonderry, have shown the huge economic benefits the title can bring. Hull received £15m in Government investment to help build a lasting legacy,  and £18m of government funding in Coventry has led to a total of £172m inward investment, funding music concerts, the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery, a new children’s play area in the centre of the city, and improvements to public transport.

Dorries said: “The UK City of Culture competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the contribution that art and culture make to all our lives.

“This title has been hotly contested and I’ve been hugely impressed by the quality of all four shortlisted bids from Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough.

“Winning the competition can boost investment, attract tens of thousands of visitors and bring the local community together for an unforgettable year. I wish the best of luck to everyone involved.”