Many people bet based on headlines or hunches. I dig into research and market moves behind political odds & manager markets, so you can back decisions, not guesses.
UK City Of Culture
Betting on the UK City of Culture adds a fresh twist to one of Britain’s most creative competitions. In our detailed guide and preview, we’ll explain how the market works, highlight previous winners, and share expert insight into what influences the odds.
Compare the best betting sites for cultural awards and make the most of available free bets to get extra value when backing your prediction.
Timeline to Next Award
- Expression of Interest deadline: July 2025
- Announcement of longlist: early September 2025
- Long application deadline: January 2026
- Visits to shortlisted places: March/April 2026
- Winner announced: May 2026
- UK Government City Of Culture Guidance
How to Bet on the Next UK City Of Culture
There’s nothing complicated about betting on the next UK City of Culture. It works just like any other betting market, you simply back the city you think will be awarded the title, similar to picking a horse in the Grand National.
Bookmakers set the odds based on a mix of factors, including past winners, local investment, cultural reputation, and the strength of each city’s bid. As public interest grows or media coverage shifts, the odds can move, giving you opportunities to spot value before the favourites shorten.
- Go to the City of Culture tab and click on your selection.
- This will open up the bet slip, at which point you will see confirmation of the betting odds being offered
- Now you choose your stake - most betting sites will show you how much you can expect to have returned if your prediction is correct.
- If you are happy, simply hit, PLACE BET, to confirm your selection, stake, and bet.
- You will be given a receipt for your bet and it will appear in your open bets in your account details.
- Then it's just a matter of waiting to see who is finally chosen as the next City of Culture.
City of Culture Betting Markets
The most popular betting market available for this would be to predict the next City of Culture.
However, there may also be some diverse City of Culture markets available from time to time.
- Will a certain City make the shortlist
- Will a non-English City be chosen as the next City of Culture
- Will a Welsh city finally be awarded City of Culture
Betting sites can be quite creative when coming up with markets for these betting specials and may even open a market if they have enough requests from customers for a market they hadn't already considered.
Both leading bookmakers and betting exchanges will offer odds on the City of Culture, with prices varying between different firms, as well as their respective favourites for the City of Culture.
Betting on the Next City of Culture on a Betting Exchange
| Exchange | Betting Available | Review |
|---|---|---|
| EasyBet | Yes | Read Review |
| Matchbook | Yes | Read Review |
| Smarkets | Yes | Read Review |
The beauty of betting exchanges in long-term markets such as the City of Culture is that you can back (Support) or lay (Against) a city depending on the latest piece of news.
You can read more about how betting exchanges work in our extensive betting exchange guide.
City of Culture Betting News Diary Timeline
The betting odds for The next City of Culture are always on the move as the organising committees vie to get publicity for their bid, it would seem every week another idea or initiative is put forward, the bookies then react on that candidate becoming the next City of Culture.
Here is a round-up of the Next City of Culture Betting News from our OLBG News feed.
6th March 2023
UK City of Culture Bradford Betting Specials: Bookies give specials around Bradford's 2025 City of Culture year with several sporting achievements on the list of odds!
1st August 2022
UK City of Culture Bradford Specials: Yorkshire Day sees betting specials around Bradford 2025!
7th June 2022
UK City of Culture Bradford Specials: City of Culture WINNERS Bradford are 250/1 to win the FA Cup in 2025 while celebrating their city!
19th May 2022
2025 UK City of Culture Betting Odds: Wrexham now into 2/1 FAVOURITES to win the prestigious award next!
21st April 2022
UK City of Culture 2025 Betting Odds: Bradford now 11/8 FAVOURITES from 13/2 after shortlist decided!
24th February 2022
UK City of Culture 2025 Betting Odds: Scottish City Stirling 11/4 FAVOURITE to be the next City of Culture!
19th October 2021
UK City of Culture Betting Odds: Wrexham Joint 4/1 Favourites in Shortlist of 8
UK Cities Of Culture
The first recipient of the newly launched City Of Culture was Derry - Londonderry. The current City of Culture is Coventry, and Bradford will be the next City of Culture in 2025.
We have now had three winning cities of culture from England and one from Northern Ireland, so punters may consider that the announcement may favour a city from Scotland or Wales.
| City Of Culture | Awarded | Shortlisted |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 2025 | Southampton, Wrexham, County Durham |
| Coventry | 2021 | Paisley, Swansea, Sunderland, Stoke On Trent |
| Hull | 2017 | Dundee, Leicester, Swansea Bay |
| Derry - Londonderry | 2013 | Birmingham, Norwich, Sheffield |
