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- Huddersfield is 1/1 favourite to win Town of Culture 2028.
- Three finalists will represent small, medium and large towns.
- Winner to be announced by early 2027.
UK’s First-Ever Town of Culture Competition Launches
Betting experts have now opened markets on which location will become the country’s first-ever Town of Culture in 2028.
The new competition will run alongside the established UK City of Culture contest, most recently won by Bradford in 2025 and aims to boost civic pride and cultural investment across towns nationwide.
Thousands of towns are eligible to apply, with the exception of those within Greater London.
To ensure fair representation, the three finalists will include:
- One small town (under 20,000 population)
- One medium town (20,000–75,000 population)
- One large town (over 75,000 population)
A shortlist is expected in the spring, with the overall winner chosen by early 2027.
UK Town of Culture 2028 – Winner Odds
| UK Town of Culture 2028 | Odds* | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Huddersfield, Yorkshire | 1/1 | 50.0% |
| Widnes, Cheshire | 6/4 | 40.0% |
| Halifax, Yorkshire | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| North Shields, Tyne & Wear | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Folkestone, Kent | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Prescot, Merseyside | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Dorking, Surrey | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Abergavenny, Monmouthshire | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Deal, Kent | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Falmouth, Cornwall | 5/1 | 16.7% |
*As betting sites currently aren't taking bets on this event, odds have been compiled as theoretical probability from an entertainment perspective only and come from an industry expert
Huddersfield leads the market at 1/1, giving the Yorkshire town a 50% implied probability of securing the inaugural title.
Yorkshire Dominance in Early Market
With both Huddersfield (1/1) and Halifax (2/1) priced prominently, Yorkshire towns dominate the early betting.
Huddersfield’s strong cultural infrastructure, music heritage and university presence may be influencing early market confidence.
Widnes at 6/4 also sits firmly in contention, while North Shields and Folkestone share 2/1 pricing in what remains a competitive field.
What the expert says...
How the Competition Works
The structure of the competition is designed to showcase towns of varying sizes, ensuring smaller communities are not overshadowed by larger population centres.
This tiered finalist format adds intrigue to the betting market, as towns may be competing within specific population brackets rather than directly against every entry.
That nuance could prove significant as the shortlist approaches.
Market Outlook
With the shortlist due in the spring and the winner confirmed by early 2027, the Town of Culture 2028 race is just beginning.
Huddersfield holds early favourite status but with representation required across three population brackets the competition remains wide open.
As more towns officially declare interest, expect further movement in what could become one of the more intriguing cultural betting markets of the year.
Markets on novelty and cultural awards usually become available across major UK betting sites.
