The town, which does not formally hold city status, has been longlisted in the national competition and will now progress to the next stage.
Under the competition rules, large towns can still compete where their population and regional influence are comparable to smaller cities, placing Swindon within the eligible category.
The decision means the bid team will receive a £60,000 development grant to prepare a full submission.
The other places understood to be competing alongside Swindon are believed to include Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Wrexham.
The bid is being led by Swindon Culture Collective in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, alongside artists, cultural organisations and community groups from across the borough.
The winning location will receive £10 million in government funding to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2029, alongside the opportunity to attract visitors, investment and national attention.
Previous winners of the title include Derry‑Londonderry, Hull, and Coventry, all of which used the programme to boost tourism, community participation and cultural investment.
A full application must be submitted by summer 2026. A shortlist is expected later that year, with the overall winner due to be announced in winter 2026.
Events already taking place across the town include Swindon MELA, Swindon Paint Fest, Old Town Arts Festival, Swindon Festival of Literature, Signal Festival, Festival of Tomorrow, and Shuffle Festival.
Local organisations involved in the cultural programme include Create Studios, Prime Theatre, Swindon Dance, Friends of Old Town and Tangle Theatre.
Supporters say the bid highlights Swindon’s heritage and growing creative sector, pointing to a range of established festivals and community-led arts projects already taking place locally.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky said:
“Being longlisted for UK City of Culture is an extraordinary moment for Swindon. It recognises the imagination, talent and determination that have always defined our town.
“This achievement belongs to every artist, volunteer, young producer, community group and cultural organisation that has poured their energy into telling Swindon’s story.”
Council leader Jim Robbins said:
“Reaching the final nine in the competition is a fantastic achievement for Swindon and a testament to the passion and creativity of communities in the borough.
“Being longlisted gives us the opportunity to share that story on a national stage and create new opportunities for residents and businesses alike.”
Louise Halliday said the next stage of the process would focus on widening involvement across the borough.
“In the last few years, we’ve seen the arts and cultural sector in Swindon come together like never before, building collaborations and working together with a shared confidence and ambition.
“Being longlisted will allow us to involve more communities, organisations and people right across the borough as we develop the bid further.”
Judges will assess bids based on the unique story each place wants to tell, how cultural activity will reach local communities, and whether organisers can deliver a transformational programme of events.
If successful, Swindon would host a year-long programme of cultural events in 2029 designed to celebrate the town’s heritage, creativity and communities while bringing national attention to the borough.
