Warwick has officially submitted its bid for UK Town of Culture 2026.

It comes as part of a new UK-wide Town of Culture programme which has recently been announced, designed to highlight towns with strong identity, creativity and community spirit.

Although Warwick Town Council initially expressed it was not committing to a bid, it designed a survey to gather community feedback.

This included individual's thoughts on what makes the town special and distinctive and what it can do more of in the future.

All feedback was anonymous and used to identify common themes and what matters most to the local community.

Cllr Dave Skinner, Leader of Warwick Town Council, said: "Warwick is full of brilliant people, ideas and activity, and this competition offers a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on all of that. What's particularly exciting is the chance to bring people together - residents, businesses and community groups - to help shape the conversation and celebrate what makes Warwick such a special place."

Following the survey, Warwick Town Council has now confirmed a bid has been placed in the competition.

The council shared: "A huge thank you to our partners, local communities, and everyone who has helped shape our vision – your creativity, passion, and stories have inspired this bid.

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"Just like Warwick rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of Warwick, we aim to spark a new chapter for our town – reimagining our heritage, sharing our stories, and celebrating our memories in exciting and creative ways. Together, we want to show the resilience, imagination, and spirit that makes Warwick truly unique."