In the UK, the town of Marazion, located in west Cornwall, has entered the competition to become the first Town of Culture in 2028. It submitted its application on March 31, 2026, the final day for towns to express their interest for this inaugural title. With a population of only 1,483, Marazion is considered one of the smallest towns vying for this distinction, alongside five other towns from Cornwall. Each town is competing for a chance to win a £3m prize to develop a year-long cultural program that supports the local creative sector. The initiative was launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following previous similar competitions like the City of Culture. The competition aims to highlight the cultural richness of smaller towns, which are categorized into small, medium, and large based on their populations, with an overall winner being selected from each category. The winning town will benefit not just from the prize money but also from the national recognition associated with the title. Marazion’s Mayor, John Nicholas, emphasized the town’s unique qualities, including its extraordinary history, talented community members, and stunning views of Mounts Bay and St Michael's Mount, suggesting that these attributes set the town apart from its competitors. The town's bid, themed as a Celebration of Land and Sea, intends to showcase its sea-based culture, influenced heavily by local industries such as fishing, sailing, and gig rowing. As the competition intensifies, towns across the North West and other areas are also preparing their bids to become the Town of Culture. The timeline allows for initial expressions of interest until the end of March 2026, with the shortlisted towns receiving a grant to complete their full applications. In early 2027, the finalists and the ultimate winner will be announced. This initiative not only aims to celebrate culture but is also seen as an opportunity for towns to enhance community infrastructure and promote local events.