Town of Culture 2028: Decision Update and New Digital Postcard

We're still eagerly awaiting news on whether Galashiels has been shortlisted for the next stage of the UK's first Town of Culture 2028 competition. While the original timetable suggested an earlier announcement, the Stage One decision is now expected later this summer, giving us all a little longer to wait.

Since submitting our bid, we've also had our first opportunity to see who else has entered the competition. An interactive UK map has now been launched, showcasing more than 400 towns from across the country that have put themselves forward for the title. It highlights the scale of the competition - but also the fantastic company Galashiels finds itself in.

As part of the process, every town was invited to submit a digital postcard capturing the spirit of their place. Galashiels' postcard reflects the pride, creativity and heritage that define our town, celebrating the people, places and stories that make Galashiels unique. It's a simple but powerful snapshot of who we are and why we believe our town has a story worth telling.

We'd encourage everyone to explore the interactive map, discover the incredible variety of towns taking part and, of course, take a look at Galashiels' postcard while you're there. View the map here.

Whatever the outcome later this summer, our bid is already bringing organisations, businesses and the community together around a shared ambition for Galashiels. We'll keep you updated as soon as the shortlist is announced.