Grimsby’s bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028
Grimsby is in the final 15. Rising above nearly 400 entries from across the UK, our town is proudly flying the flag for the Humber and is now in the running to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Shortlisted in the Large Town category alongside just three other towns, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Grimsby special, from our rich fishing heritage and community spirit to our creativity, ambition and cultural energy.
The winning town will receive £3-million to deliver a transformative six months of culture, with Grimsby already awarded £60,000 to develop its bid and showcase the talent, pride and potential of our community. The winning town will be announced in March 2027.
This bid belongs to all of us. We need residents, businesses, schools, artists, community groups and organisations to get involved, share ideas and help shape our vision. Together, we can show the country the true spirit of Grimsby and create a Town of Culture bid that reflects the people, places and stories that make our town unique. Let’s win this and create a lasting legacy for our town.
A name made in Grimsby
GY28 takes its name from the registration numbers once painted on Grimsby trawlers. The letters GY identify Grimsby as the vessel’s home port, while 28 serves as both a boat number and a nod to 2028, the year our town is striving towards. It is a simple symbol that links our past with our future.
From the legend of Grim, the Danish fisherman who is said to have founded the town to generations of dock workers who faced the sea’s harsh rhythms with courage and humour, Grimsby’s story is one of grit, innovation and unbreakable spirit.
Past. Present. Future.
Three chapters of Grimsby’s story.
Past
A proud maritime heritage.
Grimsby’s identity was forged by the sea. For much of the 20th century, the town was known as the world’s greatest fishing port, with hundreds of trawlers sailing from the docks and generations of families connected to the fishing industry. The fish market, smoking sheds, shipyards and bustling waterfront became the heartbeat of the town, creating a culture built on hard work, courage and community. From the distant-water trawlermen who braved some of the world’s harshest seas to the workers who processed, packed and sold the catch, fishing shaped Grimsby’s character, traditions and sense of pride. The stories, heritage and resilience born from this maritime legacy continue to define the town today.
Present
A town transforming.
Grimsby is reinventing itself while staying true to its roots. Building on its world-famous seafood expertise, the town is one of the UK’s leading centres for food production and processing, supplying homes across the country. Grimsby has also become a national powerhouse for offshore wind, helping drive the UK’s green energy future. Alongside these industries, community-led cultural projects and events such as Festival of the Sea, DocksFest, We Are One and Illuminate Festival are bringing people together, celebrating local talent and showcasing the creativity, confidence and ambition that define Grimsby today.
Future
Our vision for 2028 and beyond.
Grimsby has always adapted, innovated and looked outward. Today, as a leader in food production and offshore wind, the town is writing its next chapter. A Town of Culture year would build on the success of grassroots cultural projects and growing festivals, empowering communities to create, lead and take part in cultural experiences that reflect modern Grimsby. It is a chance to unlock opportunity, nurture local talent, attract investment and tell Grimsby’s story with confidence, ensuring culture sits at the heart of a vibrant, inclusive and ambitious future.
Postcard from Francesca Young
Grimsby’s culture is highlighted nationwide through a digital postcard created by local artist Francesca Young: A town on the edge – where the strongest stories begin.
26 letters. One town.
Our custom alphabets brings together type styles found across Grimsby. Each letter in our name carries an idea that helps tell the GY28 story.
G is drawn from the official seal of the Grimsby Charter, one of the town’s oldest surviving marks of civic identity.
R comes from an advertisement for the old Royal Hotel, which operated between 1863 and 1965 and hosted the Prince and Princess of Wales during royal duties in July 1879.
I is taken from the Grimsby Ice Factory, constructed between 1898 and 1901 to supply crushed ice for preserving fish stored in ships on Grimsby’s docks.
M is taken from the front page of a pamphlet from an old music hall in the town.
S is drawn from the 1977 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Mosaic, created by artist John Freear and once on display in Freshney Place shopping centre before it was lost during redevelopment.
B comes from heritage matchday pamphlets for Blundell Park, home of Grimsby Town FC.
Y is taken from the Yarborough Hotel, built in 1851 by Charles Anderson-Pelham, 2nd Earl of Yarborough, and the Royal Dock Company, now a historic listed building.
The oldest letter in there is from Grimsby’s entry in the Domesday book of 1086 whilst the most recent is from 2026, creating a unique font that showcases 940 years of Grimsby’s typographic history. A celebration of the town’s past present and future.
The GY28 typeface was designed and developed by local design studio Big Mood Studio, the branding partner for GY28. They collaborated on the typeface with What If We Create, who curated a wealth of heritage print content through their ongoing two year People Print Grimsby project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to research, develop and tell the story of Grimsby’s letterpress printmaking past. Many local creatives and historians were also consulted to gather the material that inspired the creation of two distinct alphabets, plus a full set of numerals from 0 to 9. The oldest letter in the typeface comes from Grimsby’s entry in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the newest from 2026, meaning this bespoke font spans 940 years of the town’s visual and typographic history. We’ll be sharing more about the story behind each letter over the coming weeks.
Ambition
by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage
Commissioned to celebrate the opening of Horizon OnSide Youth Zone, this poem now helps shape the GY28 submission and its belief that Grimsby is a town on the edge, where the strongest stories begin.
“But this town is all about edge, isn’t it…”
Stories from our town
BACK GRIMSBY BACK THE BID
#GY28
Show the judges what Grimsby means to you.
Every voice, every story, every video matters. Tell us why Grimsby deserves to be the first UK Town of Culture.
