The winning town will receive £30,000 from Dorset Council to enable a year’s worth of cultural activity to take place Picture: Paul Dibben — Sherborne lost out to Wimborne Minster Picture: Paul Dibben

Arts & Entertainment Dorset Magazine News

Sherborne misses out on becoming Town of Culture for 2026

Paul JonesMarch 4, 20250 Comment0

SHERBORNE has failed to be selected as the Town of Culture for 2026 despite being shortlisted.

Wimborne Minster was selected for the award, which will see the town put on a range of cultural and community events.

The town will receive £30,000 which will be match funded by the town council to bring a programme of events designed to improve access to culture for everyone.

Other towns that missed out on the award include Swanage and Ferndown.

Town of Culture was established by Arts Development Company, which is responsible for Dorset’s cultural strategy, to strengthen cultural activity and to deepen relationships between communities, cultural venues and organisations.

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Paul Jones

I am the editor in chief of Blackmore Vale media, which includes the New Blackmore Vale, New Stour & Avon, Salisbury & Avon Gazette and the Purbeck Gazette, having been a reporter for some 20 years. In my spare time, I am a festival lover, with a particular focus on Glastonbury. I live in Somerset with my wife and two children.