The title is awarded by the UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
By the deadline at the end of July 2021, it was reported that a record number of cities and areas had submitted bids to hold the title of UK City of Culture 2025, with the total reaching twenty, a quarter of which are from Wales.
The then Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP, stated that the sheer number of applicants for the title was a "testament to the huge success of City of Culture".
[5] The holder was set to be announced in December 2021, but was postponed due to the number of applicants, with a longlist released on 8 October 2021,[6] a final shortlist of bidders was released on 18 March 2022,[7][8] and the 2025 holder was announced by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries on 31 May 2022.
[9] The competition was judged by Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the expert advisory panel for the UK City of Culture 2025 competition, who led visits to each bidder prior to the final announcement.On 18 March 2022, four bids of the eight which remained on the October 2021 longlist, was announced.