Towns across the UK are being invited to compete for a £20,000 grant to fund community projects and initiatives aimed at supporting local businesses and high streets.
Visa and Nationwide have launched the 2026 edition of their Let’s Celebrate Towns competition, which is now in its fourth year.
The national showcase is looking for examples of local projects helping communities tackle challenges and strengthen their high streets. Winning towns will each receive £20,000 to put towards a community-led project or initiative designed to support small businesses.
Entries will be judged across five categories:
High Street Revival: Celebrates towns that have brought their high streets back to life – filling empty shops, creating new spaces, or making them places people want to spend time.
Backing Local Business: Recognises towns that go the extra mile to support local businesses – helping them start, grow, and thrive.
Protecting Valued Places: Recognises towns that have protected and restored historic places that matter to local people — for example pubs, town halls, and cultural landmarks.
Connected Places: Rewards towns making it easier for people to get online and feel confident accessing the services they need.
Community Pride: Recognises towns where councils, community groups, businesses and residents have worked together to deliver projects and events that build pride and belonging.
Local MPs, councillors and Business Improvement Districts can put forward examples of successful initiatives on behalf of their communities. Entries opened last week and close on 25th October, with winners due to be announced at an awards ceremony in Parliament on 14th December.
Since its launch in 2023, Let’s Celebrate Towns has recognised more than 30 towns across more than a dozen counties, with each winner receiving £20,000.
Last year’s winners included Ramsgate (pictured), Gosport, Morecambe, Swanley, Malton and Norton and Wallsend, which used local initiatives to support economic growth and community life.
The competition forms part of a wider partnership between Visa and Nationwide focused on supporting towns. Projects have included the installation of defibrillators and bleed control kits at Nationwide branches, accessibility initiatives and digital skills lessons designed to help people use online services safely.
Rob Cameron, Group Country Manager, UK & Ireland, Visa, said: ‘Our towns and high streets are the beating heart of our communities, our economy and, for many of us, the place we call home. Up and down the country, businesses, community groups and local councils are doing amazing things for their towns.
‘We launched Let’s Celebrate Towns to showcase and support the people and places driving positive change in their local areas, because growth starts at home, on high streets up and down the country. We are delighted to partner with Nationwide to deliver the 2026 competition.’
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive, British Retail Consortium, said: ‘Retailers sit at the heart of every town and high street, providing jobs, investment and a sense of community. Having partnered with Visa on Let’s Celebrate Towns since its earliest years, we have seen first-hand the difference it makes when local success stories get the recognition they deserve. We are delighted to see the competition return for 2026 alongside an exciting new partnership with Nationwide, and would encourage towns across the country to put themselves forward.’
For further detail, and to enter, visit: Let’s Celebrate Towns 2026
Photo: Alex / UnSplash
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