Culture is the Beating Heart of Newport

Newport has always had a personality all of its own—a gritty, independent edge that sets it apart from other cities.  

While we sit, in the words of the Manic Street Preachers, “in between the capital and the other country”, Newport offers something different. There’s an intimacy here, a sense of connection that you just don’t get elsewhere. It’s a city where you can truly feel at home, and nowhere is this more evident than in its culture. 

Our cultural offer is as rich as it is varied, and it plays a vital role in driving the local economy. One day of our annual food festival, for example, brought 20,000 people into the city centre – an incredible boost for local businesses. This year, we’re going even bigger with the festival, and it’s this kind of ambition that shows what Newport is capable of. 

We’re also introducing the Newport Music Trail with Focus Wales, building on our vibrant grassroots music scene. It’s an exciting development that will celebrate Welsh and Newport live music, bringing in artists who are already on an upward trajectory as well as showcasing local talent, all as part of a free-to-access city centre music festival. Events like these, alongside existing gems like the Newport Indoor Market and Newport Arcade, showcase the diversity and energy of our city’s cultural landscape. 

What makes Newport unique is its accessibility. Everything is within a 15 to 20-minute drive, whether it’s catching an up-and-coming band in an intimate venue, exploring Roman ruins, watching professional sports in our city centre stadium, or enjoying a meal with friends in one of our excellent eateries. Culture isn’t just something you consume here – it’s something you experience, often in ways that connect you to the city’s rich history and its promising future. 

That history is worth shouting about. Newport boasts the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Northern Europe and an open Roman barracks you can visit anytime. We have the awe-inspiring Newport Medieval Ship, the most significant 15th-century ship discovery in the world. Add to that our iconic Transporter Bridge and the soon-to-be-launched visitor centre, and Tredegar House – one of the best Renaissance Houses in the country. This is the tip of the iceberg – but it’s clear that Newport’s heritage is one of its strongest assets. 

While celebrating our heritage and history is important, moving the city forward is as important. Our new leisure centre is an investment of tens-of-millions of pounds in the city centre at a time when such commitments are rare. It’s a sign that Newport City Council believes in the city’s future. 

We know culture is an economic driver. It brings footfall into the city, creates jobs, and supports local businesses. But it’s more than that – it’s also about pride, identity, and creating places where people want to spend their time. Newport is great not because it tries to imitate larger cities, but because it leans into what makes it special. 

There’s a homeliness to Newport, a sense of connection that is unmistakable. It’s what I’d call a “cwtchiness”—a word that means more than just a hug. It’s warmth, belonging, and community, and it’s the opposite of corporate. That’s what makes Newport so compelling. The Newport of the future doesn’t need to be a carbon copy of Cardiff or Bristol or anywhere else. What we have here – our heritage, our culture, the people that make our city – is different, it’s unique – and combined, it’s a collection of treasures that can’t be manufactured or created elsewhere. It’s Newport’s beating heart.