Visa and Nationwide have opened entries for the fourth annual Let's Celebrate Towns competition, offering five winning towns £20,000 each to support community-led projects and small business initiatives. The competition runs from Monday 17 August to Sunday 25 October 2026, with winners announced at an awards ceremony in Parliament on 14 December 2026.
Five Categories and Entry Details
Towns across the UK can enter in one of five categories: High Street Revival, Backing Local Business, Protecting Valued Places, Connected Places and Community Pride. An independent panel spanning business and industry bodies will judge the entries, with winners announced at the Parliament ceremony.
The competition is delivered by Visa in partnership with Nationwide, now in its fourth year. It aims to spotlight the UK's high streets and communities, recognising the people and organisations driving positive change in their local areas.
Statements from Partners
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.”
Mandy Beech, Group Director of Retail Services, Nationwide, which has branches in Birmingham, said: “Through our Branch Promise, we are proud to have a strong presence on high streets. Our ‘Towns Fund’ partnership with Visa is already making a real difference in local communities - funding defibrillators and bleed kits in branches, providing Speak Easy cards to help customers communicate with us, and delivering digital lessons to help people build confidence online. Let’s Celebrate Towns is the next step in that partnership, recognising the people and organisations who go the extra mile to support their local communities. We look forward to hearing your town’s story.”
Industry Support and Timeline
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.”
Entries close on Sunday 25 October 2026, after which submissions will be shortlisted and judged across the five categories. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in Parliament on 14 December 2026.
