The town’s exciting and ambitious plan has been longlisted for the prestigious national title, alongside towns and cities across the country.
Winning has enormous benefits, with previous hosts attracting millions of pounds in additional investment, creating jobs and welcoming thousands of visitors to their local area.
The bid will build on preparations to celebrate the town's 200th birthday in 2030-31 as Middlesbrough gets ready to host the Turner Prize later this year.
Mayor Chris Cooke said: "Middlesbrough's bid takes our town's motto Erimus - We Shall Be - literally.
"It brings together our history as an industrial powerhouse with our ambition to become the UK's most creative place.
"I am delighted that we've been longlisted for what would be a once in a generation opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our residents, artists and businesses and change how people view Middlesbrough."
The City of Culture programme would be led by Middlesbrough Council, Teesside University and the Middlesbrough Cultural Partnership - a collective of more than 30 arts and heritage organisations and freelancers.
It would build on Middlesbrough's history as an inventive and resilient town and aim to change how we do things, imagine a different future and bring people together through a year of cultural activity.
And the programme would extend across the Tees Valley to celebrate the region’s strong cultural ties.
Cllr Philippa Storey, Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Culture at Middlesbrough Council, said: “We are proud of Middlesbrough, its history and its people and we want to show off that spirit to the world.
“Bidding to become UK City of Culture champions our local artists and provides a showcase for work made in Middlesbrough to regional, national and international audiences.
"From iron and steel, we’ve always been a town that builds things - and this bid is out rediscovering that ‘Made in Middlesbrough’ mindset and showing the world what we can achieve.”
Middlesbrough's creative scene has been transformed in recent years thanks to the town's 10-year Creative Vision, which was launched in 2023.
A £4.25m investment from the Cultural Development Fund, administered by Arts Council England, has seen improvements to cultural anchors in the town including Middlesbrough Central Library, Mima and The Auxiliary - which runs the renowned Middlesbrough Art Week.
Middlesbrough has been longlisted along with Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
All nine places will receive £60,000 each to help them to develop their full bids for the competition - up from £40,000 since the last competition.
A win would help drive the growth of the town’s creative and digital economy, create new jobs and encourage talent to stay in the region.
For the first time ever, there will be a confirmed cash prize of £10 million for the UK City of Culture winner to help them deliver a show-stopping year of rich cultural activity.
The three most impressive bids from places that reach the shortlist but are not selected as the winner will receive £125,000 each to help them to take forward elements of their bid.
