Ready to see what Bradford 2025 has in store this summer? From steam trains to street parades, an outdoor cinema and a giant ball of yarn, the latest programme of events is packed with big ideas, local stories and joyous discovery.
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture continues over the next few months, with a line-up of large-scale public art, immersive theatre, innovative music, powerful exhibitions, community activity, and so much more.
The "unforgettable" summer programme will see many free events, all celebrating the rich history and contemporary culture of the city and district – let’s find out what’s coming up.
You can see the full Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture events programme online.
@bradford2025 Bradford district is full of blue spaces that you can visit, from canals and river to lakes ponds and even the mirror pool!💧 Take a minute for yourself this week and head to a body of water near you 🌊 Launching this May, CHANNELS is a collection of audio pieces which you can turn into at the waterside. Take a seat this year with one of our Bradford 2025 commissions at some of the districts blue spaces! Link in bio 🔗 #Bradford2025 #UKCityofCulture #mentalhealthawarenessweek ♬ Sons da Natureza para Dormir - Dy Kamylle
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture summer programme events revealed
One of the longest-running street artworks in the world, the RedBall Project, created by US artist Kurt Perschke, will come to Bradford (May 25 to 31). Having travelled across the globe, this public art project will see a 15-feet high and wide red ball pop up in unexpected locations across the city and countryside.
Bradford’s status as a UNESCO City of Film will be marked with open-air screenings at the historic 1930’s open-air Ilkley Lido in August and the scenic Thornton Viaduct; curated film programmes developed in collaboration with the National Science and Media Museum; and through The Incredible Moving Cinema, a unique movie experience inside an articulated lorry travelling across Bradford from June 7 to 15.
Additionally, a series of exhibitions spotlight Bradford’s history from ancient to modern. Ice Age Art Now (June 21 – September 14) at Cliffe Castle Museum will present remarkable objects from the British Museum alongside treasures from the local collections of Bradford District Museums & Galleries from the end of the last Ice Age, some as much as 24,000 years old.
At Loading Bay, a new pop-up venue in the centre of the city, Tu i Tam / Tyt i Tam captures Polish and Ukrainian migration into Bradford following the Second World War and the more recent conflicts through rare archival materials and photography (July 3 to 27).
Meanwhile, a one-off performance, Memories of the Future, created by world-renowned dance company Akram Khan Company and Dance United Yorkshire, brings together a cast of more than 70 participants aged eight to 79, drawn from diverse communities across Bradford (July 5).
Also taking place is a journey by steam train on a historic railway, which will transport theatregoers to experience a site-specific stage adaptation of the Olivier award-winning The Railway Children. The enchanting production will be staged in an engine shed at Oxenhope station, where audiences will arrive after travelling on the line that was used as a location for the 1970 film (July 16 to September 7).
A Good Yarn, a new project from artist Luke Jerram (Museum of the Moon and street piano project Play Me, I’m Yours) and Bradford-based theatre company Bloomin’ Buds, will plait together community memories of the region’s textile heritage into a giant ball of yarn that will be rolled through the streets of Bradford. In Zee and the City a 4-metre-high puppet of a teenage girl will lead an adventure exploring Bradford’s past, present and future as she looks to find a home for nature in the city.
These outdoor events will form the centre point of Bradford’s annual 2-day festival of arts BD:Festival (July 26 and 27).
The New Music Biennial will come to Bradford in 2025, with a free three-day festival celebrating music across all genres, taking over venues across the city centre from June 6 to 8, from Bradford Cathedral to the Underground with live performances of new works, including many world premieres. The works will then be broadcast on BBC Radio 3, performed at London’s Southbank Centre, and released by NMC Recordings.
Also, in partnership with the BBC, Benin-born Angélique Kidjo will pay homage to the rich tapestry of African musical heritage in a special Proms concert at the Grade II-listed St George’s Hall (September 7).
- The Bradford Selection, a limited-edition tin of biscuits inspired by the flavours, communities and stories of Bradford
- Meet Our Mothers, a new cookbook of recipes which have been handed down through generations of families
- World Curry Festival in mid-September – a fortnight of pop-up dinners, food markets, cook-alongs, talks and tours, all exploring how the dish is a global phenomenon as well as a national staple
Further events announced this week include
- Channels, audio artworks inspired by human-made bodies of water in Bradford District (from May 31)
- Pink in the Park, a free fun day out celebrating the hidden histories of Bradford’s LGBTQ+ communities (June 28)
- RIDE, a raw and powerful blend of rap, dance, music, and theatre created with Gypsy and Traveller communities (September 19 and 20)
- Bloom, a magical open-air performance in Shipley created by Upswing contemporary circus (September 26 and 27)
- STRIKE!, a light, sound and projection show marking 19th-century protest at Manningham Mills (October 3 to 5).
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, commented: "Bradford 2025 is not just a celebration—it's a bold invitation for people to experience our city and district in ways they've never imagined.
Recommended reading:
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What's on in May for Bradford 2025? Some of the best City of Culture events
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'We can't wait for the surprises and delight this incredible weekend will bring'
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This year's BD: Festival 'set to be the biggest and the best yet'
“From global art phenomena like the RedBall Project to world premieres of powerful theatre and music, we're transforming streets, stations, and open skies into stages for storytelling.
“Whether you’re plaiting a giant ball of yarn, watching films under the stars, or journeying by steam train to see The Railway Children, there’s something here for everyone — much of it free, and all of it unforgettable.
“This summer’s programme brings together communities, cultures, and creativity reflecting Bradford’s spirit - proud of its past, alive in the present, and with a joyful vision for the future."
