A shot of four people performing at Contains Strong Language

18 – 21 Sep 2025

BBC Contains Strong Language

The UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival comes to Bradford.

Event Details

Date 18 – 21 Sep 2025

Location To be announced

Ages All ages

The UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival for new writing is coming to Bradford for the first time.

Contains Strong Language is the BBC’s annual celebration of poetry, performance and spoken word – and next year, it’s coming to Bradford for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

There’ll be four days of performances, readings, events and activities at venues across the city, and a host of BBC radio programmes will be recorded or broadcast live from Bradford – including The Verb, BBC Radio 4’s ‘cabaret of the word’. Much of the weekend will be free.

Check back later this year for full programme details.

Credits

BBC Contains Strong Language 2025 is a partnership between the BBC, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Trust and Word Up North. It is supported by Arts Council England.

Lead image: © BBC

Backs of heads of an audience in a performance hall watching a group of people on stage. The lighting is dark on the audience and light on the stage where there is a yellow banner.

An audience in a performance hall watching a group of people on stage. The lighting is dark on the audience and light on the stage where there is a yellow banner.

Partners

Related Events

What's on →

Cose shot of a crowd of peoples feet and legs walking on a dusty path

Various dates until 30 Aug 2025

Bradford City Centre guided walking tour

Follow Bradford’s history, origins, and its transformation into the city it is today on this guided walking tour.

Families queue to get on an old American school bus in a park

FREE Part of The Beacon

14 Jun 2025

Share Your Story: On Board at The Beacon, Bowling Park

National Literacy Trust in Bradford

The Bradford Stories Bus is coming to The Beacon for a one-day story spectacular.

Part of The Beacon

15 Jun 2025

Yoga & Brunch

Club Ekta

Unwind, network, and celebrate well-being at this Yoga and brunch event for women.

An image of a microphone in focus with a crowd of seated people blurred in the background

Part of The Beacon

18 Jun 2025

Say It As It Is: Bowling Park

with Kirsty Taylor

Speak up and listen in – Kirsty Taylor hosts a special open mic night for Bradford 2025

Three women look into a mirror. They wear gold dresses and have drawings on their faces. One of them has a penis drawn on her forehead.

Part of Loading Bay

20 Jun 2025

EGGS COLLECTIVE’S DARK NIGHTS

Twisted cabaret nights at Loading Bay.

A man in a black coat and jeans stands lit in blue on stage with his arms outstretched.

20-21 Jun 2025

Penguin

Hamzeh Al Hussien & Amy Golding

One man’s extraordinary journey from Syria to England. “Be proud. Be who you are. Be more Penguin.”

A patchwork quilt made of squares designed by the community to represent peace

FREE

21 Jun 2025

Peace Picnic: Bowling

The Peace Museum

The Peace Museum host the second of five free gatherings to celebrate peace, protest and community.

SOLD OUT Training session