New Music Biennial was a three-day festival celebrating the best new music across all genres from the country’s most exciting composers – and in 2025, for the first time, it came to venues around Bradford.

From Bradford Cathedral to The Underground, the Biennial took over venues across the city centre for three days and nights of performances showcasing 20 pieces of new music – with all shows absolutely free. Along with live performances of outstanding contemporary works, many performed in Bradford for the first time, there were world premieres of brand new commissions. The works go on to be performed at London’s Southbank Centre, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and released by NMC Recordings – but Bradford heard them first.