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.

18-21 Sep 2025

BBC Contains Strong Language

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

What's on

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 this 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.

What's on – 18 Sep

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Launch of the National Young Poet Laureate programme

In partnership with National Poetry Centre.

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The Archers Podcast recording

Join host Emma Freud and poet Rachel Bower to dig deep into the latest events in Ambridge.

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Bradford Open Mic Night

Bradford Open Mic is a space open to all to read, perform or just listen to poetry and spoken word.

Nick Ahad stands in a blue shirt, smiling towards the camera.
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BBC Radio 4 Front Row

BBC Radio 4’s flagship arts programme, live from Bradford.

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BBC Introducing Showcase

See the best emerging spoken word musical talent from the Bradford area.

What's on – 19 Sep

A white man talks into a microphone, he is wearing a white shirt and a black blazer and has a pair of headphones on his head.
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BBC Radio 4 Start the Week

Tom Sutcliffe

Explore the history of Bradford and Britain through its poetry

BBC Writers logo - green background, orange pattern, yellow textured background with black text: BBC Writers
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BBC Writers: who we are and what we do

Calling all aspiring writers!

One person, wearing a yellow t-shirt, holds up the microphone to a school girl as she reads from a sheet of paper.
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BBC Radio Club

A showcase of inspirational poetry performances by BBC Radio Club students from Keighley secondary schools.

A headshot of a man - he is wearing a grey sweater and is looking to one side, posing in front of plants.
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CSL Poetry Shorts: Mind & Body

Can poetry be a tool for healing both mind and body?

A person poses for the camera - they have round glasses on, intricate earrings and a colourful scarf over their shirt
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Language is a Queer Thing: Workshop

Parth Rahatekar

Explore the emotional engine of your writing

Poet Kirsty Taylor wearing a green jacket performs using a microphone.
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CSL Poetry Shorts: Poetic Justice

What is poetry’s role in social action movements, both historically and present day?

A man poses for a photo - looking directly into the camera. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and a black zipper hoodie.
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CSL Poetry Shorts: Music & Lyrics

Explore the blurred lines between lyrics and spoken word, musicality and metre

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Laurel Prize Announcement

The announcement of the winner of the 2025 Laurel Prize.

A man poses for a photo - looking directly into the camera. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and a black zipper hoodie.
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BBC Radio 4 The Adverb

Testament presents the very best in poetry and performance from across the country.

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Sisterverse Poetry Night

A nurturing environment where words weave connection, confidence, and community.

Artist Antony Szmierek smiling at the camera against a white background.
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Antony Szmierek

Join critically acclaimed spoken-word artist and musician Antony Szmierek for an evening of infectious lyrics.

What's on – 20 Sep

A pair of hands holds a photograph - women wearing South Asian dress pose in front of a car.
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Make Yourself at Home: Family Poetry

A new exhibition sharing an archive of family photographs which celebrate the people who call Bradford home.

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National Literacy Trust Stories Bus

Once an American school bus, the Bradford Stories Bus has been transformed into an inspiring space for storytelling, reading, writing, and relaxing for children and families in Bradford.

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Public Art on City Park

Creativity hits the pavement in Bradford! Join in and put your mark on City Park.

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Bards of Bradford Installation (Doodlewall)

Discover the people's poetry of Bradford and add your own Doodles!

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BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief

Giles Fraser

Explore the place and shape of faith in today's world.

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Laurel Prize workshop: Reading the Finalists

Explore the diverse ways this year’s finalists have written about nature, the more-than-human and the climate crisis.

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CSL Poetry Shorts: The Power of the Women of Bradford

The voices of Bradford’s women, now and through history, are distinctive, strong and effective.

A man with curly hair and a beard looks into the camera - he is wearing a dark jacket and a grey jumper, the background is a landscape with a body of water.
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CSL Poetry Gala: Part I

A very special line up with our Core CSL Poets on the same bill for the first time.

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Sustainability Panel: The Present

What can a poem do that’s special, to connect us with the natural world day to day?

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Book of Bradford launch

Join Comma Press for the launch of The Book of Bradford, specially commissioned by Bradford 2025 to celebrate the City of Culture year.

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PLOT17 Performance

A hip-hop eco block party for audiences aged 7+.

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Laurel Prize workshop: Ecopoetry’s Cutting Edge

Daljit Nagra, celebrated poet and 2025 Laurel Prize Judge, walks us through the current landscape of ecopoetry.

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CSL Poetry Shorts: Migration and Belonging

The story of Bradford, like so much of the UK, is the story of migration.

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The Verb

Ian McMillan’s cabaret of the word welcomes guests Imtiaz Dharker, Keiron Higgins and Nabeela Ahmed.

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CSL Poetry Shorts: Words in the Wild

Explore the powerful connection between nature-connectedness, poems and wellbeing.

A woman with a headband sings into a microphone.
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BBC Introducing Panel

Come and get involved in the BBC's platform for emerging talent, meet fellow artists and get advice on submitting your own music.

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Word Out Sharing Event

Celebrating creativity, individuality, and pride.

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BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends

With Edith Bowman

Comedy, music and lively conversation with Radio 4’s Loose Ends programme.

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An Evening with the Beehive Poets: Poetry Playground

An evening of playful poetry readings with Bradford's renowned poetry collective, the Beehive Poets.

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Listen In: Jeremy Dyson & Mark Gatiss

Jeremy Dyson & Mark Gatiss

A chance to hear a new "mini road movie" for Radio 4 by Jeremy Dyson, followed by a Q&A.

What's on – 21 Sep

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National Literacy Trust Stories Bus

Once an American school bus, the Bradford Stories Bus has been transformed into an inspiring space for storytelling, reading, writing, and relaxing for children and families in Bradford.

FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

Public Art on City Park

Creativity hits the pavement in Bradford! Join in and put your mark on City Park.

FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

Bards of Bradford Installation (Doodlewall)

Discover the people's poetry of Bradford and add your own Doodles!

A pair of hands holds a photograph - women wearing South Asian dress pose in front of a car.
FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

Make Yourself at Home: Family Poetry

A new exhibition sharing an archive of family photographs which celebrate the people who call Bradford home.

FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

Peregrinations: Urban Nature Poetry Walk

Antony Dunn

Explore the heart of Bradford from an unusual new perspective, meandering along an urban nature walk with poet Antony Dunn.

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Yoga & Poetry Workshop

Emma Conally-Barklem

Join poet and yoga teacher Emma Conally-Barklem for a Sunday morning stretch.

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BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief

Giles Fraser

Explore the place and shape of faith in today's world.

FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

Sustainability Panel: Shadows and Light

We live in a time in a time of great loss and great possibility. How can poetry help us balance the two?

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CSL Poetry Gala: Part II

10 of the Core Poets

The second part of our very special events with the Core CSL Poets on the same bill for the first time.

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Sustainability Panel: Future

How do we want to live with nature in the future - and can a poem help us to get there?

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Language is a Queer Thing Showcase

Six queer poets from India and the UK take to the stage to explore how language can be reclaimed, refashioned, and made bigger, to hold queer lives and longings.

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Forward Prize Launch

Celebrating the 2025 Forward Book of Poetry with readings from Rommi Smith, J. R. Carpenter, Griot Gabriel and Isabelle Baafi.

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CSL Poetry Shorts: Mills & Hills

Emma Conally-Barklem, Testament, Saju Ahmed, Emily Zobel Marshall and Antony Dunn read work shaped by the North’s bricks and becks.

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Listen In: Nick Ahad

An exclusive chance to hear the Radio 4 comedy drama Blue Envelopes by Nick Ahad, presenter for BBC Radio Leeds and Radio 4’s Front Row followed by a Q&A.

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CSL Poetry Shorts: Love in the 21st Century

How do I love thee, let me 'swipe right' the ways?

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Words First Showcase

Celebrate the most talented emerging poets and spoken word artists from across the UK.

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Alfred Bradley Bursary Award (ABBA)

Hear extracts from the scripts shortlisted for this year's Alfred Bradley Bursary Award for radio drama and discover who has won the coveted prize.

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