A young boy in an orange onesie with green hair is building with wood. A young boy in an orange onesie with green hair is building with wood.

PLAY

Our year-round programme for children and families.

Coming soonPast events

Our packed calendar of family-friendly activities proves that you’re never too young for culture – or too old for play.

PLAY is our year-round programme of free events and activities for children and families. Throughout 2025, we’ll be inviting you to take part in a series of playful interventions and magical moments of discovery – presented in partnership with Play Bradford, and co-produced with artists, architects, designers, theatre makers and the people of Bradford District.

Get ready for a year of fabulous PLAY…

Coming soon

FREE Part of PLAY

The Great Adventure Build

Woodland Tribe

Build the playground of your dreams – then play!

Adult and young person playing with large styrofoam pieces. Young girl has a makeshift hat on.
Part of PLAY

REPLAY

The Herd

Enter an endless world of play in this interactive experience.

Colourful obelisk-shaped structure with child walking in front of it
Part of PLAY

Balancing Acts

Sam Shendi

A bespoke, playful structure created to celebrate the community and history of BD5.

Intergenerational Play

This pioneering programme, created with Bradford’s Linking Network, shows that there’s no age limit to play.

Think playing is just for kids? Think again. We’re bringing together pupils at 20 Bradford primary schools with residents of 20 nearby care homes – and inviting them to come together and play.

The two generations will begin by exploring the idea of ‘play’ in their respective environments, before joining up to play together. These unique interactions are designed to promote social inclusion and foster strong relationships between young and old, encouraging new connections that bridge the multi-generation gap – with benefits for the wellbeing of everyone involved.

More information coming soon.

Two older ladies sit at a table with young children drawing

Past events

A bug holding a lantern with lit up wings against a forest style backdrop, all of which is made out of cardboard
Part of PLAY

Grue

Wintercroft & ARCADE

Explore a wintry world built by the people of Bradford.

A young boy in an orange onesie with green hair is building with wood.
FREE Part of PLAY

The Great Adventure Build

Woodland Tribe

Build the playground of your dreams – then play!

FREE Part of PLAY

RedBall Project

Kurt Perschke

The longest-running street art project in the world is coming to the UK City of Culture.

FREE Part of PLAY

Island of Foam: Version #40

Stephanie Lüning

Celebrate Playday, the national day for play, in City Park. Families of all ages can join in this monumental explosion of multicoloured foam…

More family-friendly events

Explore more family-friendly events coming soon.

FREE Part of Heritage Open Days

Sacred Vows and Sacred Spaces

Bradford South Asian Festival

'Chai & Chat' sessions exploring the significance of marriage ceremonies.

FREE Part of Heritage Open Days

Celebration of Black Music – A UK Fusion!

Go Caribbean CIC & Culture City Radio

A musical expression of togetherness connecting attendees and guests.

FREE Part of Heritage Open Days

Global Dresses of the World

Intercultured Festival

Women-only fashion show celebrating the rich cultural heritage of textiles.

FREE Part of Heritage Open Days

Naturally Dyed: A Student Showcase

The Museum at Hanson

A lively exhibition of work by Hanson Academy textile students.

Rapper Big Deli, with a purple coloured filter, holds a slingshot towards us. Next to him is a smaller figure of a person in a tracksuit with yellow jacket, also firing a slingshot.

RIDE!

Rap, dance and theatre combine in this powerful new work created with Gypsy and Traveller communities and the people of BD4.

FREE Part of BBC Contains Strong Language

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.

Play Bradford

Keeping Bradford playful

Play Bradford are passionate about using adventure play as a vehicle for social change. Find out more about what they do and how they’re making play happen anywhere and everywhere.

Learn more (opens in new tab)