We began our journey in 2024 with stunning artworks, towering red giraffes and street art.

We kicked off Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture with RISE, our spectacular opening event, and encouraged everyone to get drawing with David Hockney.

Our year of culture continued with film, music, art, poetry, architecture, and the creation of an amazing world made entirely from cardboard.

We celebrated Bradford writer Andrea Dunbar, launched our district-wide community creativity programme – and opened our very own pop-up city-centre venue in March.

In April we took a brand new venue on tour, unveiled a major sculpture and celebrated the sound of brass at a musical weekender.

A 36-hour musical journey across the district, a Royal visit, new artworks for Brontë Country and a night of orchestral bassline.

An 18-wheel cinema, 20 musical world premieres, 2,000 young performers, 24,000-year-old artworks – and biscuits?

Our smash-hit summer show took to the rails in a month that also saw the return of BD: Festival and a new temporary home for The Beacon.

We came together in August to enjoy Summer Sounds, starlit cinema, loaded laughs and free family fun in the sunshine.

The Turner Prize opened, Bloom brought circus to Shipley, and the BBC Proms came to Bradford for the very first time.

Bradford’s history, heritage and legends came to the forefront in October – with a thrilling new theatre production, a light-and-sound spectacular, an immersive fashion installation and a joyous LGBTQ+ weekender.

Creative careers, family curries, cult jazz, flying artworks and BBC Radio One Anthems made November a month to remember.

Coming soon!