Bradford is set to celebrate its status as the 2025 City of Culture in the new year, and with it comes a host of events set to take place under the Bradford2025 umbrella.
Having been awarded the status back in 2022, the honor recognizes the city's cultural diversity and its rich artistic history, and it will serve as a platform to showcase its creative talent through various events and exhibitions throughout 2025.
The City of Culture title is part of an initiative by the UK Government to celebrate and promote the cultural identity of cities across the country. Bradford’s selection follows a competitive process in which other cities, such as Wrexham, received significant recognition, but Bradford was ultimately chosen for its strong cultural and community-led initiatives.
There are a whole heap of events set to take place across the city throughout the year, including musical performances and art exhibitions - many of which are free to attend, but in the event there are tickets, it’s as easy as visiting the Bradford 2025 website to make those bookings.
So - what are some of the events taking place in Bradford in 2025 as it celebrates its historic title of City of Culture?
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7. Richard Hawley And The Black Dyke Band
Experience Richard Hawley’s beloved songs in a whole new way on April 12 at St. George’s Hall. With the powerful addition of The Black Dyke Band’s brass sound, this concert promises to be a highlight of Bradford 2025. | Provided
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8. Wallace And Gromit: The Wrong Trousers – Live
Experience the Oscar-winning The Wrong Trousers with live music from the City of Bradford Brass Band on 12 April at Victoria Hall, Shipley. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to see Wallace and Gromit on the big screen with a live soundtrack. | Aardman/W&G LTD
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9. The Big Brass Blowout
Celebrate the brilliance of British brass at The Big Brass Blowout in Bradford from April 11-13. Featuring everything from traditional brass tunes to afrobeat rhythms and one-off collaborations, this festival is a must for music lovers. | Patrycja Maziarz
10. Echoes of the North
Echoes of the North presents an evocative cinematic experience on April 11, showcasing the North’s rich history with a silent film made up of over 100 archive fragments. It’s a powerful, unmissable journey through the landscapes and lives that defined the North in the early 20th century when it takes place at Victoria Hall in Shipley. | Yorkshire Film Archive
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11. Grue Wintercroft and ARCADE
Grue Wintercroft and ARCADE invites families to explore an enchanted world at Damart Mill, Bingley, February 8–23. Navigate secret doors, uncover underwater secrets, and engage in crafting activities all while helping a historian crack the mysteries of the mill. A fun, magical experience made from repurposed materials by Steve Wintercroft. | Grue by Wintercroft and ARCADE
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12. Jungle Book reimagined
Akram Khan Company's bold reinterpretation of Jungle Book invites audiences to witness Mowgli’s journey through the eyes of a child displaced by climate change. Coming to Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre as part of Bradford 2025 on January 24 and 25, this performance speaks to the need for a deeper connection with nature and our shared responsibility for the future. | Akram Khan Company