Bradford 2025: a summer of culture, ideas and art, powered by The National Lottery

A celebration of culture

This summer, culture is all around Bradford - in parks, on the streets and in everyday spaces. Many events are free, making it easy for everyone to get involved.

Visitors can look out for Zee and the City, a four-metre-tall puppet of a teenage girl parading through Bradford city centre. Or A Good Yarn, a giant ball of fabric made from donated clothes and personal stories, rolling through the streets in celebration of Bradford’s textile heritage.

One of the longest-running street artworks in the world, The RedBall Project, will also appear across the district – a 15-foot inflatable red ball popping up in unexpected places across the city and countryside.

Telling Bradford’s stories

Many of the events supported by The National Lottery honour Bradford’s heritage and amplify the voices of its diverse communities.

Memories of the Future, a moving new dance production by Akram Khan Company and Dance United Yorkshire, brings over 70 Bradford residents aged 8 to 79 onto the stage of the Alhambra Theatre, many performing for the first time.

Tu i Tam/Tyt i Tam highlights Bradford’s Polish and Ukrainian communities, past and present. This powerful exhibition is built from family photographs, oral histories and treasured objects, co-curated with the people whose stories it tells.

STRIKE lights up Lister Mills with a spectacular show celebrating the women-led protest that changed British history, blending sound, projections and school workshops.

Music, food and ideas

Summer in Bradford is filled with music. Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo joins a line-up that mixes local talent with rising stars. Free festivals like Summer Sounds and the New Music Biennial will fill parks and much-loved venues with energy and creativity.

And it wouldn’t be Bradford without food. The World Curry Festival, The Bradford Selection biscuit tin and the Meet Our Mothers cookbook all celebrate the district’s love of flavour and the family recipes that shaped the city.

Powered by people

Bradford 2025 is as much about people as it is about performance, with volunteers, artists, students, storytellers and thousands of residents shaping and starring in the programme.

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025, said: “Whether you’re plaiting a giant ball of yarn, watching films under the stars or journeying by steam train to see The Railway Children, there’s something here for everyone – much of it free, and all of it unforgettable. This summer’s programme brings together communities, cultures and creativity, reflecting Bradford’s spirit – proud of its past, alive in the present and with a joyful vision for the future.”

Darren Henley, Chair, National Lottery Forum and Chief Executive Officer, Arts Council England, said: "Bradford's set to enjoy a summer of world class culture, with people from across the district and beyond getting involved. I’ll be one of the many visitors enjoying performances and exhibitions as Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture goes from strength to strength. It’s all made possible thanks to investment from the government and the National Lottery.”

Thanks to National Lottery players

Bradford 2025 is a bold celebration of place - made possible by National Lottery players.

Over the past 30 years, The National Lottery has raised more than £50 billion for Good Causes, supporting over 650,000 projects across the UK.

Learn more and see what’s on at www.bradford2025.co.uk.