About

Join us at Bradford Arts Centre for Common/Wealth’s annual free festival of live performance, music, dance, art and workshops, celebrating Bradford’s young people & young artists.

Bradford is one of the youngest cities in Europe. 29% of our population was under the age of 20 when our youth festival was formed in 2024. 29% Festival is Common/Wealth’s annual free festival of live performance, music, dance, art and workshops, celebrating Bradford’s young people & young artists. It is the only dedicated festival made for and by young people in Yorkshire and was attended by over 400 teenagers last year.

This year we will host performances from over 50 young rappers, musicians, actors and poets, as well as a jam-packed programme of other activities for young people to get involved in, programmed by our brilliant youth board. This will include dedicated games rooms to have fun and compete with your mates, music-making workshops, exhibitions, chill-out and social spaces, interactive visual arts and crafting activities and FREE mocktails and desserts for all attendees.

Young people encouraged to attend with friends, siblings, cousins - it’s a space for young people! But if parents/carers do not want to leave their children unattended, there will be a dedicated adults’ space for parents to grab a cuppa and relax whilst your young people enjoy the fun alongside our team of DBS-certified staff members. Parents/carers don’t need a ticket for this.

Programme -

14:30 - 15:30 - New Writing. Original performance and theatre from fresh voices in Bradford

15:30 - 16:00 - Cabaret. Glamorous, high-energy performances by dancers and drag artists

16:00 - 17:00 - Live Sounds. Bands and singers fill the stage with punk, indie, pop, synth, r&b, afrobeats and more

17:30 - 18:00 - Poetry Slam. Powerful performances from Bradford's best spoken word artists

18:00 - 19:00 - Rap Battle. Original bars and beats from local grime, trap and bassline MCs

14:00 - 19:00 - Take part/ Fun. Workshops, games, competitions, chill & social spaces, crafting & well-being activities, exhibitions chosen by 29% Youth Board