Bradford Festival | 18 & 19 July 2026

Bradford Festival returns this July with a free weekend of outdoor arts, street theatre, dance and family entertainment across the city centre. Co‑produced by Bradford Culture Company and Bradford Council, the festival brings over 100 international artists to the district, with highlights including UNITY a large‑scale aerial show at the Mirror Pool, hip‑hop dance in Norfolk Gardens, roaming street theatre, workshops, live music and playful pop‑ups for families. A packed two‑day celebration of creativity in Bradford’s newly revamped spaces.

Image credit: UNITY by Gorilla Circus. Courtesy Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Luke Witcomb

Bradford Culture Company continues the momentum of Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 with a lively programme of exhibitions, gatherings and community‑led events across the district. Current highlights include the return of Extraordinary Portraits at Loading Bay, the vibrant K‑Town People exhibition, Saad Qureshi’s striking sculpture Tower of Now, family‑friendly Wild + Kind Gatherings, and the monthly Urdu Shurdu poetry sessions. With new artworks, neighbourhood activity and cultural moments happening throughout the year, explore What’s On to experience Bradford’s unfiltered, unstoppable, unmissable culture.