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Featuring world-class performers, including international names and home-grown talent, the festival is free to attend and suitable for families and children of all ages.

BD: Festival will showcase the wealth of artistic talent across the Bradford district alongside national and international performance artists. Produced by Bradford Council, the festival demonstrates the growing ambition set out in Culture is Our Plan, the district’s 10-year culture strategy, as Bradford works towards City of Culture 2025. BD: Festival features a diverse line-up of artists and will provide a welcoming space for all, suitable for families and children of all ages, with a raft of free and ticketed performances. 

Highlights of the festival include Perceptions by Compagnie Bivouac, an extraordinary circus experience, performed within a huge aerial structure; ARCADE by DARKFIELD*, an interactive, immersive audio and sensory experience set within the nostalgic aesthetic of 1980’s video games; Punjabi Roots will perform with their Band Baja, dhol players and Bhangra dancers; Pan~//Catwalk by Zwermers, is a live catwalk show exploring themes of consumerism, fast fashion, gender fluidity, cultural identity, conformity and individuality; SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra, presented in partnership with Bradford 2025, is a high-energy parade in which musicians, dancers and performers form a mobile human jukebox; TEABREAK by Trigger, enjoy a cup of tea served from Trigger’s beautifully hand painted tuk tuk as you gently glide through an audio journey of tea and how it’s found itself into our tea pots; and + (Suma) by SOUND DE SECÀ, a unique theatre, dance and music experience combining percussion, energetic choreography and catchy beats.

Offering a platform to Bradford-based artists and creative organisations, BD: Festival invites audiences to explore art and theatre made in the city. Queenie and the Pooka by Spin Arts is a children’s theatre piece telling the story of a Traveller girl with big dreams and a mischievous shape-shifting Pooka; Drinking St George's Hall by Edible Archives, in collaboration with Cultures and Bradford Sound Artists collective, will celebrate the live music heritage of Bradford’s iconic venue, pairing music and oral histories with specially flavoured drinks; Where the Souls Go, a brand new theatre piece by Displace Yourself Theatre supported by the 4 Nations Bursary Project, is a visually fabulous journey, with a mix of zesty moves, soulful beats, and enchanting otherworldly characters.

Families with young children can also enjoy live storytelling and free book giveaways with The Bradford Stories Bus by The National Literacy Trust, and come along to the relaxed, drop in playspace with 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five for big bubble play and much more.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “BD: Festival is a great example of our ambitions, our energy and our dedication to bringing world-class cultural experiences to the people of Bradford district and beyond, whilst also showing the world the investment opportunities and regeneration plans on offer here.

Families from all around the district and beyond had a great time at last year’s colourful BD: Festival and we look forward to once again welcoming everyone to the city centre to enjoy this two-day event.”

Dan Bates, Executive Director at Bradford 2025, said: “We are delighted to be supporting BD: Festival through our Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteering programme, through which hundreds of people have signed up to get involved, meet new people and gain new skills as we gear up for next year. We’re also partnering on SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra’s ensemble of disabled and non-disabled professional musicians, a technicolour pop-karaoke-parade-come-party through the city streets.”

*ARCADE is a ticketed event and must be booked in advance. Tickets will go on sale shortly, please see www.visitbradford.com/BDFestival for more details.

For more information go to visitbradford.com/bdfestival or follow the Bradford Council Culture Team across our social channels:

Facebook: BDCu1ture

Instagram: bdculture_

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