Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) opened its eleventh year with a vibrant celebration of arts, culture, and ideas. Across a newly pedestrianised city centre, audiences from across the UK and beyond gathered for an eclectic programme of events, from inspiring talks and thought-provoking debates to performances, exhibitions, creative workshops, and family activities.
In a landmark year as Bradford marks its status as UK City of Culture, BLF’s opening weekend captured the spirit of the city — inclusive, dynamic, and globally connected. Events unfolded across iconic venues, bringing together leading voices from literature, arts, and culture to share stories, explore ideas, and spark meaningful conversations.
Commenting on the weekend, CEO and Artistic Director Syima Aslam said: “The opening weekend of BLF 2025 captured the spirit of why this festival exists – a celebration of culture, creativity, and conversation. In a year where Bradford is UK City of Culture, it’s powerful to see literature bringing people together, sparking curiosity, building connections, and opening doors to new ideas. City Park was transformed into a hub of free family activity, and our Education Programme reached thousands of children, showing how culture can inspire across generations. It’s a reminder of the power of storytelling to connect us, to help us understand the world, and to imagine new possibilities.”
Headline events featured much-loved actors Celia Imrie and Larry Lamb, whose reflections on his early acting career delighted audiences. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, President of Zaytuna College, returned to the festival for a series of sold-out events, including an exploration of the timeless wisdom found in the novels of Jane Austen.
The festival’s ever-popular comedy night drew a full house on Friday, hosted by Tez Ilyas, who brought his signature sharp wit and charm to the stage. The evening featured some of the UK’s brightest comedy talents, including BBC Radio 4’s News Quiz regular Scott Bennett, whose clever observations and quick-fire responses kept the audience laughing throughout.
Saturday evening offered audiences a rich mix of music and performance. Sufiyana Kalaam filled the city with a captivating celebration of Sufi poetry and music, weaving lyrical expressions of love, longing, and spiritual reflection with the rhythmic energy of tabla and traditional instruments. Across the square, Bradford Live’s Ballroom hosted a vibrant evening of Romani music, dance, and fashion — a joyful, high-energy celebration that had crowds on their feet.
Throughout the weekend, Bradford’s City Park came to life with free family activities. The Imagination Station — a dedicated family space with a rolling programme of story sessions — invited children to pull up a bean bag and settle into tales both familiar and new. Highlights included storyteller Gav Cross’s lively Saturday Superheroes session and a joyful Sunday morning reading of C.S. Lewis’s classic poem The Walrus and the Carpenter. Outside, stilt walkers and character performers proved a huge hit with crowds, alongside face painting and a vibrant musical backdrop from ensembles including Wonderbrass and the rousing Punjabi Roots Academy.
Architecture and art were centre stage at Sacred Spaces: The Architecture of Makkah, where Professor Adnan Adas offered a compelling exploration of the city’s architectural evolution, from its earliest forms to the major transformations shaping it today, culminating in a rare preview of the latest design plans for this sacred site.
Meanwhile, Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, guided audiences through the key forces reshaping our world, from geopolitical shifts to the climate emergency and the accelerating impact of AI.
BLF’s commitment to providing thoughtful, balanced space for complex global conversations continued with a sold-out event on the evolving situation in the Middle East, featuring expert analysis from Daniel Levy and Wadah Khanfar. This was followed by a deeply moving session marking the 40th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, a sobering reflection on the enduring importance of remembrance, accountability, and learning from history.
The festival’s exploration of identity and cultural memory was further reflected in Threads of Palestine, led by the Yorkshire Tatreez Group — a workshop offering insight into the centuries-old art of Palestinian embroidery, where each stitch holds stories of home, resilience, and generational memory.
Elsewhere, Professor Kehinde Andrews reflected on the radical legacy of Malcolm X — exploring themes of resistance, transformation, and justice, and the continuing relevance of his message today.
BLF’s debate series continues this week with the Doha Debates Town Hall, an interactive forum exploring how the modern nation state shapes both personal and collective identity. Featuring a diverse range of student voices, the event forms part of the globally renowned Doha Debates programme, known for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and fresh perspectives on the world’s most urgent issues.
Rounding off Bradford’s opening weekend, audiences enjoyed a rare opportunity to explore the archive of the city’s literary hero J.B. Priestley, alongside tributes to Franz Kafka, and timely events marking 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen and 100 years since the publication of The Great Gatsby.
Monday saw the launch of the Big Tasty Read, a major new partnership between BBC Arts, The Reading Agency, and Bradford 2025, bringing together food and literature in conversation. Hosted by Grace Dent and Nisha Katona, the event celebrated the joy of storytelling through recipes, memories, and shared culinary traditions.
Looking ahead, festival highlights include broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern discussing her debut crime novel Deadline, An Evening with Griff Rhys Jones, and a much-anticipated Friday night slot with legendary punk poet and cultural icon John Cooper-Clarke.
The festival continues until Sunday 6 July.
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