Bradford closes UK City of Culture year with Brighter Still finale
Two-night outdoor finale capped Bradford’s year of culture, featuring a community cast of locals and thousands of attendees, as organizers outline costs, reach and legacy.
Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture ended with the final performance of Brighter Still on Myrtle Park, a two-night outdoor finale staged during the winter solstice weekend. The closing show, which finishes on Sunday, sold out and featured a community cast drawn from 90 Bradford residents aged eight to 76, alongside dancers, musicians and choirs, in a performance that drew thousands to the park.
The first of the two Brighter Still performances took place in Bingley earlier in the week, with a community cast numbering in the hundreds and including participants from local communities who helped tell stories rooted in Bradford’s life and its neighborhoods. Organisers described the year as a mosaic of “big, bold and brilliant” events that boosted city center footfall and showcased the city’s arts scene across locations from theater to outdoor installations.
Emily Lim, Brighter Still’s co-director, said those who took part had “done themselves and their city incredibly proud.” The show’s participatory element was central to Bradford 2025’s philosophy, with community members not only performing but helping shape the narrative arcs that wove together personal stories with collective memory.
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, described Brighter Still as a “dynamic reflection of Bradford, honouring our heritage, marking the present and looking to the future.” She added that the closing weekend was designed to put local people at center stage, where they belong.
Tickets for both Brighter Still performances were in high demand, with about 5,000 sold for each show and more than 250 local performers involved across the two nights. Organisers emphasised the mix of movement, dance, narration and live music that allowed participants to showcase a broad spectrum of Bradford’s communities, from school groups to adult ensembles. One participant, Gavin Wood, reflected on the experience as deeply meaningful for his sense of place: “I’m Bradford born and bred and incredibly proud of my roots. It’s a beautiful place to live, and I feel like the City of Culture is helping the city turn its narrative around toward a more positive outlook.”
The year’s program was described by Bradford 2025 leaders as a turning point for the city’s cultural identity. Shanaz Gulzar noted that Brighter Still was a “dynamic reflection of Bradford, honouring our heritage, marking the present and looking to the future,” while highlighting the role of local people in shaping the show’s energy and storytelling.
Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, praised the year as proof that culture can change lives. “If you were born here in Bradford and are a young person, look at the possibility of what you can do now,” he said. “You can be born in West Yorkshire, you can come here, you can study here, you can do your job here, you can be creating things that will radiate out across the world.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin said the legacy would be felt most strongly among the city’s young people, pointing to the confidence gained by those who performed on a large stage in front of thousands. “It’s about giving young people the confidence,” she said. “We’ve heard youngsters on the stage tonight speaking in front of thousands of people. They may never be actors, but they’ll be better paramedics or entrepreneurs because they’ve got that sense of belonging to something magical.”
Bradford’s City of Culture year is estimated to have cost around £51 million and generated audiences of about three million people across its program. The funding package included £15 million from the government, £10 million from Bradford Council and £6 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, complemented by fundraising and ticket revenue.
Beyond Brighter Still, Bradford’s cultural calendar this year included highlights such as a Railway Children production staged inside an engine shed, the use of drones to recreate David Hockney’s work, and a celebration of local brass bands that showcased the breadth of the city’s creative talent. As the curtain falls on the year, organizers say the city’s cultural profile has been elevated, with a lasting emphasis on accessibility and community participation that they hope will outlive the year and inform future creative projects in the region.