Bradford’s Festival of Outdoor Arts Returns

An art spectacular in the heart of our city - all for free.

On Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 July experience a weekend of breathtaking and thought-provoking circus, street theatre, dance, to capture the imaginations of audiences young, old and everyone in-between.

At Bradford Festival the streets are the stage, allowing you to wander and explore in a city where stories unfold in unexpected spaces.

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

What's on at Bradford Festival

Artworks in Osman Yousefzada's exhibition, including a boat painted in a reflective black paint, and a statue covered with a chintz fabric.

UNITY by Gorilla Circus

Gorilla Circus bring their astonishing large-scale, aerial-spectacular act to the Mirror Pool. With high wire-walking, dance trapeze and hair hanging, UNITY merges immersive theatre, circus and community stories in a powerful but intimate way.

Local poet Kirsty Taylor will write a new work for the show, reflecting shared histories and voices of our city.

Image: Roman Czajkowski

Two artists, Millicent Sanders on the left, and Tahir Shah on the right, stand in front of a stone wall.

The world comes to Bradford

Spanish street arts company Sound De Secà will bring a fusion of percussion, dance and theatre, French actors from ADHOK offer a promenade piece looking at our perceptions of old age, and Indonesia’s Gigi Art of Dance display a performance of connections, cultures and conversations on human response.

Image: Andy Gondi

Fun for all the family

Printing workshops, a bus full of books and pop-up performances from dragons on bikes, foxes on scooters and posties delivering dreams, will entertain kids and adults alike.

A live music stage will spotlight emerging musical talent from across the district turning Centenary Square into a dancefloor.

Image: Historic England

Take a look at the full line up!

Take part

We're looking for 3 professional dancers or physical performers in West Yorkshire to play a part in Efectos Especiales, a site-specific performance blending film, dance and theatre through a cinematic journey across the city.

This outdoor performance takes place along Bradford’s city centre streets and is made up of three live film takes. Each dancer will perform to camera and a live audience over a distance of around 300 metres. They will be accompanied by special effects that include water, smoke and snow.

Image: Matheus José Maria

Find out more and apply here

Bradford Festival is co-produced by Bradford Culture Company and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.