Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of Brighter Still - the finale to Bradford's UK City of Culture year.

Although the live reporting is over, the party continues!

For those who managed to get a ticket, the show returns for a second and final night tomorrow.

A burst of flares and fire lights up the stage, bringing the show to a dramatic close.

Disco dancers bring high‑energy moves to the finale, cartwheeling and spinning their way to the end.

The full cast come on for a final bow - glittering in their best party gear as the stage transforms into one giant, shimmering golden disco ball.

Bradford teenager Jaleel featured in a BBC documentary called Me, My Horse and My Spear.

We caught up with Jaleel a year after the 16-year-old was filmed to find out what the programme meant to him.

You can watch the documentary on iPlayer here.

• The city hosted 5,000 events, including the Turner Prize
• It cost around £51m to host
• City centre footfall increased by 25%, according to organisers
• Its events attracted an estimated audience of three million people
• More than 87,000 people performed or participated in events
• 160 local schools took part in projects and organised trips

Image source, PA

Read more here.

Humaira Bham is one of three BBC Young Voices winners chosen to represent Bradford during 2025.

Humaira went to the University of Bradford and was working as an optometrist when she applied for the competition.

The second soloist of the night, Stephanie Hladowski, steps into the spotlight with a song steeped in grief and memory. Her voice carries through the park as the crowd listens on.

A lone dancer moves beside her, with each shape echoing the emotion in her words.

The audience is invited to lift their phone torches, creating a sky filled with thousands of lights.

The stage is now buzzing with around 150 performers, moving as one in a sequence that celebrates grit and resilience.

The energy shifts as Club Ekta joins in, with the bhangra dancers taking centre stage before the full company sweeps back in around them.

This year we saw the creation of the Bantam of the Opera choir.

Bradford City fans from all backgrounds were taught to sing opera as part of a BBC Radio Leeds challenge, and their journey has been documented ever since.

It culminated in the choir performing at BBC Sports Personality of the Year this week.

The crowd is getting a further dose of cheer as volunteers weave through the audience with trays of chocolate brownies and other treats.

We now have the Bradford Ukrainian choir, Dibrova, singing, filling the air with a traditional song about soldiers returning home.

Further volunteer performers are entering the stage now, sharing stories from across Bradford and beyond.

They are telling the audience about the winter solstice and how it is marked.

Technically speaking, the solstice is a specific moment, not a whole day, and in 2025 it happens at 15:03 tomorrow.

Volunteers from across the district got involved during Bradford 2025.

Barbara has told the BBC how much the city means to her and how she has welcomed visitors during the culture year.

Torches light the stage and we are hearing from six of the local participants - giving them each a moment to shine a spotlight on their stories.

Their tales are followed by a performance by Vanessa Ndukuba, who is joined by young dancers from Stage 84 and Freestyle Fanatics.

More performers flood the stage as the show hits its stride - a blend of community cast members, dance crews and seasoned professionals.

A dazzling burst of light erupts and the entire group launches into a high‑energy routine, joined by the Luvabulls cheerleaders from rugby league side Bradford Bulls’ youth squad.

Image source, Skymagic

Another highlight from the last 12 months was this drone display of famous Bradford painter David Hockney.

The 88-year-old, well known for his depictions of Yorkshire landscapes, was up in lights in the sky above Saltaire last month.

A burst of drums signals the first performer to the stage - solo singer Supriya Nagarajan.

Mumbai-born Supriya is a classically-trained singer who has performed all over the world and runs Manasamitra, an arts organisation based in Dewsbury.

As the audience cheers on, she is joined by three bikers bearing fire.

She is later joined by the community cast, encouraging Bradford to share in this moment and celebrate the end of the year.

An impressive start!

The crowd is buzzing with anticipation as they wait for Brighter Still.

Performers have started walking to the stage and are taking their positions - looks like we're nearly ready to go.

Gemma and her daughter Taya spoke to the BBC about the impact Bradford 2025 has had on their family.

Taya has Down's syndrome and was one of the performers who took part in the RISE opening show in January.

Image source, David Levene/Bradford City of Culture 2025

Illusionist Stephen Frayne, formerly known as 'Dynamo', has hailed the success of his home city's year of culture, describing performing at January's launch as one of his "best experiences".

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds earlier this month, he said: "When you can make someone believe in themselves and do things they didn't think were possible - that is true magic and that's what's happened this year."

Arzu Dutta
BBC Yorkshire

This afternoon we're told to expect fire, dancing, music and some delicious surprises.

Creators Emily Lim and Dan Canham say Brighter Still will spark stories, fire imagination, create lasting memories and bring Bradford 2025 to a spectacular end. In some ways it feels like the year has flashed by since the Rise event opened up the district's celebrations in Centenary Square. But tonight - it might be a bit muddy and cold - but Bradford 2025 is ready to go out with a bang.

Dusk is setting in and the stage is getting brighter against the landscape of Myrtle Park.

The event is completely sold out and is running on both Saturday and Sunday. This is the first show to kick off the closing weekend.

The audience is arriving - with many taking the opportunity to pick up a snack before show time!