Summary

  • The finale to Bradford's UK City of Culture year takes place in Bingley

  • Crowds head to Myrtle Park for Brighter Still

  • Bradford 2025 has hosted about 5,000 events and attracted three million people, according to organisers

  • Catch up on Brighter Still here

  1. Live coverage ends, but the party continues!published at 17:38 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

    People on stage
  2. Show ends with flares, fire and glitterpublished at 17:15 GMT 20 December 2025
    Breaking

    Performers on stage

    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.

  3. Catching up with Jaleelpublished at 17:11 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

  4. Bradford 2025 in numberspublished at 17:08 GMT 20 December 2025

    • 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
    King Charles and choirImage source, PA

    Read more here.

  5. Humaira's yearpublished at 16:54 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

  6. Solo song of grief brings quiet to the crowdspublished at 16:51 GMT 20 December 2025

    The audience shine their phones

    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.

  7. Dance sequence celebrates shared strengthpublished at 16:46 GMT 20 December 2025

    Performers on the stage

    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.

  8. Bantam of the Operapublished at 16:43 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

  9. Crowd warmed by treats and Ukrainian choirpublished at 16:41 GMT 20 December 2025

    Performers on stage

    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.

  10. Community voices share solstice momentspublished at 16:38 GMT 20 December 2025

    Crowds watching the show

    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.

  11. Meet the volunteerspublished at 16:32 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

  12. Torches shine light on city's voices and storiespublished at 16:28 GMT 20 December 2025

    Performers on the stage

    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.

    Performers on stage
  13. Dancers and cheerleaders take to the stagepublished at 16:21 GMT 20 December 2025

    Performers on stage
    Image caption,

    More performers take to the stage

    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.

  14. David's dronespublished at 16:16 GMT 20 December 2025

    A series of red, white and yellow coloured drones form a figure of the artist David Hockney against a night sky.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.

  15. Fire and drums as first singer performspublished at 16:13 GMT 20 December 2025

    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!

    Stage
  16. Excitement builds as crowd awaits start of showpublished at 16:08 GMT 20 December 2025

    The crowd gathered for the show

    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.

    Crowds
  17. "This is what Bradford 2025 means to us"published at 16:05 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

  18. Steven Frayne hails 'amazing' City of Culture yearpublished at 16:01 GMT 20 December 2025

    The illusionist Stephen Frayne, wearing a black coat and stood on a stage.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."

  19. At the scene: 'Fire, dancing and delicious suprises'published at 15:59 GMT 20 December 2025

    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.

    Brighter Still
  20. Crowds fill Myrtle Park for opening nightpublished at 15:52 GMT 20 December 2025

    Crowds arrives at Myrtle Park

    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!

    Crowds arriving at Myrtle Park