Bradford celebrated its City of Culture 2025 status with style. 5,000 events, 3 million people enjoying the events. 8 out of 10 local residents saying that Bradford 2025 made them proud of where they live.

But what now in 2026? Well, the city keeps on developing. Here’s 7 good news stories that suggest Bradford could be on its uppers.

Bradford Culture delivering more cultural highlights

Bradford Culture Company is the charity which delivered Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Throughout 2026 they’ve been working in partnership with communities and organisations to make sure that Bradford builds on the success of the previous year.

Last week saw the Harmonic Fields installation, a unique symphonic experience set on the wild West Yorkshire moors above Baildon. Next week will see the internationally renowned Flower Carpet project coming to the UK for the very first time, situated in Bradford City Centre.

The Bradford Pennine Gateway Trail protects nature, showcases local beauty and boosts tourism

The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve is the first of its kind in West Yorkshire, the result of a partnership between Natural England and Bradford Council.

The accompanying trail connects the towns of Ilkley, Saltaire and Haworth, and showcases the area’s stunning landscape from Bingley Five Rise Locks to the Twelve Apostles on Ilkley Moor. IAmongst other objectives, it aims to boost tourism to the area, and inform visitors of the rural beauty beyond, and surprisingly near, to Bradford.

Brit North college in Bradford city centre announces its design

Design images of Brit North have just been revealed. The college will be housed on the site of the former Jacob’s Well council building which is currently a car park.

Bradford Council, specifically requested that the building’s design be influenced by “local materials and industrial heritage, as well as emphasising the school’s specialism in the performing arts”.

The building is scheduled to be completed in 2028, with a decision on the planning application due later this year.

Bradford City Village will see spades in the ground very soon

In July, Bradford-based housing provider, Incommunities was officially appointed as the funding and delivery partner for the Bradford City Village project. Once completed, it will create up to 1,000 modern, energy-efficient homes across three sites at the ‘the top of town’. The Oastler shopping centre will soon be demolished to make way for the first phase, with building to commence in Winter 2027, and completion due in Summer 2029.

University of Bradford rises 18 places in this year’s Guardian University Guide

Last week The Guardian published its annual university guide and the University of Bradford has shot up its charts. It now sits at joint 51^st position, (69^th last year) alongside Nottingham.

Bradford did noticeably well on “Career after 15 months” – percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs or are in further professional level study, after 15 months of leaving university. And on “Value added” which compares the students’ entry qualifications versus their degree results, demonstrating how effectively they were taught.

London and Yorkshire lead commercial property investment in 2026

New analysis from Property Inspect suggests that after London, Yorkshire saw the highest commercial property investment, in the first few months of 2026. Yorkshire & Humber recorded £461.6m in completed deals.

Property Inspect’s Sián Hemming-Metcalfe explained that the data was:

“reflecting growing confidence in regional cities and development corridors outside the traditional London focus.”

Bradford City AFC, sitting pretty in League One

And not forgetting Bradford City. It’s early days in the season, but the Bantams are in the top three, in the play-off zone. Just another 8½ months to go…

 

AWB Charlesworth is delighted to be based in this vibrant and young city. Find us in City Hub, Little Germany, opposite Bradford Cathedral. We look after a comprehensive range of legal matters covering personal and business matters.

Call 01274 352055 or email mail@awbclaw.co.uk