Bradford, the UK City of Culture 2025, is set to host an extraordinary celebration as it partners with the award-winning Ramadan Tent Project to bring the Ramadan Festival to the city. This landmark collaboration promises a vibrant showcase of art, culture, and creativity designed to unite people from diverse backgrounds, while highlighting Bradford’s rich heritage and community spirit.
Since its launch in 2013, the Ramadan Festival has brought together over a million people across the UK, fostering a deeper understanding of Ramadan and its values. For 2025, the festival embraces the theme of Connection, celebrating the bonds that transcend cultural and social divides and creating opportunities for empathy, understanding, and community building. This partnership aligns with Bradford’s commitment to inclusivity, offering a platform for the city to shine as a hub of diversity and cultural exchange.
The festival will open on Saturday, 15 February, with the Welcome Ramadan Conference at St George’s Hall. This day-long event will explore the theme of connection through inspiring discussions, thought-provoking panels, and keynote speeches from visionary leaders. Tickets for the event will be available from Friday, 24 January, at 10 a.m. The conference will set the stage for a two-month celebration filled with artistic, cultural, and creative events designed to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. From interactive exhibits to live performances, the festival will transform Bradford into a space where strangers become friends and community bonds are strengthened.
Creative Director of Bradford 2025, Shanaz Gulzar, expressed pride in the partnership, emphasising the shared values of kindness, respect, and understanding. She highlighted the importance of creating spaces for meaningful connections and cultural exchange, with the festival serving as a powerful symbol of unity. Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, echoed these sentiments, celebrating the collaboration as an opportunity to amplify their mission of building bridges and fostering inclusion. He emphasized the transformative potential of the festival in celebrating community and belonging while shaping a renewed narrative of Bradford as a vibrant, diverse city.
Tickets for the Welcome Ramadan Conference will be released on 24 January, with further details about the festival’s program to follow. For more information, visit www.bradford2025.co.uk or www.ramadantentproject.com
