Bradford's year as UK City of Culture got under way with a special event in the centre of the city
Opening show Rise was created by award-winning director Kirsty Housley and Bradford-born magician Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo)
The event featured hundreds of performers and thousands of people attended City Park to watch it
Bradford's year as the UK's cultural capital follows on from Coventry in 2021 and fellow Yorkshire city Hull in 2017
You can see more on Bradford 2025 as well as previous UK cities of culture on a special BBC website here
The best laid plans and all that...
We're hearing the show may start a little nearer to 18:40 than 18:30.
Get a warm drink and click on the play button above to see more City of Culture content from the BBC.
Image source, Getty ImagesZayn Malik is a Bradford 2025 ambassador
And five current cultural heroes:
Alex Moss
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, BBC/Jacob TomlinsonIt's nearly time to start.
The show for Rise will begin in about 10 minutes.
These pictures from a few minutes ago show how much the crowds have swelled.
Image source, BBC/Jacob Tomlinson
Image source, BBC/ Charles Heslett
Image source, BBC/Charles HeslettAdam Laver
BBC News in Bradford
Image source, Adam LaverBushra Bibi, is among the crowds gathering ahead of tonight's show.
The 46-year-old (pictured on the right above) who came to enjoy festivities with her friend, Hawa Jafari, told the BBC she hopes the event "brings the community together".
"It's a multi-cultural city; I want to see my city as beautiful and prosperous and put on the map.
“I’m so excited and looking forward to the lights.
"Everyone is so happy."
Ian Youngs
Culture reporter, BBC News
Image source, PA MediaAn estimated 60,000 people saw in Hull's tenure as City of Culture in 2017 on New Year's Eve
One downside of celebrating the opening of a year as City of Culture is working out how to put on a big opening ceremony and bring thousands of people together – in the middle of winter.
In 2013, Londonderry announced itself with spectacular fireworks on New Year’s Eve, followed a few weeks later by an indoor concert featuring famous locals including Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Snow Patrol, Dana and The Undertones.
Four years later in Hull, an estimated 60,000 people came out to see fireworks plus video projections on historic buildings telling the story of the city, again on New Year’s Eve.
Coventry held the title in 2021 but was unlucky to have its plans upended by the Covid pandemic. So events officially started that May with a special short film shown online, followed by a scaled-back procession and pop-up performances in June.
That was the most recent UK City of Culture – but when Leeds declared itself the unofficial European Capital of Culture in 2023, it kicked off the year with a big concert at Headingley rugby stadium that January.
But Bradford might just be the coldest opening ceremony there's been.
Nicola Rees
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, BBC/Nicola ReesThis is Ashley and Adam Bradley.
They've come into town tonight to see the show - and although we don't know, we assume they must be related. Otherwise the cold is making us see double!
“We’ve come down today to support the city," Ashley said.
"Bradford is so diverse and has got so much going for it. This is a huge boost for our city and tonight we get to show the world what we’ve got to offer.”
Charles Heslett
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, BBC/Charles HeslettCharlie Jerram, her husband and two daughters have come to watch the opening ceremony which gets under way shortly.
The 36-year-old, who works for Bradford Council, said she was looking forward to a "wonderful year".
"I think it’s going to be fantastic for the district and all the residents in the surrounding area.
"It's showcasing Bradford as a place to shop, to live, to work and a place to be."
Jacob Tomlinson
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, BBC/Jacob TomlinsonHundreds of people have arrived ahead of the opening night of Bradford 2025.
The Rise event is due to take place about 18:30 GMT and spectators are picking their spots.
Thousands of people are expected to be in City Park when the show kicks off shortly.
Image source, BBC/Jacob Tomlinson
Image source, BBC/Jacob TomlinsonIan Youngs
Entertainment and Arts Reporter, BBC News
Image source, Bradford 2025 UK City of CultureAïda Muluneh's Nationhood series is at the Impressions gallery
One of the first exhibitions in the City of Culture is a collection of striking photos taken and curated by Ethiopian photographer Aida Muluneh, the first time she’s worked outside Africa.
The exhibition, at the Impressions gallery, centres around a dream sequence showing the same enigmatic figure with a painted face and colourful robes against staged and surreal backdrops.
Muluneh is also showing a series of portraits of “unsung heroes” from her travels in Bradford, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow, as well as images of communities taken by other photographers from those cities.
This is the first City of Culture exhibition to be held across all four nations of the UK, with the exhibition set to travel to Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow after Bradford.
Alex Moss
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, Tim SmithThe creative director of Bradford 2025 has urged Bradfordians to embrace the coming year.
Shanaz Gulzar said Bradford was a "mighty West Yorkshire city" and had given the world "some of the greatest artists".
"This programme, this year is incredibly diverse because our city, our district and our country is diverse.
"I would like to say to the half a million Bradfordians. Make this yours. Be a part of it. Be a volunteer, be a participant. Be it, because this is our time."
Magician Steven Frayne is one of the team responsible for creating this evening's launch event.
The entertainer, formerly known as Dynamo, was born and raised in Bradford.
Despite performing to crowds around the world, Frayne says that when he gets back to the city he's from he exhales and says: "I'm home now".
What are his favourite Bradford memories?
"Nana's corned beef hash and a giant Yorkshire pudding," he says.
Lizzie Baines
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, Nick AhadAs part of City of Culture celebrations, a radio play commissioned by BBC Radio Leeds tells the story of two best friends going on a voyage to discover why their city has been awarded the title.
Speaking in Bradford as the stage was being set for this evening's event, "Bilal and Ted's Bradfordian Adventure" playwright, Nick Ahad said it was an idea that just "popped into his head"
"I wrote it towards the end of last year, I'm Bradford born and bred and I have been so excited about this year - I wanted to do more.
"We batted some ideas about, I remember sitting in my office and then I laughed for 10 minutes."
Nick said he is in talks about more potential ideas in coordination with City of Culture but he "can't say any more about that... just yet".
Irene Kaali
BBC Voice of Bradford
Bradford's year in the spotlight is a chance for the city's greatest asset - its people - to join the celebrations, say organisers.
More than 3,500 volunteers are needed to "deliver an incredible year of culture" with roles such as an ambassador for where they live or as a meet and greeter at public events.
Greg Shaw and his 12-year-old daughter Monroe are among those who volunteered to be a part of opening event Rise.
Speaking about his experience, Mr Shaw, a graphic designer from Shipley, said: "We got put into hoists and lifted up off the ground.
"It was then filmed on a green screen so they could take out the background of us so we're flying around and it's then going to be projected onto cubes so everyone can see it."
Show director Kirsty Housley said the event could not work without people giving up their time to take part.
Those wanting to volunteer throughout the year, can find out more here, external.
Keeley Donovan
Weather presenter, BBC Look North
The show is going on, despite the mercury plummeting.
I've got the latest for you on the weather in Bradford tonight - and for Saturday's show too.
I'll give you a clue though - you'll need to wrap up warm!
Jacob Tomlinson
BBC News, Yorkshire
If you think the snow and ice has been a problem on your street, spare a thought for Ben Pugh.
He is the director of production for tonight's launch event.
We caught up with him this week to find out the challenges the team behind Rise have faced with the weather.
Alex Moss
BBC News, Yorkshire
Helping report on Bradford's year of culture are three women who were picked from hundreds of applicants to form part of the BBC's coverage of 2025 events.
Zumba instructor Irene Kaali (right), optometrist Humaira Bham (left) and car sales advisor Olivia Wright (centre) will becomes familiar voices contributing to the coverage across TV, radio, digital and online.
The women were announced as the winners on The One Show on BBC One in April after a four-week BBC talent search to find new voices.
Judges said they were chosen for their "heart, authenticity, warmth, and passion for their home city".
Image source, BBC/Jacob TomlinsonIt's getting dark in Bradford now as the arena gets ready for tonight's show.
Thousands of people are expected to begin gathering for Rise, which will kick off Bradford's year of culture.
Ian Youngs
Culture reporter, BBC News
Bradford is the fourth UK City of Culture – after Londonderry in 2013, Hull in 2017 and Coventry in 2021.
The title succeeded in bringing all three previous holders more visitors and investment plus national events and attention, to varying degrees.
It’s also helped the rest of the UK see those places in a different light, and that’s one of the main but unquantifiable aims of the whole scheme. Bradford is no different in hoping City of Culture will go some way to changing its reputation among those who only know the headlines and stereotypes.
But the risk is that the City of Culture effect wears off pretty soon when the year ends, and there have been mixed outcomes and mixed feelings when it comes to the legacies in the previous holders.
It will be a feelgood night and a feelgood year in Bradford, but the biggest challenge is whether City of Culture can have a marked impact on the city in years that follow.
Spencer Stokes
Journalist, BBC Look North
Michelle Proctor volunteered when Hull was the City of Culture
Hull's reputation improved after 2017 - and so can Bradford's - according to a Hull volunteer.
Michelle Proctor, who volunteered when Hull was the City of Culture, said: "I think it has definitely promoted it and given it a better reputation."
She said Hull used to "have a bit of a bad reputation" but more people have come to see the city for what it is since their year in the spotlight.
When asked what Bradford can learn from Hull, Ms Proctor said: "Create the atmosphere and make sure you bring people in from all communities."
Noor Nanji
BBC Culture reporter in Bradford
Bradford-born poet Kirsty Taylor will be the first performer in the show later.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live that tonight is about "telling the story of Bradford", and said she hoped the people coming down would "see themselves" in the show.
"It's so much about self esteem - we need to lift self esteem," she said.
"There are so many good things about this city and tonight will just be an example of that."
She added that despite the extreme weather conditions, the show is still going on - and that tells you all you need to know about this city.
"There's a passion," she said.
