Bradford Literature Festival Shortlisted for Yorkshire Tourism Award

Festival recognised in Event of the Year category

The Bradford Literature Festival has been named as a finalist in the Event of the Year category at the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards 2025. The awards celebrate excellence within Yorkshire’s tourism sector, highlighting events and services that contribute significantly to the region’s appeal.

Festival attendance and programme details

The 2025 edition of the Bradford Literature Festival attracted 187,366 visitors from 34 countries over ten days. The event featured 752 sessions delivered by 524 artists, including panel discussions, workshops, and live performances. Notable contributors included John Cooper Clarke, Ash Sarkar, Jeremy Corbyn, Reeta Chakrabarti, Celia Imrie, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Lemn Sissay, Grace Dent, and Steph McGovern.

Audience feedback and impact

• 99% of attendees recommended visiting the festival.
• 94% agreed that the festival improves the national reputation of Bradford and Yorkshire.
• 93% believed the festival contributes to the social, cultural, and economic regeneration of the area.

Comments from festival leadership

Syima Aslam, CEO and Artistic Director of the Bradford Literature Festival, expressed her satisfaction at the recognition, stating that the festival aims to be an international destination festival that reflects the creativity, diversity, and heritage of Bradford and Yorkshire.

Next steps

The winners of the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards 2025 will be announced at a ceremony on 1 December 2025. The Bradford Literature Festival extends good wishes to all finalists and acknowledges the support of its sponsors, partners, audiences, artists, and team members.