Bradford City Mela 2026

Aim: Bradford City Mela aims to celebrate South Asian culture and unite diverse communities through arts, music, food, and family fun.

About Us:

We are a passionate team of artists, event organizers, and community leaders dedicated to celebrating diversity and fostering cultural understanding. With roots in Bradford’s vibrant communities, we’ve seen firsthand how art, music, and food can bring people together.

Our Idea:

Our vision is to reimagine Bradford City Mela as a dynamic, inclusive celebration of not only South Asian heritage, but also the broader multicultural identity of Bradford today. We want to amplify emerging artists, create space for intercultural exchange, and make the Mela a source of pride for the next generation.

Our Vision:

To build one of the UK’s most inclusive cultural festivals—accessible, sustainable, and community-powered—where every attendee feels seen, valued, and inspired.

How We'll Use the Funds:

Money raised will directly fund:

• Artist fees for diverse performers and storytellers

• Community workshops and school outreach

• Sustainable infrastructure (e.g., eco-stalls, reusable décor)

• Accessibility measures (e.g., sign language interpreters, mobility support)

• A vibrant youth zone, led by local young creatives

Your support helps turn this vision into a lasting legacy for Bradford.

The long term goal of the mela is to revive what it once was - One of the Biggest Melas in the Country. We know costs have risen massively with production and artist fees but as a CIC (Community Interest Company) the monies raised are reinvested back into the event which means we can make it bigger and better. This could include buying inventory to help run the event saving us having to hire and paying extortionate prices. We want to continue giving the community a free event and build an event for people to travel to Bradford for. Bradford always gets bad press and we want to show the rest of the Nation that Bradford is the go to destination for arts and culture events. We want to continue the City of Culture Legacy.

Our long term plans include unlike other big scale events:

- Keep prices affordable for stalls and brand activation to help support local businesses

- To source local businesses and companies based locally or nearby to help promote and boost Bradford based or nearby businesses.

- To source more local stalls before tendering externally.

- To use local business suppliers for our events reducing our carbon footprint.

- To ensure catering stalls use sustainable takeaway packaging reducing the amount of waste the festival produces. 

- To source more than 40% local talent or nearby to provide a platform for local artists and emerging.

- To bring an element of mainstream to the event by getting well know n mainstream artists.

- To expand out into local parks should the event become a great success.

- In the long run to purchase equipment for the event to save hire costs and reinvesting that money back into the event.

- Working with colleges and universities to get young people involved in big scale events as volunteers with paid opportunities. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 28th September 2025 at 2:04pm