Contains Strong Language is the BBC’s annual celebration of poetry, performance and spoken word – and this year, it’s coming to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

There’ll be four days of performances, readings, events and activities at venues across the city, and a host of BBC radio programmes will be recorded or broadcast live from Bradford, including The Verb, BBC Radio 4’s ‘cabaret of the word’. Much of the weekend will be free.

The poetry programme includes a competitive open mic night at Bradford City Library on 18 September from 7-9pm, announcement of the 2025 Laurel prize on 19 September at 5-6pm at the City Hall banqueting suite, Sisterverse poetry night and spoken word artist Antony Szmierek on the same night, poetry readings with Bradford’s Beehive Poets on Saturday 20 September, an urban nature poetry walk with Antony Dunn on Sunday 21 September, plus readings by six queer poets, and a launch of the 2025 Forward Book of Poetry – and lots more!   

You can find full details here