A New Day for the North: Great Northern Day Launches in Bradford

Sunday 24 August 2025 marked the arrival of a brand-new celebration on the UK’s cultural calendar, as Great Northern Day launched in Bradford’s Darley Street Market Courtyard. The event brought together music, food, art, and heritage to honour the people, places, and shared values that define Northern identity.

A first for Northern culture

Despite the North being the UK region with the strongest sense of community and identity, it has never before had an official day, flag, or symbol. Great Northern Day, founded by leading independent Northern brands, has stepped in to fill that gap – giving the region a moment of collective celebration.

Bradford, as UK City of Culture 2025, provided the perfect setting for the inaugural event, reflecting its rich industrial history, cultural diversity, and thriving creative scene.

Music, food, and art in the heart of Bradford

The launch day was a vibrant showcase of Northern creativity and spirit. Visitors enjoyed a line-up of brass bands, Bhangra and Northern Soul, alongside food, drink, and art that represented the North’s unique cultural blend.

Highlights included:

• Collaboration pies created especially for the event by Great North Pie Co, paired with Northern Monk beers and soft drinks from Hip Pop.
• A Northern art market curated by Bradford-based collective Mek Summat, featuring artists and makers from across the region.
• Performances that kept the Courtyard buzzing from morning through evening, with people of all ages joining in the celebration.

A Poem for the North

A centrepiece of the day was the premiere of “A Poem for the North”, written by award-winning poet Matt Abbott and brought to film by Bradford-born director Jack King. The moving work captured the pride, humour, resilience and spirit of the region, setting the tone for what organisers hope will become an annual fixture.

Looking to the future – Flag of the North

Great Northern Day also launched a year-long campaign to design and create a Flag of the North. Visitors were invited to share ideas, with universities across the North and Scotland collaborating alongside local communities to bring the concept to life. The finished design will be unveiled at Great Northern Day 2026.

A celebration of pride and place

Russell Bisset, Founder and Managing Director of Northern Monk, reflected on the launch:

“I’ve always considered myself Northern first before nationality, before any other region. The North has no official day, no flag, and borders we could debate forever – and that’s part of its beauty. Great Northern Day, along with our poem and film, is our way of saying thank you to the region we love.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, added:

“We’re delighted that Northern Monk have chosen our new Darley Street Market as host for the inaugural Great Northern Day. There’s something pretty special about the North, its people, and our culture – we like a party and we’ve lots to celebrate. Where better to celebrate than in the UK City of Culture 2025.”

A new tradition begins

With strong support from iconic Northern brands such as Bundobust, MyLahore, Seabrook Crisps, Great North Pie Co, and many more, the launch of Great Northern Day was hailed as a success – and a fitting tribute to the region’s enduring influence on food, industry, design, and culture.