Leeds BID

06/10/2026

Thank you to the Yorkshire Evening Post and Editor-in-Chief Laura Collins for this weekend's look inside Leeds International Festival of Ideas 📰

LIFI26 opens at Leeds Playhouse today. Louis Theroux starts the week on Tuesday night, and Tim Minchin closes it on Saturday. In between are five days of conversations on climate, mental health, identity, parenthood, belonging, social media and the decade that changed everything, the 90s.

This year also sees the launch of LIFI Futures, a new home at the festival for young people across Leeds.

LIFI is brought to the city by LeedsBID and Welcome to Leeds, with support from AV Matrix, City of Maths, Pinsent Masons, Weightmans and Leeds Playhouse. It's part of our commitment to bringing people into the city centre and keeping Leeds talking.

Read the full piece: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/inside-leeds-international-festival-of-ideas-the-events-set-to-get-the-city-talking-9262808

Last tickets at https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/programme/
📍 Leeds Playhouse | 🗓️ 6–10 October

LIFI26 has announced its full programme of talks and discussions.

05/10/2026

Leeds International Festival of Ideas, brought to you by LeedsBID, is on BBC Radio Leeds all week.

Martin Dickson, our Head of Innovation and Brand and LIFI Festival Director, started things off this morning on the Breakfast show. He talked about this year's programme and why ideas matter to the city. A different festival guest will be on air every morning through to Friday.

Listen back on BBC Sounds (1 hour 50 in): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032w21

LIFI26 runs at Leeds Playhouse from 6 to 10 October

Join the team as they wake you up each weekday morning.

30/09/2026

A warm welcome to the newest member of the LeedsBID Board 👋

Jon Riley, Partner and Head of the Leeds office at Pinsent Masons LLP, joins our Board of Directors.

As a key levy-paying business and has supported LeedsBID from the very start. Jon brings a wealth of legal and business expertise, and we're looking forward to him representing Leeds' professional services sector around the board table.

29/09/2026

High Streets UK has launched its plan to bring optimism back to the UK's flagship high streets. LeedsBID is proud to be a founding member, alongside BIDs from across the country's biggest cities.

Our Chief Executive, Andrew Cooper, said:
"Flagship high streets like Briggate are where cities meet, shop, eat, work and celebrate. They're not just retail destinations. They drive local economies and they're the first impression visitors get of a place. Leeds city centre has real momentum, and this plan is about making sure the national policy picture backs that up. Working with fellow BIDs through High Streets UK gives our businesses a stronger collective voice, and we're fully behind it."

Read the plan 👇
https://high-streets.co.uk/high-streets-uk-launches-plan-to-bring-optimism-back-to-our-flagship-high-streets/

Representatives of Britain’s flagship high streets launch their four asks of Government today at Labour Party Conference  28th SEPTEMBER: Across the country, flagship high streets face a wide range of challenges – from the rise of retail crime and anti-social behaviour to a counterproductive bu...

15/09/2026

Big ideas. Important conversations. 💡

Festival Coordinator Mia gives us a preview of two of this year's Leeds International Festival of Ideas panels.

Secure your tickets via the link below👇
https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/programme/

14/09/2026

Briggate is one of the busiest streets in the north. Before most of the city is awake it's already moving: vans unloading, shutters rolling up, shops setting out for the day.

That's where our Street Rangers come in. They've started their annual deep clean of Briggate this week, working the full length of the street from the paving up. Because the street is in constant use, with early deliveries and daytime crowds, the team works in stages around it, and the whole job takes up to six weeks.

It's the kind of work that keeps the city centre clean, safe and welcoming for everyone who works, visits and lives here. If you're in town early, you'll see them at it.

09/09/2026

Why does LeedsBID invest in a festival of ideas?

Martin Dickson, our Director of Brand and Innovation explains why Leeds International Festival of Ideas is one of our biggest events and what brings to the city this October.

The festival returns to Leeds Playhouse from 6 to 10 October with five days of talks, panels and conversations you won't hear anywhere else. Every event is BSL interpreted and open captioned.

🎟️ Tickets: https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/

28/08/2026

The countdown is on for Trivial Pursuit Leeds ⌛🎲

After an incredible summer in the city centre, this is your final weekend to get involved before the animation comes to an end.

Finishing on the 30th of August, there's still time to roll the dice and join the fun 🌟

27/08/2026

Discover what's on in Leeds this September 👀

Whether you're into craft b**r, digital innovation, local art, heritage, film or coffee, plenty is happening across the city this month.

Take a look at the latest Leeds lowdown in the Welcome to Leeds article below👇
https://welcometoleeds.co.uk/article/leeds-lowdown-whats-on-in-september-2026/

21/08/2026

We were delighted to welcome 3 Northern BIDs to Leeds👋
Get Into Newcastle : Visit Newcastle City Centre, NE1 | Liverpool BID Company | Sheffield BID

From exploring our summer animation Trivial Pursuit Leeds to sharing ideas on collaboration, city-centre initiatives and all things BIDs, it was a great day of conversation and inspiration.

The perfect end to the day? A delicious lunch at Uyare rooftop restaurant & bar🍽️

Thanks for visiting, and we hope you had a fantastic day in Leeds. See you again soon💙