CITY OF CULTURE

MUSIC

Wales is known around the world as the land of song, but did you know that Cardiff has recently been declared the UK’s first music city? Hosting events including the ‘BBC Cardiff Singer of The World’ and multi-venue festivals celebrating diverse and cutting edge artists such as ‘Swn’ and ‘Llais’ it’s easy to see why. The city is also home to the prestigious Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, both of which are based in the Welsh Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff is home to fantastic live music venues; from one of the world’s leading stadiums to small grass-roots gig venues, which are the lifeblood of the cities burgeoning music scene, including Welsh Language pop artists and hardcore grime acts. Head down to Womanby Street, the hub of the local music scene any night of the week, where you’ll find a buzz of nightlife and live music spilling out onto one street. 

CONTEMPORARY & FINE ART

Cardiff hosts fascinating contemporary art events; ranging from the UK’s biggest contemporary art prize ‘Artes Mundi’ to exciting pop-up installations and ephemeral art exhibitions by local art collectives such as TactileBOSCH. Cardiff also has a range of small to large sized galleries that you can visit all year round that exhibit works by some of the worlds most established artists and local practitioners.

For over 40 years Chapter has been an ambitious, multi-artform venue that presents, produces and promotes international art, live performance and film alongside a dynamic bar and cafe area popular with locals.

FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY

Cardiff is a fantastic city for fans of film and screen! Every year the city hosts a number of film and photography festivals. In the Spring Cardiff becomes a gallery for ‘Diffusion’, an International Festival of Photography, and every Autumn Cardiff hosts the LGBT+ Film Festival ‘Iris Prize’. To discover something truly extraordinary head over to ‘CULTVR’, Europe’s first immersive arts venue with a 360º cinema.

For cinephiles, head to Cardiff’s arthouse cinema ‘Chapter’, here you’ll find a broad range of foreign, independent and art films. In Cardiff you’ll also find an IMAX and 4DX. Oh, and did we mention we are the cheapest city in the UK to see a film?

THEATRE & PERFORMING ARTS

Cardiff is home to some of the most innovative performing arts organisations in the UK including the UK’s leading large-scale contemporary circus company, ‘NoFit State’ and national companies with international status such as ‘Welsh National Opera’ and ‘National Theatre Wales’.

Cardiff is home to some of the most innovative performing arts organisations in the UK including the UK’s leading large-scale contemporary circus company, ‘NoFit State’ and national companies with international status such as ‘Welsh National Opera’ and ‘National Theatre Wales’.

HERITAGE

Cardiff has a wealth of heritage attractions to delight everyone, including history buffs and architectural officinadoes. In the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle’s walls and fairy-tale towers conceal over 2,000 years of history.

Just outside of the centre you’ll find Llandaff Cathedral which stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in the British Isles, where people have worshiped since the middle of the sixth century. You’ll also find St Fagans National Museum of History, which is one of Europe’s leading open air museums. Cardiff truly is a treasure trove of historical and heritage sites just waiting to be discovered.