A weekend of vampire-adjacent culture and the Gothic, taking place in Bradford.

Taking place over bank holiday weekend on Friday 29th & Saturday 30th May, the event – which celebrates the historical links between Bradford and the gothic – takes place in the magnificent surroundings of the Midland Hotel Bradford and the legendary The 1 in 12 Club Bradford.

On Friday 29th May, the Re:Vamped Masquerade Ball will take place in the French Ballroom at the Midland Hotel, featuring an evening of spooky tunes courtesy of DJ Pyromancer (Flock) as well as an invigorating halftime performance by A Short Dark Stranger.

At noon on Saturday 30th May, the sixth World Dracula Day Lecture will take place and will be delivered by Matthew Cheeseman. Matthew Cheeseman was the Principal Investigator of Dracula Returns to Derby, an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded research project into the links between the city of Derby and the character of Dracula. This has since evolved into the Derby Dracula project, of which he is a director. He co-convenes the Folklore Without Borders research network, which seeks to embed greater diversity into UK folklore and folkloristics. He is a Council member of the Folklore Society and a member of the Dracula Society. He is Professor of Writing and Folklore at the University of Derby.

And from 5.30pm on Saturday 30th May at the 1 in 12 Club, we present an all-day show featuring a headline performance by rising UK goth stars Social Youth Cult, supported by Art Gallery, Stock Image, and Verdant Rupture, with cutting edge tunes courtesy of DJ Orpheus (Monolith/Slimelight).

All proceeds go towards the Goth City Community Action Fund, raising money for worthwhile local causes.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Friday 29th May – Midland Hotel French Ballroom

DJ Pyromancer + A Short Dark Stranger

8pm-midnight, £15 event/£35 weekend

Saturday 30th May – Midland Hotel French Ballroom

World Dracula Day Lecture 2026,delivered by Matthew Cheeseman

12pm-2pm, £10 event/£35 weekend

Saturday 30th May – 1 in 12 Club

Social Youth Cult + Art Gallery + Stock Image + Verdant Rupture + DJ Orpheus

5.30pm-11pm, £15 event/£35 weekend