Welcome & Experience
Our focus is on making Cambridge a city that feels welcoming to all—whether you’re visiting from overseas, commuting for work, studying here, or calling it home. We achieve this through a vibrant programme of events, city-wide promotions, and initiatives that showcase everything Cambridge has to offer.
This summer we returned with our Summer in the Square series, bringing live music to Station Square every Thursday evening throughout the month of July.
To celebrate our outdoor film screenings (13th - 16th August) a few of our local businesses have kindly created some exclusive offers for you to take advantage of across the four days.
Make the most of our Screens in the City outdoor cinema by encouraging visitors to explore your business before or after the film.
Are you an artist, creative practitioner or business looking to run/host a workshop in Cambridge?
We are already on the lookout for artists and businesses to collaborate with in February 2027 as part of the Cambridge Arts Festival programme!
As part of a wider promotion of Cambridge Food & Drink Week 2026, Cambridge BID engaged the office sector through various exciting events and activations.
Cambridge Food & Drink Week 2026 took place from 9th–17th May, delivering a city-wide celebration of Cambridge’s vibrant hospitality sector. The week showcased the city’s restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, hotels and independent food businesses through exclusive offers, curated trails, networking events, public activations and hospitality-led experiences.
Cambridge is a city known for its history, culture and character, but it is also a city that constantly evolves through creativity, experiences and placemaking. Across the city centre, Cambridge BID continues to invest in projects that help create a vibrant and welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, studies and visits the city.
One of the latest additions to the city centre landscape can now be found on Green Street, where a striking new installation has transformed the street into a colourful and immersive destination.
As we gear up for Cambridge Food & Drink Week (9–17 May), we’re encouraging all participating businesses to get involved and help amplify the buzz across the city. The more we shout about it together, the bigger the impact—for your venue and for Cambridge as a whole.
As part of Cambridge Food & Drink Week (9–17 May 2026), Cambridge BID, in partnership with Elle Events Management, will host a dedicated Hospitality Panel Event bringing together a range of perspectives from across the sector.
Taking place on Tuesday 12 May from 5:30pm at Town and Gown, the event, “25 Years of Change and the Future of the Hospitality Industry”, will create space for open conversation around how the industry has evolved and what the future may look like.
Cambridge BID is excited to launch Creative Club for 2026/2027, a refreshed and reimagined version of the former Art Club series.
Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 - Wrap-Up Report
Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 was delivered by Cambridge BID to celebrate the City’s rich creative and cultural landscape, while actively engaging City centre businesses in a programme designed to increase footfall, dwell time and visibility across key locations.
What is the King Street Mural? As part of Cambridge Arts Festival 2026, Cambridge BID has been working on a large-scale collaborative project to bring vibrant street art to Cambridge, spanning 45-metres across a wall on King Street. The artwork was expertly created by three talented artists (Darin Mount, Melissa Lhoirit and Susy Snow) who drew inspiration from the rich history of Cambridge and King Street. Their designs were painted on the wall by Graffwerk, appointed design agency. The mural is a temporary installation, live for 24 months.
We’re delighted to announce that Cambridge Arts Monthly Events are returning.
We are currently inviting artists and creatives to apply to host and showcase workshops as part of the programme. These sessions aim to celebrate local talent, engage the community, and offer hands-on creative experiences.
Cambridge’s vibrant hospitality scene will take centre stage this spring as Cambridge BID announces
the return of Food and Drink Week, taking place from 9–17 May 2026.
The week-long celebration will see the city come alive with special dining offers, exclusive
experiences and curated trails, showcasing the very best of Cambridge’s food and drink offer. From
independent cafés and restaurants to bars, pubs and speciality venues, businesses across the city
will be taking part.
This festive season, the City has been brought to life with a magical festive atmosphere that delighted residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Cambridge BID delivered a vibrant and distinctive citywide lighting scheme with Field & Lawn, marking the eighth consecutive year of this project. Alongside this, two seasonal launch events.
Cambridge BID delivered a family-friendly Halloween Film & Activity Day at The Grafton, transforming the centre into a lively and welcoming destination for families during the half-term period.
The event featured three free film screenings, face painting and glitter tattoos, and a Halloween window display competition for retailers across the centre.
Cambridge’s creative community is invited to take part in an exciting new event as part of the upcoming Cambridge Arts Festival delivered by Cambridge BID. We’re calling on local and regional artists, makers, and creators of all disciplines to showcase and sell their work at The Art Makers Fair, a vibrant marketplace celebrating originality, craft, and artistic talent.
A new creative project is taking shape in the heart of Cambridge, inviting local artists to help reimagine one of the city’s most characterful streets.
Cambridge BID is excited to announce a series of Halloween-themed activities taking place in the Grafton area on Friday, 31st October.
Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 - 9–18 February 2026
We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Cambridge Arts Festivalfor its 3rd year! Delivered by Cambridge BID, the festival will once again shine a spotlight on the extraordinary creativity and talent that make our city so special.
This year’s programme promises something for everyone — from exhibitions and workshops to hands-on activities and family-friendly fun, in venues across the city. Staying true to our ethos, most of the programme will be free to attend, making art accessible for all.
In it’s first year, Summer in the Square organised by Cambridge BID brought together community projects, local businesses, art workshops, live music, delicious food and drink and more to Station Square.
Cambridge Food & Drink Week 2025 (28 June - 11 July) organised by Cambridge BID, Food & Drink Week 2025 brought together the city’s vibrant culinary community for a two-week celebration of flavour, creativity, and local hospitality. The initiative aimed to increase footfall, drive business engagement, and inspire residents and visitors to discover new venues across Cambridge.
Cambridge BID, is currently leading on project delivery under the Visit Cambridge brand.
For businesses outside the BID area or for those not paying a BID levy who would like to get involved in our project delivery for Visit Cambridge we have launched a Business Partner Scheme.
Cambridge BID relaunched its monthly Art Club series with the first event of the 2025/26 year on Thursday 3rd July 2025. The evening, titled The Art of Resistance in a Digital Age, featured guest speaker Adele Zeynep Walton, an author and online safety advocate, marking a key stop on her UK book tour. The session explored the human cost of digital life, its impact on mental health and literacy.
FREE AFTERNOON CONCERTS IN CAMBRIDGE THIS SUMMER
One of the city’s favourite summer traditions makes a welcome return in June when Music in the Parks begins, celebrating the season in musical style in some of Cambridge’s beautiful green open spaces.
Grab your popcorn – Cambridge BID’s beloved alfresco cinema is back this summer! Now in its fourth year, this popular series transforms the usually quiet evening square into a lively hub of family-friendly entertainment under the stars.
Cambridge BID are proud to present the brand-new vibrant Sky Garden installation on Green Street for this summer!
The city of Cambridge was lit up with artistic energy this winter as the Cambridge Arts Festival returned for a second year— a 10-day celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community spirit. From independent workshops to gallery openings and immersive experiences, the festival united 1,000’s attendees, welcomed 17 local businesses and venues to get involved, and brought a colourful buzz to the city centre.
Thanks to Mills and Reeve, Graduate by Hilton Cambridge, and MODO for supporting the Cambridge Arts Festival 2025
We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of our 2025 partners, as they played an integral role within the Cambridge Arts Festival this year. Their commitment to the arts and community aligns perfectly with the festival's mission to celebrate creativity, inclusivity, and innovation.
This year, we are offering a new tiered partnership system—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—ranging from £250 to £1000. These packages offer unique opportunities to engage with the community through art galleries, workshops, talks, screenings, and interactive events throughout the city. We would love for you to be involved!
Events in Cambridge
Cambridge BID delivers and supports a year-round programme of events that bring the city to life, attract visitors, and drive footfall to local businesses. From seasonal celebrations and cultural festivals to networking opportunities and city-wide campaigns, our events showcase the best of Cambridge while encouraging people to explore, spend, and stay longer.
Visit Cambridge
Visit Cambridge is the city’s destination brand, managed by Cambridge BID, designed to showcase all that Cambridge has to offer to visitors from around the world. Through campaigns, digital platforms, and partnerships, we highlight the city’s culture, history, shopping, food and drink, and experiences. By attracting more visitors and encouraging longer stays, Cambridge BID supports the local economy and drives additional footfall to our levy-paying businesses.
Christmas in Cambridge
Each year, Cambridge BID delivers the city’s a range of events over the Christmas season. From festive lights and special events and promotional activity, the campaign creates a vibrant atmosphere that attracts visitors and boosts trade. By showcasing the city as a must-visit Christmas destination, we encourage people to shop, dine, and celebrate locally—supporting businesses across the BID area during the crucial festive season.
Marketing Opportunities
Cambridge BID offers levy payers a range of marketing opportunities designed to boost visibility and attract customers. Through our consumer brands, Love Cambridge and Visit Cambridge, businesses can benefit from targeted campaigns, seasonal promotions, digital features, and event partnerships. These opportunities put your business in front of residents, students, and visitors, helping you to reach new audiences, build brand awareness.
Public Art
Bringing colour and creativity to one of Cambridge’s most characterful streets, the King Street Mural is a major new public art project commissioned by Cambridge BID and delivered in partnership with Graffwerk.
This piece will not only transform the look and feel of King Street but also strengthen its appeal as a destination for residents, visitors, and local businesses alike.
City Dressing
Cambridge BID invests in city dressing to make the city centre more attractive, welcoming, and vibrant all year round. From seasonal bunting to festive lights and creative installations, these enhancements improve the look and feel of Cambridge, encourage visitors to explore, and create memorable experiences. For businesses, city dressing helps increase footfall, dwell time, and overall customer satisfaction—supporting a thriving trading environment.
Ambassador Service
Cambridge BID’s Ambassadors are the friendly face of the city, providing a vital link between businesses, visitors, and the BID team. They welcome people to Cambridge, offer guidance and information, and report issues affecting the trading environment. For levy payers, the Ambassadors act as eyes and ears on the ground—supporting businesses, sharing updates, and helping to ensure the city centre remains safe, vibrant, and well-managed.
