Cardiff’s City of Arcades campaign to mark 70 years as capital with 70 days of events
Cardiff’s City of Arcades campaign to mark 70 years as capital with 70 days of events
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Cardiff city centre will host 70 days of celebrations this autumn to mark the 70th anniversary of the city becoming the capital of Wales, as part of the 2025 City of Arcades campaign.
Now in its eighth year, the initiative will bring together businesses across the retail, hospitality, and cultural sectors to highlight Cardiff’s historic Victorian and Edwardian arcades, alongside St David’s Dewi Sant.
Delivered by FOR Cardiff, the city centre’s Business Improvement District (BID), the campaign is supported by levy-paying businesses that collectively contribute more than £1.5 million annually to projects, campaigns, and events aimed at boosting the city centre economy.
Running from 5 September to 14 November, the programme is divided into five themed fortnights designed to showcase Cardiff’s food, culture, history, and retail offer:
- Foodie Fortnight (5–19 Sept): Launching with a Foodie Night Market at Cardiff Market, featuring live DJ sets and pop-up food stalls.
- Discovery Fortnight (19 Sept – 3 Oct): Shining a light on Cardiff’s independent businesses and hidden gems.
- Arts & Music Fortnight (3–17 Oct): Featuring exhibitions, performances, and the Cardiff Music City Festival.
- History Fortnight (17 Oct – 1 Nov): Marking Cardiff’s 70 years as capital, including a family-friendly “Time Traveller’s Arcade Trail” on 29 October.
- Health & Beauty Fortnight (1–14 Nov): Promoting wellbeing with yoga pop-ups, beauty experiences, and special offers.
To complement the events, new branding designed by local studio I Am Sam Creative will give each arcade a refreshed identity inspired by Cardiff’s 70 years as capital. The designs will be rolled out across billboards, posters, and digital platforms, alongside a new City of Arcades 2025 map highlighting landmarks and shopping destinations.
The campaign will open on Friday 5 September with a Foodie Night Market at Cardiff Central Market, where visitors can explore the venue “after hours” from 5.30–9.30pm. The evening will include live music, entertainment, and dishes from independent traders. Last year’s event saw attendance rise by 71% compared with the previous year.
Carolyn Brownell, CEO of FOR Cardiff, said: “Once again, our City of Arcades campaign will celebrate the unique spirit of Cardiff’s arcades and their role at the heart of our city centre. As we mark 70 years of Cardiff as the capital of Wales, we want to encourage people not only to discover the independent businesses within the arcades, but also to explore everything the wider city centre has to offer – from national brands to local favourites – making Cardiff a truly unmissable destination.”
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