This year's Leeds City of Languages festival has reached 10,000 people across Yorkshire and beyond.
The 15-day festival, which was organised by academics at the University of Leeds, offered more than 100 activities, including free language taster sessions, film screenings, concerts and workshops.
We've got all the elements here – an international community, strong links with Duolingo, universities – and this programme really helps to wrap it all up together.
The initiative promotes language learning, addresses national skills shortages, builds partnerships and connects local communities and the University with local and international partners.
More than 600 people tried out a new language because of the event, which put over 30 languages under the spotlight.
Leeds City of Languages is coordinated by Sofia Martinho, Associate Professor of Portuguese, and Bettina Hermoso-Gómez, Associate Professor in Spanish, in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies. The closing ceremony included a roundtable event on the value and future of language education in the UK.
Alex Sobel, Labour (Co-op) MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, attended the closing ceremony of the event. He said: "Leeds is a hugely international, multicultural city, with 170 languages spoken.
"I've got a school in my constituency, in Little London, where over 70 languages are spoken in that one primary school. We are a very diverse and global city, and having that diversity is our strength, and it creates resilience.
"Initiatives like Leeds City of Languages are important because they make people think about languages and give people opportunities. We've got all the elements here – an international community, strong links with Duolingo, universities – and this programme really helps to wrap it all up together."
Professor Emma Cayley, Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, said: "Leeds City of Languages is a concrete expression of the University's civic commitment to the region. I am delighted by the enthusiasm and excitement our events harnessed around the multiple benefits of the study of languages and cultures at all educational levels. The University of Leeds is honoured to be a part of the brilliant British Council-sponsored Cities of Languages initiative."
With more than 40 partners including the British Council, British Library, Leeds Libraries and more, the event brought together national and international expertise to provide activities for teachers, children, young people and the general public.
Leeds City of Languages evolved from Leeds Language Week, which first started in 2023 as part of Leeds2023 Year of Culture. The festival is now funded by the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University.
