Bradford family describe convention as ‘Muslim Glastonbury’
A Bradford family who travels hundreds of miles each summer to attend Britain’s largest Muslim convention have described the event as “the Muslim version of Glastonbury”.More than 50,000 people gathered at Jalsa Salana UK 2026 over the last weekend of July, with families from Bradford joining attendees from across the UK and around the world for three days of prayer, discussion and community.
Held on a 208-acre site near Alton, the convention transforms open countryside into a temporary tented village run almost entirely by volunteers.For Bradford-born Malik Fraz Ahmad, who grew up in Idle and now works in London as a trainee corporate lawyer, attending the event has become a fixture of family life.
Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, he said: “Many people call it the Muslim version of Glastonbury.”Mr Ahmad, who is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said he has attended the convention since childhood.Despite family members now being spread across the country, they still make a point of meeting at the event each year.
He said: “My brother is studying in Kent, I travelled from London, and my parents and younger sister came from Bradford. We all met up there. Mr Ahmad added: “My dad wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s probably the first thing that’s in his diary every year.” What began as a childhood experience has evolved into an opportunity to volunteer and contribute to the running of the convention.
Mr Ahmad said one of his earliest responsibilities was handing out bottles of water to attendees. Today, he volunteers in the convention’s press department, helping journalists and visitors understand how the event operates. Jalsa Salana is organised and run by around 7,000 volunteers. The site includes catering facilities, medical teams, security, accommodation and media operations, effectively creating a temporary community for tens of thousands of people.
Mr Ahmad’s brother, a medical student, volunteers with the convention’s first aid team, helping anyone who requires treatment during the event. His sister volunteers in the media department, producing content and helping to share the experiences of attendees. He said she is particularly passionate about ensuring Muslim women are able to tell their own stories. Mr Ahmad explained: “She feels that often people speak about Muslim women, rather than Muslim women speaking for themselves.”
While spirituality is at the heart of the convention, attendees can also take part in a wide range of discussions and panel events. This year’s programme included conversations on global conflicts, humanitarian issues and the role of faith in modern society.
Mr Ahmad said: “You meet people from all across the world.”We had speakers from different countries and different professions. It’s a very international and diverse mix of people.”
One panel discussion explored the possibility of a future global conflict, while another, organised by women within the community, examined perceptions of Muslim women in Western societies.For Mr Ahmad, one of the biggest benefits of attending the convention is stepping away from everyday life.
He said: “It helps put everything into perspective. I’m training to be a corporate lawyer, and sometimes you get caught up in the materialism and worldliness of that environment.
“This reminds me that our first priority is to serve God and serve humanity.”He described leaving the event feeling spiritually refreshed and re-focused.
“You feel spiritually recharged afterwards. You understand to a greater extent what your purpose is in life.””You have an unlimited tea stall, the Union Jack is raised at the start of the event, and you have people complaining about the weather.The convention, which celebrated its 60th gathering in the UK this year, continues to attract thousands of volunteers and families from Bradford and beyond, all coming together in a temporary town built around faith, service and community.
Although attendees travel from around the globe, Mr Ahmad said Jalsa Salana has a distinctly British character. He joked that alongside speeches and prayer sessions, visitors can expect some familiar national traditions.
