Cardiff Harbour Authority: 25-year anniversary

In 2025, we celebrate 25 years of stewardship, innovation and community in Cardiff Bay.

Find out about:

how it all started,
our projects and progress in and around the bay, and
how you can celebrate with us!

Timeline

View our timeline of significant developments:

1999

Cardiff Bay Barrage Opens

Cardiff Bay Barrage officially opened, transforming the tidal estuary into a 200-hectare freshwater lake. This landmark engineering project laid the foundation for the regeneration of Cardiff’s waterfront and the creation of Cardiff Harbour Authority.

2000

Cardiff Harbour Authority is Founded

The Authority was created to oversee the management of Cardiff Bay following the completion of the barrage. Its responsibilities include:

Navigation
Protecting the environment
Public engagement

2000 – Present

Major Infrastructure Projects

Over the past two decades, we've managed a range of developments, including:

Construction of the Pont y Werin Bridge
Cardiff International White Water Centre
Water bus stops
Upgrades to the barrage and lock systems

2000 – Present

Cultural and Water-Based Events

Cardiff Bay has become a vibrant hub for events including:

Extreme Sailing Series
Volvo Ocean Race
Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival
Cardiff Harbour Festival

We play a key role in supporting and managing these events, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

2000 – Present

Environmental Initiatives

We lead on various environmental efforts such as:

Habitat management at Cardiff Bay Wetlands
Water quality monitoring
Planting of the Tiny Forest on the barrage

We also support educational programs on ecology, sustainability and history—engaging young people in hands-on sessions.

2000 – Present

Community Engagement Highlights

We foster strong community ties through initiatives such as:

Schools outreach
Public art installations
Volunteer clean-up days
Heritage exhibitions

We’ve also delivered the award-winning production ‘Just Jump’ for 8 years, helping thousands of pupils understand water safety and the risks of tombstoning and swimming in the bay and rivers.

Gallery: past and present

Then-and-now comparisons of the bay over the past 25 years:

Anniversary activities

Find out about our anniversary celebrations:

‘Behind the Bay’ exhibition: 25 Years of Cardiff Harbour Authority

Discover the untold stories of the people who keep Cardiff Bay running. ‘Behind the Bay’ is a striking photo exhibition by Nick Pumphrey and other contributors.

The project celebrates 25 years of dedication, innovation, and community spirit at the heart of the harbour.

Visit the photographer’s website to view photos from the exhibition online.

You can also visit the exhibition at the following times and places:

Summer 2025 – Cardiff Bay
Autumn 2025 – Cardiff Castle
Spring 2026 – Norwegian Church

‘Tide-Traveller’ performative tour

In July 2025, we teamed up with Lighthouse Theatre to create an immersive performance tour. The tour took audiences on a journey through the bay’s rich history, on foot and by boat, offering:

stories and experiences,
slapstick comedy,
karaoke classics,
sea shanties, and
encounters with characters like the Marquess of Bute and a gaggle of geese.

‘Design a bay banner’ schools competition

To celebrate our anniversary, we ran a competition for primary school-age children to design a poster capturing what Cardiff Bay means to them.

We would like to thank everyone who took part – all entries were fantastic!

Winning entries

The 25 winning entries will be displayed along the Barrage Walkway during the summer. Over 1 million people visit the Barrage every year, so your artwork will be famous!