Bladder cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-associated mortality, with a high incidence. Curcumin, a polyphenol compound extracted from turmeric, has been identified to regulate tumor progression. However, the therapeutic effect of curcumin in human bladder cancer has not yet been determined. In the present study, the effects of curcumin on cell growth, apoptosis and migration of bladder cancer cell lines were evaluated using an MTT assay, a Transwell assay and flow cytometry, and the associated mechanisms were investigated using western blot analysis. Curcumin was identified to decrease the growth of T24 and 5637 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The present study confirmed that curcumin is able to inhibit cell migration and promote apoptosis of bladder cancer through suppression of matrix metalloproteinase signaling pathways in vitro. The anticancer effects of curcumin on bladder cancer cells may benefit clinical practice in the future.