A guide to events and things to do in Bristol in 2026

Looking for events, exhibitions and festivals and more things to do in Bristol to attend in 2026? We’ve got it covered with this regularly updated guide. Keep checking back for the latest details.

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Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61: 31 October 2025 – 26 April 2026

Step into the breath taking beauty and raw power of nature with Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world’s most prestigious photography exhibition at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Book tickets here.

19-28 February: Bristol Light Festival 2026

The fantastic Bristol Light festival returns with 10 large-scale installations and immersive illuminated artworks across the city centre.

The installations include:

Jellymonsters by Rob Hodgson at Left Handed Giant: Mysterious, wobbly creatures said to live beneath the surface of the River Avon.
Bell Jar Fairies by Studio Mcguire at RWA: 13 tiny glowing fairies displayed inside bell jars, each inspired by Bristol’s landscapes, wildlife and hidden corners.
The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years by Air Giants at Cascade Steps: The huge inflatable cat subtly responds to people nearby, breathing softly, twitching and purring, creating a moment of calm and wonder.
The Midnight Ballet by Will Budgett: Seven illuminated steel and light sculptures gather to create an immersive play of light and shadow.
Jacob’s Wall by Parker Heyl at Redcliffe Caves: A curtain of wooden tiles flips between timber and mirror surfaces, scattering light into shifting, pixel-like patterns.
The Electrical Age by Illuminos at Clockwise Generator Building: A large-scale projection mapped artwork that brings Bristol’s pioneering electrical history to life.
The Lite Series by Cameron Balloons and Bristol Light Festival at College Green: A cluster of illuminated, sculptural hot air balloons form a responsive landscape of light and sound.
Our Colour by Liz West at Cabot Circus Car Park: Using carefully arranged coloured filters to refract light through the space, visitors can step inside the colour spectrum itself.
Our Colour Reflection by Liz West at Cabot Circus Car Park: More than 765 coloured acrylic mirrored discs reflects light, architecture and visitors to create a playful and contemplative sensory experience.
Swing Song by Bristol Light Festival at Portland Square: The festival favourite swings that light up to music are back.

As well as the light installations, Bristol Light Festival has two new partner programme strands: BLF Events and BLF Plus.

BLF Plus expands the festival footprint with a city-wide map of light-based highlights that can be enjoyed throughout the festival run, including illuminated landmarks, glowing window displays and unexpected encounters after dark.

BLF Events offers a schedule of bookable performances, workshops and one-off experiences, from circus and cabaret to community celebrations and skills activities.

Find full details about the festival on the Bristol Light Festival website.

Cosmos: the art of observing Space: 24 January – 19 April

A major art and science exhibition at RWA celebrating our enduring fascination with space.

Bringing together contemporary and historic artists, it features a range of work inspired by the cosmos. Book tickets here.

Bristol Folk Festival: 1 – 3 May

Bristol Folk Festival returns with artists including The Unthanks, Ye Vagabonds, The Breath, John Smith, Honeyfeet, Sam Sweeney and more.

Venues include St George’s Bristol, Clifton Cathedral, Bristol Folk House and The Architect. Book tickets here.

Cracking Exhibition Gromit: 50 Years of Aardman in Bristol: 20 June – 13 September

In Aardman’s 50th anniversary year, the exhibition at M Shed takes visitors behind the scenes of how Wallace & Gromit, Shaun, and Morph come to life. Explore rarely‑seen models, sets, and secrets of Aardman’s iconic stop‑motion magic. Book tickets here.

Bristol Craft Beer Festival: 12-13 June

Featuring a wide variety of beers from local, national and international breweries, plus DJs and food. Book tickets here.

Bristol Sounds: 23 – 28 June

The harbourside concert series, featuring:

Tuesday 23 June: The Kooks
Wednesday 24 June: Super Furry Animals
Thursday 25 June and Saturday 27 June: The Streets
Friday 26 June: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Saturday 27 June 2026: The Streets
Sunday 28 June: Royel Otis

Bristol Harbour Festival: 17 -19 July

The iconic Bristol Harbour Festival returns for its 75th year with free entertainment along the harbour. Find more details here.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2026: 7 – 9 August

The legendary hot air balloon festival returns to Ashton Court. Find more details here.

FORWARDS Presents: Lorde: 28 August

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde comes to Bristol for the first time, headlining a special open-air concert on Clifton Downs.

The lineup for the concert, which runs from 2pm-11pm, also features artists including Djo, Audrey Hobert, Rose Gray, Esha Tewari and Grove. Book tickets here.