Bristol's Festival Scene

Bristol festivals draw huge crowds year on year - from commercially run events like Tokyo World Festival in Eastville park to free (and community minded) events like Trinity Garden Party and St. Paul's carnival. There are a string of multi-venue festivals (in the style of Sonar in Barcelona) around the Stokes Croft area including Simple Things and Rave on Avon. Simple Things has expanded somewhat in the last few years and taken over the city's flagship venue, Colston Hall.

As well as music festivals, Bristol's deep historical connection to street art is celebrated in day events like Upfest. Centred around the recently created (and unofficial) street art district - North Street - you can spend the day watching apartment blocks getting a new lick of paint from head to toe. Truly a festival not to be missed!

Buy tickets for festival events in Bristol

Our recent festival recommendations

The RAI Film Festival hosts a vibrant gathering of cinematic voices – traversing anthropology, reshaping memory and imagining new futures across 90+ films from 36 countries. Opening with 'God Is a Woman', an arresting meditation on cultural memory and indigenous image reclamation. With a screening of Andre Peyrot's 'God is a woman' (2023).

Sell out warning! With six stages, beautiful sound systems, unrivalled musical variety and an on-site pub – AnExperience is all about the authentic love shared between pals. Let genres and borders melt away in a hedonistic mush of carnival samba, your Dad’s old ska records and amens running riot on the Sinai system at 4am. 6 stages, a boozer & lots n lots of nooks and crannies

Sell out warning! 72 hours of pure somatic joy with workshops and classes in every style of dance under the sun, morning yoga, farm-sourced meals, performances, DJs and more. This might be the most wholesome weekend retreat of the year, come savour it in idyllic Abergavenny surroundings. Dance-centred gathering bringing music, nature and community together

This criminally underrated family adventure finds a teenage Holmes and Watson interrupting their boarding school hijinx to hunt down a sinister Egyptian death cult (as you do). Produced by Spielberg and writer Chris Columbus (Gremlins, Home Alone) at the peak of their powers, come relive Young Sherlock’s 80s fantasy revelry with an introduction by Sherlock himself! Before Harry Potter, there was Young Sherlock Holmes!

What our editors say

“Unlike a traditional festival where you turn up and spectate; at Come Bye you’re invited to be an active participant and get involved in any way you want. The festival is built on contributions and each year is unique as the programme depends on you, the attendees and what you decide to bring.”
From: Come Bye 2025

“Bringing together marketplace, animation festival and workshop space, Gordon The Godzilla and his friends will be taking over the Trinity Centre for a full day of festivities, activities and art.”
From: Zinezilla Arts Festival

“Curfew was shortlisted for Pleasance Theatre’s Charlie Harthill Edinburgh Fringe Fund. It has previously been performed at Camden People’s Theatre’s ‘Calm Down, Dear’ festival and ‘Spin Out’ Festival at Worthing Theatres and Museum.”
From: CURFEW at Temple Church

“Jon Sterckx is an experienced percussionist best know for his innovative Drumscapes multipercussion performances which he has performed at the globally renowned TED events, as well as performances and workshops at WOMAD, London International Arts Festival, Drumcamp, Tribe of Doris and many more of the UK’s ‘world music’ festivals.”
From: Kashaka Workshop with Jon Sterckx

“Meet artist and designer Alice Bowen-Churchill, and learn more about sustainable fashion and her dress made out of discarded festival tents. Alice may even invite you to contribute to its ongoing journey...”
From: Summer After Hours at the RWA