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

Sell out warning! Part of Bristol Radical History Festival, The Cube screens the seldom-seen 1983 anti-propaganda doc Ireland: The Silent Voices, followed by a dialogue with director Professor Rod Stoneman. The film traces the Northern Ireland conflict while interrogating the frameworks of narrative – revealing how media shapes perception, and scripts our understanding of politics and lived experience. Ireland: The Silent Voices at The Cube.

Sell out warning! The arch-cinephiles at Forbidden Worlds don their kilts and capes for four days of fantasy feature flicks. Getting the much-deserved Megascreen treatment: animorphing adventure romance par excellence Ladyhawke, the 40th anniversary of cult Queen-heavy sci-fi Highlander + armourer Terry English introducing his work on the giallo-esque Arthurian decadence of Excalibur. FORBIDDEN WORLDS FILM FESTIVAL 2026: Festival Passes at Bristol Megascreen.

Release… the Kraken! Before the coming of the CGI gods, there was stop-motion visual-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. His final film, Clash of the Titans, is bursting with delirious handcrafted FX marvels: winged horses, sea monsters, four-armed lizards, all more lifelike than Laurence Olivier himself! Come celebrate the 45th anniversary of a true sword and sandals classic, with a mythological introductory talk by Connor Heaney. CLASH OF THE TITANS + The Mythological Influences of Ray Harryhausen at Bristol Megascreen.

Sell out warning! The greatest entry in the 80s NYC via medieval Highlands time-travelling, sword-swinging, sci-fi canon ... on the biggest screen in town. Sean Connery trying to be Spanish, Christopher Lambert trying to be Scottish, Clancey Brown’s unstoppable heavy metal menace, deliciously contextual Queen anthems – Highlander is just goddamn amazing. Don’t lose your head! HIGHLANDER at Bristol Megascreen.

What our editors say

“After the incredible success of our 2025 edition, Dancing Body is returning to the farm for another spectacular weekend of dancing, connecting, giggling, moving, and shaking. This year, we’re welcoming a slightly bigger community, unveiling a brand new wellbeing area, and offering a rich mix of fresh and already adored dance workshops. Ah, and of course, the unforgettable club night sessions too! The farm is ready to host us once again for what promises to be a truly sensational celebration of movement and togetherness. One and only festival of this kind! Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the latest updates!✨ www.instagram.com/dancing.body www.thedancingbody.com”
From: Dancing Body Festival 2026

“Final Major Projects 2026 Friday 1 - Friday 8 May, 7:30pm Join us over four nights to experience a mini-festival of new works presented by the graduating students from Circomedia’s degree programme! With a selection of different acts each night, this is a fantastic opportunity to support and celebrate the circus artists of the future as they showcase their circus and performance skills. Check back in the New Year for information of each of the artists’ acts! Dates & Times: Friday 2 - Friday 8 May, 7:30pm Tickets: £12 full price, £8 concessions Age Guideline: TBC Location: St Paul’s Church, BS2 8SJ Tickets at https://www.circomedia.com/fmps-2026/”
From: Final Major Projects 2026 Night 3

“Meaning “Bright Fire” Beltane is the festival of fire and fertility—a time to prepare for the summer ahead, celebrate the vibrant life-force of nature within and without and bless the land that sustains us.”
From: Ignite Your Spirit: A Beltane Yoga Day-Retreat:

“8th annual Bristol Radical History Festival; free event with history talks, films, history walks, performance, & exhibitions. There will also be space devoted to stalls, where you can stock up on history pamphlets, books and more, from over 30 publishers and distributors. The main part of the festival is held over two days at two venues: Saturday 25th April at Bristol’s social history museum on the city’s historic harbourside, M Shed; and, Sunday 26th April at the volunteer-run arts centre and cinema the Cube Microplex. This year’s event has four main themes: Propaganda, Utopias, Welsh Risings and the 1926 General Strike.”
From: Bristol Radical History Festival

“A big hit at film festivals worldwide, Laila Abbas' enthralling and uplifting West Bank-set black comedy will have you rooting for Mariam and Noura as they race against time to secure their inheritance while putting aside their own personal differences. Sisters really are doing it for themselves! There will be a discussion after the screening that focuses on the themes of the film and the wider context of life in the West Bank. There will also be a raffle with some stunning prizes plus drinks and snacks to buy. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to help two families in Gaza.”
From: Gaza Film Fundraiser: Thank You for Banking With Us