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![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/9f493b20-3f68-11ef-86d2-f91acd19fcc1.jpg.webp.webp\")
Paul Box<\/p>\nJasmine Ketibuah-FoleyWest of England<\/p>\n
Paul Box<\/p>\n
Dates to add to your diary for a few festivals that are confirmed for 2026, near you<\/p>\n
With a new year, comes a new social calendar and it’s the perfect time to add those to your diary. While there will be no Glastonbury Festival year<\/a>, here’s a look at all the festivals that are happening near you in 2026.<\/p>\n Hopefully the planning and excitement will help get you through some of the quieter, darker months of winter.<\/p>\n Bristol<\/p>\n The annual event will return to Ashton Court<\/p>\n Bristol Comedy Festival, 15-31 January<\/b><\/p>\n The Bristol Comedy Festival<\/a> will help you laugh away those winter blues.<\/p>\n Among the announced performers are five nominees for the 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Awards – Dan Tiernan, Ed Night, John Tothill, Katie Norris and Roger O’Sullivan, as well as Bristol favourites such as Jayde Adams and Mark Watson.<\/p>\n Bristol Light Festival,19-28 February<\/b><\/p>\n The festival’s sixth event, organisers have said the next instalment will be their “boldest edition yet” expanding their light installations to new locations such as Sike Island and Park Street.<\/p>\n Last year’s installations were situated in the Harbourside, Broadmead, College Green, Queen Square and St Mary Redcliffe.<\/p>\n Love Saves The Day, 23rd-24th May<\/b><\/p>\n The festival<\/a> will kick off the city’s busy summer season at Ashton Court, over the May Bank Holiday weekend.<\/p>\n More than 30,000 festival-goers descend on the estate each day to see a vibrant mix of local artists and big household names across its eight stages.<\/p>\n The line up is yet to be released.<\/p>\n Dot To Dot, 23-24 May<\/b><\/p>\n Boasting some of the best local talent and some surprising headlines, Dot to Dot festival is spread across a number of the city’s music venues and art spaces such as Thekla, Strange Brew and The Island.<\/p>\n So far 30 artists have been confirmed<\/a> including headliners Lambrini Girls and NewDad.<\/p>\n Bristol Sounds, 23-28 June<\/b><\/p>\n Bristol Sounds will be return to Lloyds Amphitheatre <\/b>with a standout line-up featuring some heavyweight artists such as The Kooks, The Streets and Super Furry Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Organisers have said the festival has become a “must-attend fixture of the UK’s summer calendar” and is “known for its eclectic programming and unbeatable city-centre setting”.<\/p>\n Bristol Pride, 27 June-12 July <\/b><\/p>\n A parade, festival, afterparties and hundreds of performers will be in the city again for one of the UK’s largest Pride events.<\/p>\n With Pride Day set for 11 July, there will be plenty of events on offer in the run up.<\/p>\n Organisers said the annual event<\/a> celebrates love, diversity and friendship and how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, and how in some places there is still work to be done.<\/p>\n Bristol Balloon Fiesta, 7-9 August<\/b><\/p>\n The next instalment of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta<\/a> will mark the event’s 48th anniversary. <\/p>\n Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Ashton Court Estate for the mass ascents and night glow events. <\/p>\n The ascents are weather dependant, so definitely check the website and forecasts ahead of attending.<\/p>\n Forwards Bristol, 29-30 August<\/b><\/p>\n Bristol’s Forwards Festival<\/a> is set to take place at Durdham Downs (The Downs) in Clifton.<\/p>\n The festival which began in 2022 is yet to release its line up for 2026.<\/p>\n Gloucestershire<\/p>\n Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar<\/p>\n Cheltenham Festival, 10-13 March<\/b><\/p>\n One of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar and includes the famous Gold Cup race on its final day.<\/p>\n Events are mainly held across the town centre and at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse and Dunkerton’s Taproom in Charlton Kings.<\/p>\n Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 29 April- 4 May<\/b><\/p>\n Taking place at Montpellier Gardens and other pop up venues across the town, the line up for the 2026 festival<\/a> is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n Minety Music Festival, 2-5 July<\/b><\/p>\n Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Minety Music Festival<\/a> is a four day music event with over 100 bands and acts across four stages.<\/p>\n The event also boasts free activities for younger children in its kids zone and a teen tent for older children.<\/p>\n Cheltenham Literature Festival, 9-18 October<\/b><\/p>\n First held in 1949, the event is thought to be the world’s oldest literature festival <\/a>and takes place across various venues in Cheltenham town centre.<\/p>\n Dame Judi Dench, the festival’s president, attended in 2025.<\/p>\n Somerset<\/p>\n After a fallow year Valley Fest returns to Chew Valley<\/p>\n Bath International Music Festival, 30 April to the 7 May<\/b><\/p>\n Celebrating classical music, Bath International Music Festival will host five concerts<\/a> in the city in 2026.<\/p>\n The concerts will take place in venues such as Bath Abbey and St Mary’s Church in Bathwick.<\/p>\n Royal Bath and West Show, 28-30 May<\/b><\/p>\n The largest agricultural event in the west of England, The Royal Bath and West Show was founded in 1777 <\/a>and has been based at The Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet since 1965.<\/p>\n The show, which is spread across 240 acres, includes sheep shearing, vintage vehicles, live music and artisan markets.<\/p>\n Priddy Folk Festival, 10-12 July<\/b><\/p>\n Located in the Mendip Hills, Priddy folk festival started<\/a> out as a fundraiser for the village hall in 1991.<\/p>\n The event boasts everything you would expect from a west country folk festival, including workshops, ceilidhs, local artists, storytelling and local ales and ciders.<\/p>\n Valley Fest, 30 July to the 2 August<\/b><\/p>\n After a fallow year Valley Fest is set to return to Chew Valley <\/a>with a weekend of music, food and activities.<\/p>\n The 2026 line up is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n ArcTanGent,19-22 August<\/b><\/p>\n If your music taste is more on the heavy side, ArcTanGent Festival near Compton Martin has your name on it.<\/p>\n Situated at Fernhill Farm, more than 10,000 people attend and it also has the option of camping. <\/p>\n Artists such as Chelsea Wolfe, Primus and Cult of Luna are set to take to the stage in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jane Austen Festival, September 11-20<\/b><\/p>\n Thousands of literature fans take to the streets of Bath for the annual Jane Austen Festival<\/a>, which includes balls, screenings, a costumed promenade, fayres and tours.<\/p>\n Weston Beach Race, 16-18 October<\/b><\/p>\n Every year around 100,000 visitors descend on to the beach front at Weston-super-Mare to see the motocross event.<\/p>\n Weston Beach Race has been cancelled due to poor weather and high winds in the past, so it is best to check the website and forecast ahead of attending.<\/p>\n Wiltshire<\/p>\n WOMAD festival will take place in its new home at Neston Park in Corsham<\/p>\n Shindig Festival, 21-24 May<\/b><\/p>\n Set on the Charlton Park Estate in Malmesbury, the festival is scheduled to take place across the May Bank Holiday.<\/p>\n Some of the line up has already been released<\/a>, with Fat Dog, War, Mungos Hifi, My Baby and Snapped Ankles set to headline.<\/p>\n Chalke History Festival, 22-28 June<\/b><\/p>\n Bringing everything from living history exhibits to traditional crafts and a soldier’s march, the week-long Chalke History Festival<\/a> is set to kick off again in 2026.<\/p>\n WOMAD, 23-26 July<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Bristol](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cbef27b0-bb19-11f0-bd8f-95105d31e9c2.jpg.webp.webp\")
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta<\/p>\n![\"PA](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/b7b4de80-f854-11ef-896e-d7e7fb1719a4.jpg.webp.webp\")
PA Media<\/p>\n![\"Ania](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/8bd4d470-3d4a-11ef-8fde-611ebead6fc2.jpg.webp.webp\")
Ania Shrimpton<\/p>\n![\"Ryley](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/75df16b0-4c1a-11ef-9c42-4d1cd67e7760.png.webp.webp\")
Ryley Morton \/Borkowski Arts<\/p>\n