The installation will bring the city’s ballooning heritage to life in what is being described as a ‘vivid, interactive artwork that celebrates Bristol’s craft and creativity’
An image showing what the Cameron Balloons Bristol Light Festival installation could look like(Image: Bristol Light Festival/Cameron Balloons)
A world first installation is being unveiled for this year’s Light Festival and it has a particular nod to Bristol and its ballooning heritage.
Light Festival organisers haver collaborated with Bristol’s very own Cameron Balloons to create a brand new installation for this year’s event.
The world-renowned fabric engineers from Bristol, whom many will recognised from their blue, white and red hot air balloons that grace the skies over the city – especially at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta each summer – will unveil their interactive art piece, called ‘The Lite Series’ when the Light Festival kicks off next month.
The Lite Series will bring the city’s ballooning heritage to life in what is being described as a ‘vivid, interactive artwork that celebrates Bristol’s craft and creativity’.
Situated on College Green, the world premiere of the installation will transform a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons into a ‘responsive landscape of light, sound and play’.
Visitors will be able to fire each balloon by pulling a simple cord, triggering a burst of colour and the sound of a whoosh, which is inspired by a real hot air balloon burner. As more people take part, the balloons will glow brighter, sound bigger, and build up to a grand spectacle.
Cameron Balloons has been a staple of Bristol’s identity for more than 50 years, creating more than 9,500 balloons that have flown across the world.
Debuting at Bristol Light Festival 2026, The Lite Series marks the first public unveiling of this new collaboration between Cameron Balloons and the festival’s creative director Katherine Jewkes, reimagining ballooning as an accessible, immersive experience for everyone.
Jess Siggers, marketing manager at Cameron Balloons, said: “Bristol’s skyline has been shaped by our balloons for generations, so we’re thrilled to bring that heritage back down to earth in an entirely new way for Bristol Light Festival. The Lite Series invites everyone to feel the magic of ballooning up close. It’s playful, it’s interactive and above all, it celebrates the engineering and imagination that Bristol is famous for.”
An image showing what the Cameron Balloons Bristol Light Festival installation could look like(Image: Bristol Light Festival/Cameron Balloons)
Following the recent announcement of headline installations by acclaimed British artist Liz West, The Lite Series marks the second major creative commission for Bristol Light Festival’s 2026 edition. The full 2026 programme will be announced in the coming weeks, with installations curated to appeal to all ages – from family-friendly fun to ambient, reflective experiences. As always, admission is free and open to all.
The 2026 edition is the first to take place since Bristol’s city centre BIDs came together to form a single Bristol BID, representing over 1,000 businesses across Broadmead, Redcliffe & Temple and the wider city centre. Over the next five years, the unified BID will invest around £5.75 million into events, placemaking and culture, helping to support ambitious creative commissions such as this one.
Bristol Light Festival 2026 takes place from 5pm to 9.30pm on Thursday, February 19, to Saturday, February 28. Find out more via the official website here.