From live music to hot air balloons, comedy, culture, history, and food and drink – Bristol will be celebrating lots next year
The first mass ascent of the 47th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025 – Friday, August 8 – at Ashton Court Estate(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
It’s hard to believe that we’re already at the end of 2025. So to help you fill some of the 365 days of the coming year, and to help you transition from the end of one year and the beginning of another, we’ve compiled a list of some of the big events to look forward to in 2026.
Of course there will be live music, hot air balloons, and celebrations of Bristol’s people and landmarks. But there will also be food and drink, culture, comedy, history, and plenty for families, friends, colleagues and individuals to enjoy over the next 12 months.
And remember that there is no Glastonbury Festival this year due to Worthy Farm taking a well-deserved fallow year – but that just means you can sink your teeth into something new if you’re a Glastonbury veteran. Like Bristol Sounds for example, which usually sits on the same weekend as Glasto.
Love Saves The Day
Striking a pose at Love Saves The Day(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
When: May 23 & 24 (Bank Holiday weekend)
Kicking off the festival season in style, Bristol’s Love Saves The Day will be returning to Ashton Court for 2026. Earlybird tickets went on sale in September, with payment plans available for those who wish to spread the cost of their ticket with affordable monthly payments.
The line-up has not yet been announced for next year, but it’s safe to say that festival goers will be able to expect some big names from the UK and beyond, alongside local talent, across eight stages. The 2025 line-up included the likes of Skream & Benga, Nia Archives, Overmono, Wilkinson, Andy C, Ghetts, Giggs, Eats Everything, and even a DJ set from Groove Armada, among many many others.
Take a look at some pictures from this year to get you even more excited about the next edition.
Dot to Dot
When: May 23
Super early bird tickets have already sold out for Dot to Dot 2026, with the next phase being early bird tickets priced from £22.50 – and these don’t look set to last long. The first 30 acts have already been announced, including headliners Lambrini Girls, Fcukers, and Newdad, and organisers promise ‘a whole host of incredible emerging talent from around the globe’ and, of course, with Dot to Dot you get to see live music across a number of different venues in the city.
This year’s event marked Dot to Dot’s 20th anniversary celebrations and featured a line-up including the likes of The Horrors, Fat Dog, Sprints and Lapsley, among others.
BS3 and music at Ashton Gate
Dizzee Rascal performs in front of thousands of fans at BS3 Live music festival (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
When: TBC (usually across the summer between June and July)
Following previous years of stellar music at Ashton Gate, and the brand new Ashton Gate Presents BS3 music event that was launched in 2024, the stadium had to postpone such events for 2025 to make way for ground improvements and the hotly anticipated Women’s Rugby World Cup games that were lucky enough to be played right here.
But it’s hoped that music will return to the venue for 2026, with rumours of some pretty massive names among the line-up. In Ashton Gate’s statement back in March 2025, it said: “We are already working to secure an exciting line-up of artists for future events and look forward to announcing these in due course.”
In previous years, the home of Bristol City and the Bristol Bears rugby team has hosted world-renowned artists like Elton John, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys and Take That, just to get you excited for what the future could hold.
Bristol Sounds
The Fratellis headlined day four.(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
When: June 25, 26 and 27 (usually with more dates and acts still to come)
Across a series spanning seven days of music, this year’s Bristol Sounds brought with it names that included the likes of Supergrass, Kaiser Chiefs, Texas, The Fratellis and Olly Murs. And, the line-up for 2026 will see Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Streets set to headline Friday, June 26, and June 25 and 27, respectively.
The Kooks will headline June 23, Super Furry Animals on June 24, and Royel Otis on June 28.
The Streets sold out two dates in quick time, so sadly no tickets remain for their dates. But you can find out more and buy tickets for the rest as they go on sale, here.
St Pauls Carnival
When: TBC
This year’s St Pauls Carnival event saw a scaled back version of the beloved carnival, dubbed ‘Back a Yard’, featuring a series of smaller celebrations and festivities. Marking what was the 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act 1965, St Pauls Carnival dedicated its 2025 programme to honouring the legacy of activists throughout Bristol’s history who have ‘fuelled activism in the city’.
A number of venues took part in hosting events, including Circomedia, Lost Horizon, and Lakota. The 2026 St Pauls Carnival offering is currently still in the works – but you can find out more and get involved in its planning here.
Bristol Comedy Garden
When: TBC (usually in June)
For some 15 years, Bristol Comedy Garden has brought some of the biggest household names in the world of comedy to the city. The region’s largest comedy festival, this year saw five nights of ‘all-star stand-up’ in a Big Top in Queen Square, as well as stocked bars and an array of street food.
Some of the acts on the line-up for 2025 included Ed Gamble, Mike Wozniak, David O’Doherty, Tim Key, Alex Horne, Katherine Ryan, Lucy Beaumont, Alan Davies, Seann Walsh, Mark Watson, and Bristol’s own Mark Watson, among many many more. Tickets always sell out incredibly fast, so making a note in your diary is a must if you don’t want to miss out.
SIREN
Bloc Party kick off Siren at Bristol’s Amphitheatre on Friday (July 25)(Image: Ellie Kendall)
When: (TBC) Usually in July
Having taken place at the Amphitheatre for the past couple of years, SIREN is becoming a top music event for some of the biggest acts to take to the stage by the city’s Harbourside each summer. This year saw Bloc Party celebrate 20 years of their debut album Silent Alarm, there was an all-day Drum n Bass extravaganza, Sasha & Digweed took to the stage, and fans will be hoping for more in 2026.
The line-up for 2026 so far sees The Maccabees headline the Amphitheatre on July 23 – tickets are already on sale and selling fast. Buy yours here.
Bristol Pride
Bristol Pride Day parade 2025(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
When: June 27 to July 12, 2026, with Pride Day on Saturday, July 11
Previous years of Bristol’s Pride celebrations have included performances from the likes of Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, Natalie Imbruglia and, in 2024, 80s legends The Human League, who have all taken to The Downs for Bristol Pride Festival.
2024’s event marked Bristol Pride’s 15th anniversary, with a huge colourful Parade making its way through the city, and even more live performances, entertainment and after parties to sink teeth into. Known for raising the bar year after year when it comes to Pride celebrations, 2025 welcomed Allie X, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Kim Wilde, Cascade, Ultra Nate and more to Bristol.
After 25,000 people marched through the city, The Downs welcomed 38,000 to witness over 200 performers across multiple stages. And 2026 will no doubt see even more massive acts among the line-up when its announced in the coming months.
View a gallery of photos from this year’s Pride Day here.
Bristol Harbour Festival
When: TBC (usually July)
A multitude of activities – including entertainment, music, food and drink, and the like – take place at venues around Bristol’s Harbourside each year, during the city’s Harbour Festival celebrations. Bringing the best of Bristol’s emerging artists as well as established and international performers across all genres, festival goers can expect ‘three days of back-to-back entertainment alongside some proper maritime magic’ with the Harbour Fest’s on-the-water programme.
More announcements to come soon via the official festival website, here.
Valley Fest
When: July 31 – August 2
Taking place at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, Valley Fest returns next year after a year off. It’s set on an organic farm overlooking some stunning scenery and serving up three days of music. There’s also plenty for families and food lovers to enjoy too.
The line-up hasn’t yet been announced, but weekend tickets are on sale at early bird prices, and combination and day tickets will be ‘on sale soon’. Find out more here.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
First look at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025 site, including a brand new attraction for this year – In The Clouds – which allows visitors to step inside a cold inflated balloon envelope and enjoy a soundscape and video from the archives of a historic Bristol balloon flight(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
When: Friday, August 7, to Sunday, August 9, 2026
This year was the second year to feature a major change to the structure and schedule of the iconic Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. One of the biggest staples in the Bristol calendar, the 46th annual Fiesta in 2024 went from a four-day event to a three-day event, which continued this year.
Still at its equally iconic Ashton Court location, the 2025 Fiesta saw two Night Glows, four out of six successful mass ascents, and brand new attractions like the ‘In The Clouds’ area, where festival goers could step inside a cold inflated hot air balloon envelope, and the Flight Control big screen, which showcased where each and every balloon landed and how far they travelled during the Fiesta weekend.
There were also plenty of opportunities to meet the ballooning teams, some incredible special shapes, and even a Schools Tether Roadshow in the lead up to the main event in the summer.
While we know the Fiesta will, of course, have a line-up of hot air balloons and their teams ready to take to the skies, not much else has been announced for 2026 yet. But you can take a look at BristolLive’s article of everything we know so far, and what we can gather ahead of the 48th anniversary here.
Forwards Festival
When: Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, 2026
This two-day inner-city music festival is known for drawing in some of the biggest names in international music and takes place at the Downs usually in late August. This year’s line-up included Barry Can’t Swim, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean and The Last Dinner Party, among a whole host of others across two stages.
While next year’s line-up won’t be announced for a while yet, it’s not all about the music at Forwards – there are usually many a stand dedicated to local and national causes and campaigns, and even other activities like silent discos, to get stuck into.