5 min readBristol Pride is back for 2025 with an amazing and diverse line up of events happening across the city, from 28 June to 13 of July, with the main festival Pride Day taking place on Saturday 12 July on the Downs.
With four stages filled with dance, music, and performance, alongside the circus tent, community area, family and youth zones there will be something for everyone in the community. The main stage will be headlined by synth-pop star Allie X, with the iconic Kim Wilde performing in the afternoon legends slot. Among the over 100 other acts performing, look out for noughties club favourite Cascada, RuPaul legend Brook Lynn Hytes, and “Free” singer Ultra Naté. For full listings see the Bristol Pride programme.
But Bristol Pride doesn’t just happen on the Pride Day Festival, here are 10 highlights from the 50+ events that will be happening across the Bristol Pride Fortnight...
Image - Pride Day. Credit Dan Weill
1. Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Brokeback Mountain at the Megascreen
On Sat 5 July Queer Vision, the Bristol Pride Film Festival, brings one of the most enduring queer films back to the big screen, in fact, back to the Mega Screen!
20 years since Brokeback Mountain broke through with a gay love story to the mainstream this is a chance to revisit and reflect on this film’s legacy, and to see the stunning cinematography on the largest screen in the South West. Pride will also be screening a second LGBTQ+ Ang Lee film with Wedding Banquet directly before Brokeback so join for a classic double feature.
Image - Bristol Megascreen
2. Join Pride for a Night at the Circus
A returning favourite event for the festival, Bristol Pride and Circomedia invite you to roll up on 3 July and be astonished by some exceptional performers. Showcasing the best of contemporary queer circus, this evening always brings thrills, shocks, and excitement.
Image - Bristol Pride Circus
3. See Bristol’s past from its historic waterways
Take to the waves and have the team from Outstories Bristol regale you with the fascinating LGBTQ+ history of Bristol as you travel along the Bristol harbour by ferryboat with two trips on 6 July. These often overlooked or suppressed parts of our city’s past will come to life on this specially curated voyage and you will be able to enjoy seeing Bristol from a new perspective.
Image - Bristol Ferry
4. Ask what the future holds for LGBTQ+ people with the FutureQueer performance
Part theatre, part stand-up comedy, part DIY queer lecture pop-culture commentary, and meditation on disco music as a metaphor for queer survival, funny and provocative theatre piece FutureQueer asks: what will the year 2073 look like for queer people? With rave reviews, Bristol Pride is excited to bring this piece to The Wardrobe Theatre on the 2 and 3 July.
Image - FutureQueer
5. Play Bingo with the camp and silly Big Quiffy Bingo
Boogaloo Stu, who will also be compering the Bristol Pride Main Stage, brings his Big Quiffy Bingo to the Wardrobe Theatre on 4 July. From the very towering tips of his perfectly-coiffed quiff down to the tips of his bejewelled toes, he’ll give you and evening full of daft prizes, raucous innuendo, and where you’ll be laughing all night at this gloriously playful and anarchic bingo experience.
6. Have a tail wagging good time at the Bristol Pride Dog Show
Always a firm favourite event in the Bristol Pride calendar, the Dog Show returns to Castle Park on 6 July. Whether you are bringing your pooch or just there to enjoy the positive vibes and cheer on your favourites this will be a fun and relaxed event with categories such as waggiest tail, best trick, and of course the very silly musical sit round!
7. Improvise your way through a dastardly murder, with Murder, He Didn’t Write
Improv troupe Degrees of Error bring their hit show back to Bristol Pride from their West End Debut. Keep an eye on the colourful cast, in this gender swapped version, as they improvise a very silly Agatha Christie style murder mystery right in front of your eyes. With a limited run at the Tobacco factory on the 8 and 9 July this show is not to be missed (and completely different each night!).
Image - Murder He Didn't Write
8. Watch the rest of the Queer Vision programme of films
Queer Vision is Bristol Pride’s film festival, now in its 13th year. Pride believes in the importance of seeing ourselves reflected on screen and the power of film for social change. This year Queer Vision is exploring LGBTQ+ filmography from Brazil, so there will be chances to see films that have not been widely screened in the UK, featuring different cultural perspectives, alongside returning events such as the South West Shorts selection at Watershed.
9. Dance the night away at the Bristol Pride Ceilidh
Dust of your kilts and dancing shoes, the Ceilidh returns to Bristol Pride after its debut in 2024! This year Pride is taking over the Lantern Hall at Bristol Beacon on the 4 July for an evening of joyful music and frantic dancing. Whether you have experience or are new to the dance, all will be welcome and guaranteed a great night - perhaps you'll learn a few moves for the Bristol Pride Day Festival!
10. Join the March
On the morning of Pride Day on the 12 July, the Pride March will once again go through the centre of Bristol, starting at Castle Park, to loudly and proudly declare we are here, and we are not going anywhere. Our community feels ever more under attack from powerful voices and those in power, so it is vital for as many of our community, our friends and families, and our allies to march together in solidarity, and in full unashamed colour!
View the full Bristol Pride 2025 programme
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