Ready for dancing to live music, tucking into delicious street food and sipping pints of cider in the sunshine? Bristol’s festival calendar is jam-packed in 2023.

There’s a festival for everything in Bristol, from ballooning to music headliners, cider to cinema. Avoid any inkling of Glastonbury FOMO with our festival picks for the coming months…

Jump to April | May | June | July | August | September | October

April

Lyra: Bristol Poetry Festival (22 April - 1 May)

The fifth edition of Bristol's poetry festival has the theme 'City of Words', exploring Bristol's communities, history, physical spaces and future. The programme includes readings, performances, workshops, family activities, walking tours, talks, poetry slams, panel discussions, open mics, an audio event and a poetry film screening.

Bristol Folk Festival (28 - 30 April) 

Bristol Folk Festival returns with headliners including Eliza Carthy, Angeline Morrison, Fay Hield, Lady Maisery, Nick Hart and The Longest Johns. The festival is hosted across several of Bristol's main venues, such as Bristol Cathedral, Trinity, Bristol Folk House and St George’s Bristol.

Lyra Festival 2023

May

Bristol Walk Fest (1 – 31 May)

From heritage and nature walks to woodland story times, Bristol Walk Fest offers tons of ways to explore the city and surrounding area on foot. Most events are free and there’s something in the programme for all ages, interests, backgrounds and fitness levels. This year’s festival is set to be the biggest one yet with more than 150 different events and activities throughout the month, including history walks, story walks, mental health strolls and even a bookshop crawl!

Walkfest - Bristol festival summer line-up

Image - Bristol Walkfest, credit Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust

Crimefest (11 - 14 May)

If you're a fan of crime novels, this is the festival for you! This year's featured guests include Mark Billingham and Elly Griffiths, plus Andrew Child, brother of Lee Child and co-writer of the iconic Jack Reacher series. Across the four days, up to 150 authors will descend on Bristol appearing in over 50 panels. 

Foodies Festival Bristol (12 - 14 May)

The UK’s biggest touring food festival heads to a new location at Little Stoke Park this May. The three-day event features live cooking demonstrations from top chefs you'll recognise from TV’s MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu, plus top-rated Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs. This year's music line-up includes Scouting For Girls and boyband Blue.

Prosecco van at Foodies Festival

Image - Foodies Festival

Fire in Your Soul (13 - 14 May)

A new  cooking over fire mini festival is coming to Chew Valley this May, with live music, live demonstrations, workshops, competitions, and lots of other fun activities. Enjoy tasty dishes from street food vendors, listen to some soul and country music, and take in the beautiful scenery around Chew Valley Lake.

Fire in Your Soul festival
Image - Fire in Your Soul, credit: Yuup

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival (18 - 21 May)

Bristol's newest film festival, dedicated to screening fantasy, action, science-fiction and horror films from around the world returns for a second year, with screenings including The Terminator, The Way of the Dragon, Return to OZ, Starship Troopers and Assault on Precinct 13 - all on the impressive former IMAX screen!

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2022 title screen - CREDIT Arthur Cauty
Image - Forbidden Worlds Film Festival. Credit: Arthur Cauty

Bristol Jazz Festival (19 - 21 May)

After a four year break, Bristol Jazz Festival is back and celebrating its 10th anniversary! Taking over Bristol Beacon's foyer spaces for three days, highlights include a star-studded tribute to the late Pee Wee Ellis on Friday evening, dance grooves of Afro-beat big band No Go Stop, exquisite indie songstress Hannah Moule, and the premiere of Bristol supergroup 6161.

South Glos Food & Drink Festival (20 - 21 May)

This free-to-attend food festival, hosted at Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green, features some of the region's finest food and drink producers, as well as exciting entertainment for the whole family.

South Glos Food & Drink Festival
Image - South Glos Food & Drink Festival

Dot to Dot (27 May)

Dot to Dot has been known to bring hottest new emerging artists to city centre venues. Acts for 2023 will include Yard Act, ALVVAYS, Finn Foxell and many more.

Love Saves the Day (27 - 28 May) 

Boasting an eclectic programme perfect for the ultimate bank holiday weekend at Ashton Court Estate, heading up this year's lineup are Years & Years and Fatboy Slim, along with Sugababes, Four Tet, Kelis, Andy C, SG Lewis, Romy, Nia Archives, Overmono, Eliza Rose, Folamour, Knucks, Katy B, LF System, Ewan McVicar, Artwork, Hybrid Minds, Sub Focus & Dimension, Jyoty and many more.

Love Saves the Day 2022
Image - Love Saves the Day

June

Forest Live at Westonbirt Arboretum (8 - 10 June) 

The outdoor concerts in the scenic surrounds of Westonbirt Arboretum returns with Paul Weller performing on 8 June, followed by Tom Grennan on 9 June, and Jack Savoretti closing the concert series on 10 June. 

Paul Weller
Image - Paul Weller

Festival of Nature (9 - 18 June)

The UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world celebrates its 20th anniversary this June with a programme of vibrant city-centre events, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, film screenings and more.

Bristol Volksfest (9 - 11 June)

The popular Volkswagen show and family camping weekend returns to Long Ashton. As well as celebrating all things Volskwagen, you can enjoy live music, DJs, entertainers, workshops and family fun across the weekend.

Bristol Craft Beer Festival (9 - 10 June) 

A celebration of brewing culture in Bristol and beyond on Bristol's harbourside, Bristol Craft Beer Festival will feature a huge variety of the world’s finest beer, local food and live music from local DJs, across two days. In addition to the 40+ breweries joining the fun, food will be available from ACME Fire Cult, Jolly Hog and The Cheese Guys, with the whole weekend soundtracked by DJs.

Bristol Craft Beer Festival
Image - Bristol Craft Beer Festival

Bristol Comedy Garden (14 - 18 June)

The big top returns to Queen Square for another week of brilliant comedy stars, including Jack Dee, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe, Dylan Moran, Jayde Adams, Nina Conti, Phil Wang, Alan Davies, Tim Key and many more. Several shows have already sold out, so be quick!

Bristol Comedy Garden
Image - Bristol Comedy Garden

Bristol Sounds (21 - 25 June)

Bristol Sounds returns to the harbour ampitheatre with a series of high profile headliners across several evenings, including MIKA, Jacob Collier, James, Levellers and and Self Esteem. 

Bristol Sounds - Bristol's summer festival line-up
Image - Bristol Sounds, credit Paul Box

Queer Vision Film Festival (24 June - 10 July)

Queer Vision Film Festival will again bring a programme of new release LGBT+ films from around the globe, including independently-made features and award-winning short films.

July

St Pauls Carnival (1 July)

The first full carnival day since 2019 will see over 100,000 people celebrate in the heart of Bristol’s St Pauls neighbourhood. The 2023 celebration will also include a series of fringe community events from 22 June, marking the Windrush 75th Anniversary and 60 years since Bristol’s Bus Boycott.

St Pauls CarnivalImage - St Pauls Carnival, credit David Tidman Photography

Nass Festival (6 - 9 July)

The UK's biggest celebration of music, street art, skate and BMX includes a global line-up of drum and bass, hip hop, UK rap and more. The 2023 line-up featuring Chase & Status Live, Wu-Tang Clan, Little Simz & more.

Bristol Pride (8 July) 

Bristol Pride Day 2023 will take place on Saturday 8 July, with headliners including Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters, Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Alison Limerick and Ladyhawke, plus performances from local artists and community groups. 

Bristol Pride
Image - Bristol Pride

Bristol Harbour Festival (14 - 16 July)

One of the city's flagship free events, Bristol Harbour Festival attracts over 250,000 visitors with a varied programme of music, dance, circus acts, maritime displays and more. Visitors can visit five performance areas around the harbour, bringing beats, boats and backflips to the summer extravaganza.

Cirque Bijou will be bringing tricks and trapeze to the Circus Playground on College Green, The Jelli Shack will take over Millenium Square for chill-out beach-bar vibes, The Amphitheatre will host the Food Court, with music from Access Creative College, Ujima Radio and BCFM Radio, and the scenic Queen Square will transform into the Music Quarter.

Boats with bunting on at Bristol Harbour Festival

Image - Bristol Harbour Festival, credit Paul Box

Cinema Rediscovered (26 - 30 July)

Organised by Watershed, Cinema Rediscovered brings digital restorations, contemporary classics and some rarities from the archive and presents them to audiences in their full film glory on the big screen.

Siren Bristol (27 July - 29 July) 

Siren is back at the amphitheatre for three nights of drum and bass, jungle and dancehall anthems, including Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra with DJ Roni Size and Dynamite MC, Sean Paul (now sold out) and Hospitality on the Harbour x SEQUENCES with chart-topping DJ and record producer Wilkinson.

Ministry of Sound Classical at Seat Unique Stadium (28 July)

Experience dance anthems as you've never heard them before with a breathtaking performance by Ministry of Sound Classical's spectacular 30-piece orchestra.

Ministry of Sound Classical
Image - Ministry of Sound Classical

August

Cider Salon Bristol (2 - 5 August)

Where better to drink down thy cider and sample a few more than in the city of cider itself? The Cider Salon will host several days of talks, tastings and dinners at spaces across Bristol. Alongside the main tasting event, there will also be a city-wide programme of fringe activities.

Valley Fest (3 - 6 August) 

The family-friendly food and music festival returns to Chew Valley with a fantastic set of headliners: The Kooks, Bananarama and Scouting for Girls. Arcadia’s Alchemist Playground will also return, plus family activities, food demos and more.

Group of friends sitting on grass at Valley Fest

Image - Valley Fest, credit Louis Smith

Weston-super-Mare Shanty and Folk Festival (4 - 6 August) 

Folk music and shanty singing will be filling venues in Weston-super-Mare at this three-day festival, with pirate fancy dress heartily encouraged. 

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (10 -13 August)

One of the highlights of the summer calendar, this free four-day family-friendly event is the largest of its kind in Europe, with mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons scheduled for early morning and teatime each day, plus Night Glow shows and fireworks. Visitors can look forward to fairground rides, entertainment, live music and awe-inspiring aerial displays, all set in the beautiful grounds of Ashton Court Estate.

Bristol balloon fiesta - bristol summer festival line-up

Image - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, credit Paul Box

Old City Sounds (26 August)

New for 2023, Old City Sounds will be a free one-day event, taking over King Street, St Stephen’s Church, St Nicholas Street and St Nicks Market with live music, street food, family fun and more.

September

FORWARDS (1 Sept - 2 Sept)

FORWARDS returns for two days of music and discussion, with Erykah Badu, Bonobo, Raye and Confidence Man headlining the Friday night, following by Aphex Twin, Primal Scream, Arlo Parks and Leftfield on the Saturday night.

FORWARDS
Image - FORWARDS

Bristol Wing Fest (8 - 10 September)

A celebration of the mighty chicken wing and is now the world’s most popular chicken wing festival. This year, 100,000 wings will be served by 15 different street food vendors, restaurants and BBQ teams.

Bristol Coffee Festival (9 September)

A celebration of the South West specialty coffee community at Bristol Beacon. Come and enjoy all the coffee that you can drink, meet some of the best roasters in UK and watch some fun competitions.

Bristol Open Doors (15 - 17 September)

2023 marks 30 years of Bristol Open Doors, where you can go behind the scenes and learn the incredible stories of some of Bristol's most historic and iconic locations on a series of guided walks, audio tours, talks and more.

Bristol Open Doors
Image - Bristol Open Doors

Tokyo World (16 - 17 September)

Tokyo World returns in September 2023 over over two days in Bristol’s Eastville Park. The line-up will be announced shortly, so watch this space!

Bristol Sea Shanty Festival (23 September)

Watch sea shanty bands perform in the fittingly nautical setting of Bristol Harbourside, at venues like Brunel's SS Great Britain and Underfall Yard.  

Encounters Film Festival (26 September – 1 October)

The UK’s leading short film, animation and virtual reality festival will be made up of screenings, features, special guests, Q&As and headline events, alongside an intensive industry event programme with masterclasses and workshops.

Bristol Cocktail Weekend (28 September - 1 October)

Head along to a series of cocktail-themed events, activities and experiences at locations across the city centre.

Bristol Cocktail Weekend
Image - Bristol Cocktail Weekend

October

BOP Photobook Festival (7 - 8 October)

The annual festival returns to Martin Parr Foundation in Paintworks, bringing together a wide-ranging group of photobook publishers, booksellers and photographers from across Europe.

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