Bristol is home to some of the biggest and best festivals in the country with hundreds of thousands of people travelling to the city to create new memories. If you’re looking to get your summer plans in order then this is the guide for you, with all the dates, timings, ticket prices and information we know about the festivals so far.
The city is rich in music festivals including Love Saves The Day, Bristol Sounds and Tokyo World. This year will see the return of the city’s best-loved events like St Pauls Carnival as well as Bristol Pride, Harbour Festival and the International Balloon Fiesta.
Here is Bristol Live’s guide to all of the major events and festivals taking place in Bristol and the surrounding area in 2023 in calendar order. Please be aware that ticket prices are correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to a booking fee.
Read more: Love Saves the Day 2023 line up first look including Fatboy Slim and Years & Years
Love Saves The Day
When? May 27-28
Where? Ashton Court Estate, BS41 9JN
One of Bristol’s biggest independent music festivals is back with a stellar line-up as Fatboy Slim and Years & Years are booked to headline the weekend. Joining them is pop sensation Kelis, world-class DJ Four Tet, Bristol legend Eats Everything as well as Sky FX, Andy C, Katy B, Groove Armada (DJ set) and much more here. The festival is back at Ashton Court Estate which saw 30,000 partygoers a day last year. Saturday tickets, £57.50 and Sunday, £49.50; weekend, £99.50 - available here.
Glastonbury
When? June 21-25
Where? Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
The event is taking place between June 21 and June 25 this year, with Elton John, Arctic Monkeys and Guns and Roses confirmed as the headliners. Some 210,000 people will be heading to Pilton to party over five days while the rest of the world watches enviously on the BBC. Tickets have now completely sold out with the resale finishing earlier this month. But Tony's Chocolonely, Oxfam and Glastonbury Festivals have teamed up to give you the chance to win five pairs of Glastonbury tickets hidden within special Tony’s Chocolonely bars. Find out more here.
Bristol Sounds
When? June 21-25
Where? Bristol Harbourside
Earlier this month Mika was confirmed as the final headliner for the harbourside concert series this summer. The popstar, who topped the UK charts in 2007 with 'Grace Kelly', will kick off a week of live music at Lloyds Amphitheatre on June 21. The five-night gig series traditionally falls on the same weekend as Glastonbury Festival and welcomes some of the biggest names in music. Mika has joined a star-studded line-up comprising James, The Levellers, Jacob Collier and Self Esteem.
Ticket prices for each show vary, available here.
St Pauls Carnival
When? June 22-July 1
Where? St Pauls
St Pauls Carnival is programming a series of events to mark 75 years of Windrush Day and also 60 years of Bristol’s Bus Boycott. Carnival day will be returning for the first time in three years on July 1 with its free procession. You can read all about the Carnival plans so far for the free event here. This year the city's carnival has teamed up with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to present the first-ever T20 Carnival Clash on Saturday, June 17.
Bristol Pride
When? June 26-July 9
Where? Bristol city centre
Bristol Pride is an annual festival championing equality and diversity across South West with a string of events leading up to Pride Day. Pride Day returns on July 8 with the parade through the city centre as well as a festival in the Downs.
On Friday organisers announced that Natalie Imbruglia would be performing in the festival's first-ever ‘Afternoon Legends’ slot. She will join an already star-studded line-up that includes Nadine Coyle, Alison Limerick, Sophie and the Giants and Scissor Sister's Jake Shears as headliner.
Bristol Pride is free but runs off donations - you can purchase wristbands with discounts on travel and more perks here.
Barn on the Farm
When? June 29-July 2
Where? Over Farm, Over, Gloucester, GL2 8DB.
In its 12th year, Barn On The Farm has evolved from an intimate gathering to one of the most exciting new festivals, now hosting around 3,000 festival goers. It platforms some of the biggest rising stars in music and has seen the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi and Maggie Rogers over the years. Coming to Over Farm this year include Aine Dean, Cate, Cartwright, Etta Marcus and TikTok sensation, Dylan. Also joining the Music Of Tomorrow line-up are flowerovlove, Cate, Aine Deane, Cartwright, Neive Ella, Michael Aldag, Rachel Chinouriri, Sfven. Day tickets, £90; weekend, £190 - available here.
NASS Festival
When? July 6-9
Where? Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN
Chase & Status, Wu-Tang Clan, Little Simz, Anne Marie and Example lead the billing for this year’s NASS Festival. The four-day event celebrates music, street art, skating and all things BMX. Day pass, £69.50; Weekend pass, £160 - available here.
Bristol Harbour Festival
When? July 14-16
Where? Bristol Harbourside
Bristol Harbour Festival will be returning to the city centre with brand new entertainment zones and layout changes for 2023. This year, the number of stages will be shrinking from 12 to five and the event will aim to create a more inclusive water programme for three days from July 14-16, 2023. Easton theatre group Cirque Bijou will be bringing its trapeze stunts and children's entertainment to the Circus Playground, moving from Queen Square to College Green. Find out all the details here.
Siren Festival
When? July 27-29
Where? Lloyds Amphitheatre
Siren is back kicking off with a headlining performance from Fabio & Grooverider with the Outlook Orchestra. The harbourside night of drum and bass will kick off with the original Reggae selector and British radio DJ, David Rodigan MBE, and incredibly talented Bristol MC Gardna, plus more support to be announced. Tickets are £35 - available here.
ValleyFest
When? August 3-6
Where? Denny Ln, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SZ
The biggest girl group of the 1980s - Bananarama - are one of three headline acts at ValleyFest taking place in the countryside overlooking the Chew Valley reservoir. This year’s event will also have The Kooks and Scouting For Girls headlining. Weekend tickets, £175.00; day tickets, £60 - available here.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
When? August 10-13
Where? Ashton Court Estate, BS41 9JN
The four-day free event returned in full last year and was hit with scorching weather and wind that meant some mass ascents were called off. This year, Europe’s biggest ballooning festival is back with tons of activities and the return of the famous Night Glow, along with plenty of things to do for children.
FORWARDS
When? TBC
Where? Clifton Downs
FORWARDS was deemed a huge success having launched at Clifton Downs last year with the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Jamie XX, Little Simz, Fred Again and Charlie XCX playing stand-out slots across two music stages. More information about dates and line-ups for 2023 is expected soon.
Tokyo World
When? September 16-17
Where? Eastville Park, Bristol, BS5 6XA
Some 40,000 people flock to Eastville Park for one of the city’s biggest music events, which sees world-class acts across seven stages. Organisers will be sharing news soon including multiple changes to our World for 2023 “making the next Tokyo World Festival the start of something very special indeed”. First release tickets are on sale here.
Other festival dates for your diary
Ritual Union - March 25
Bristol Folk Festival - April 28-30
Foodies Festival - May 12-14
Dot To Dot Festival - May 27
Forest Live - June 8-11
Bristol Craft Beer Festival - June 9-10
Big Dyke Energy, June 10
Queer Vision Film Festival - June 24-July 10
Cider Salon Bristol - August 2-5
Bristol Wing Fest - September 8-10
Bristol Coffee Festival - September 9
Don’t miss:
- St Pauls Carnival 2023 announces full return to mark Windrush and Bristol's Bus Boycott
- 25 places in Bristol everyone needs to visit at least once
- Brandon Hill Nature Reserve is Bristol's best park according to Trip Advisor reviewers
- The timewarp village near Bristol where Harry Potter and Downton Abbey were filmed
- Ben & Jerry's to host music Bristol festival with free ice-cream
