Bristol Light Festival 2026
Festival to illuminate Bristol once again in February 2026 - including one weekend of half term
Date
19 - 28 February 2026
Anna Farthing
Interim Head of Place (Maternity Cover)
Bristol Light Festival returns with its boldest edition yet, for ten magical nights between Thursday 19 – Saturday 28 February (5 – 9.30pm). For the first time thanks to the newly unified Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), the festival programme will span the city, including Redcliffe, Cabot Circus, Park Street, Spike Island and Portland Square, transforming Bristol into a glowing playground of light, colour and imagination.
This year’s artworks include two showstoppers from internationally acclaimed artist Liz West, set at Cabot Circus car park. Our Colour returns to the city in which it premiered, double the size, a decade on, while large-scale floor-based work Our Colour Reflection will transform the environment by reflecting light, architecture and visitors.
A collaboration between renowned local engineers Cameron Balloons and Bristol Light Festival, The Lite Series is a playful, interactive installation that will take over College Green with a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons. Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements coming shortly.
Alongside the artworks, the 2026 edition will feature a more participatory and interactive programme, with Bristol venues hosting their own accompanying events, meaning audiences can experience the city like never before. Due to popular demand, the first days of 2026’s Bristol Light Festival coincide with school half-term, allowing families more time to explore the installations together.
Established in 2020, the festival showcases Bristol as the vibrant, playful and creative city that we know and love, offering artists a platform to showcase their work at locations across the city. Each edition celebrates artistic freedom and experimentation, featuring world-premier works alongside some of the best local, national, and international talent.
The festival is curated by multi-award-winning Creative Director, Katherine Jewkes and powered by Bristol BID.
Latest news
Cameron Balloons to inflate the magic at Bristol Light Festival with spectacular new interactive installatio
Bristol’s most iconic makers unveil The Lite Series, a brand-new and interactive hot air balloon experience transforming College Green
Liz West to transform Cabot Circus car park into dazzling headline light installation for Bristol Light Festival 2026
Two large-scale artworks will anchor an expanded city-wide programme, as acclaimed artist returns to Bristol with a bold reimagining of colour, light and public space
Bristol Light Festival to illuminate new areas of the city for dazzling 2026 edition
Festival to illuminate Bristol between Thursday 19th - Saturday 28th February 2026* including one weekend of half term