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 returned from Thursday 19 – Saturday 28 February for its boldest edition yet across ten magical nights. For the first time, thanks to the newly unified Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), the festival spanned a wider footprint, with installations in Redcliffe, Cabot Circus, Park Street, Spike Island and Portland Square.
This year’s artworks included two showstoppers from internationally acclaimed artist Liz West, in Cabot Circus car park. Our Colour returned to the city it premiered in, doubled the size and a decade on, while large-scale floor-based work Our Colour Reflection transformed the environment by reflecting light, architecture and visitors.
The Lite Series marked a new collaboration between local engineering company Cameron Balloons and Bristol Light Festival. This playful, interactive installation took over College Green with a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons.
Bristol-based creatives showcased their work, including Air Giants’ The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years at Cascade Steps, Illuminos’ The Electrical Age on the Clockwise Generator Building, Rob Hodgson’s Jellymonsters at Left-Handed Giant, and Studio McGuire’s Bell Jar Fairies at the RWA.
Other festival highlights included Will Budgett’s Midnight Ballet in Royal Fort Gardens, Parker Heyl’s Jacob’s Wall in Redcliffe Caves, and the return of festival favourite Swing Song, this time reimagined in Portland Square.
During the opening weekend, Clifton Suspension Bridge was illuminated for a historic first with A Year in the Life of the Avon Gorge and Downs, a gently choreographed seasonal lighting sequence celebrating the Gorge’s rare ecology and marking the completion of major restoration works, including new LED lighting.
The expanded BLF+ programme of partner events, workshops and illuminated experiences extended the festival across the city. Circus performances, lantern workshops, heritage showcases and cultural moments after dark encouraged visitors to linger, explore and see the city in a new light, supporting local businesses during a traditionally quieter trading period. A meaningful partnership with St Peter’s Hospice added further depth to this year’s programme, with a special event at Bristol Beacon reinforcing the festival’s ethos of connection and community.
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 founded by Bristol BID and curated by multi-award-winning Creative Director, Katherine Jewkes.
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