Bristol Light Festival

About

Bristol Light Festival is set to return to Bristol for 10 days of dazzling light-based artworks to brighten up the darkest nights of winter from 19 - 28 February 2026.

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.

One of the headline artists for this year's festival is Liz West, who will bring two large-scale installations to Cabot Circus, transforming its multi-storey car park into a vast, reflective, colour-saturated spectacle.

The Lite Series

Renowned Bristol hot air balloon company Cameron Balloons will bring the city’s ballooning heritage to life with a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons into a responsive landscape of light, sound and play.

Our Colour Reflection

765 mirrored acrylic discs will bathe Level 7of the Cabot Circus car park in 15 vivid hues across its concrete and steel structure.

Our Colour

Having premiered in 2016 at Bristol Biennial, this colourful installation is returning twice the size, using coloured theatre gels to saturate the space in a radiant spectrum of shifting hues, inviting audiences to walk through colour.

Full programme to be announced shortly!

Accessibility

Bristol Light Festival aims to be accessible to all. You can view an Accessibility Guide for the festival. The city centre location offers hard-standing routes, dropped curbs and accessible paths, allowing everyone to navigate the installations with ease.

Travel by bus to Bristol Light Festival

Plan your trip to Bristol Light Festival with First Bus - services stop just minutes away from each attraction, giving you more time to enjoy all Bristol Light Festival has to offer.

Travelling with friends or family? The West of England FirstDay Group ticket is now £13, allowing up to 5 people of any age unlimited travel all day (only available on the First Bus App). Travelling solo? Hop on and off buses in the Bristol Zone all day for just £6.50 with a Bristol FirstDay Adult ticket.

FAQ

Do I need to book tickets for the Bristol Light Festival?
The event is free and unticketed for everyone!

What are the dates and times for this year's Bristol Light Festival?
The festival will run each evening from Thursday 19 February - Saturday 28 February 2026, between 5pm and 10pm.

What is the best way to explore the Light Festival?
The layout of the installations has been designed to encourage visitors to walk or cycle between them, but there is also the option to take the bus or the ferry! If you are planning on driving, please note that Bristol operates a Clean Air Zone, within which all of the installations sit.

Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are welcome at the event; however, it can get very busy so please keep them on the lead and pick up after your dog.

When is the best time to visit the installations?
If you are looking to avoid the crowds or queues, we would recommend visiting on a weeknight before 7pm, which is especially good for a relaxed experience with children.

Is there a map of the Bristol Light Festival installations?
There will be a detailed map of the locations for this year's festival released shortly, so keep checking back here and on the Bristol Light Festival website.

Will there be food and drink at the festival?
Whichever installation you visit, you'll be within easy reach of many cafes, bars and restaurants. View more Bristol food and drink

What else is there to do nearby?
Depending on the time and day of your visit, you'll have plenty of choice for other activities and attractions - why not extend your trip by a day or two to make the most of what Bristol has to offer? More things to do in Bristol City Centre

Can I take photos or videos of the artworks?
You absolutely can. We love seeing your Bristol Light Festival photos! Please tag Visit Bristol when you share your photos online, and use the hashtags #BristolLightFestival and #VisitBristol - you may even get picked to feature in one of our photo galleries on our website! Please remember to respect other visitors’ enjoyment and avoid flash photography, as it can impact the experience for others.

Useful links:

• Looking for a hotel?

• Find somewhere to eat in the city centre

• Plan your visit

• Public transport in Bristol

Bristol Light Festival is founded by Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), and curated by the festival’s creative director, Katherine Jewkes.