Roll up, roll up! The city’s biggest free festival, Bristol Harbour Festival, returns in July to celebrate the city’s maritime connection. This three-day family festival (July 18 to 20) will host a packed weekend of local musicians, circus acts, on-the-water activities—such as cardboard boat races and jetpack stunts—and more at one of the UK’s biggest free-to-attend events.
The UK’s most streamed folk band and the city’s very own The Longest Johns will headline Bristol Harbour Festival’s main stage on Sunday night, with a homecoming performance for the ‘Made in Bristol’ programme. Known for reviving the sea shanty tradition and bringing maritime folk music to a global audience, their set promises to be a standout moment of the weekend.
Also performing over the weekend are: Bristol favourites DJ Hiphoppapotamus + Bloco B delivering the rhythms of Rio with high-energy hip-hop and jungle; Eternal Taal, the pioneering all-female Bhangra group that has performed for the Royal Family; and the signature funk-driven sound of The Allergies.
But it’s not just about back-to-back music, from local and international talent, at the Amphitheatre—a huge highlight every year is the on-the-water entertainment. From flyboard rider James Prestwood performing tricks 18 metres in the air with his jet ski-powered boots to a cardboard boat race and Bristol boat parade, there’s so much to see and do.
Meanwhile, College Green will once again host street-style circus performances in one of Bristol’s most gorgeous green spaces. There’ll be circus workshops, a family rave, baby racing, street magic, and more. And the Expression Stage at Millennium Square will become a hub for spoken word, panels, talks and performances.
The other big music area, Bristol Rising and the Dance Tent, will showcase the best of Bristol and its various communities in Queen Square—including St Pauls Carnival takeover on the Saturday! Plus, the iconic Queen Square market is also returning. Elsewhere, the Bristol Harbour Festival Fringe Festival sees many of the city’s eclectic venues hosting local performers, day parties, film screenings and more beyond the main stages.
Bristol Harbour Festival:
Amphitheatre
Friday, July 18
- 18:00–18:30 – Daytura (classic rock & blues)
- 18:30–21:15 – Honey B McKenna (world‑house DJ set)
- 19:00–19:30 – Lizzie Esau (indie‑rock singer-songwriter)
- 20:00–20:45 – IDestroy (high‑energy punk trio)
- 21:15–22:00 – Holysseus Fly (alt‑pop with soul/electronic vibes)
Saturday, July 19
- 11:15–12:00 – Amrit Kaur (soul & Punjabi folk fusion)
- 12:00–21:00 – DJ Chris Tofu & Friends (vintage-remix marathon)
- 12:30–13:00 – Eternal Taal (all-female Bhangra group)
- 15:00–16:00 – Gnawa Blues All Stars (North African trance-blues fusion)
- 16:30–17:30 – DJ Hiphoppapotamus + Bloco B (tropical beats meets hip-hop/jungle)
- 18:00–22:00 – The 45s (high-energy rock/indie covers)
- 19:00–19:30 – DJ Hiphoppapotamus + Bloco B (second set)
- 21:00–22:00 – The Allergies (funk-driven dance finale)
Sunday, July 20
- 11:00–19:00 – Jasmine Ketibuah‑Foley (BBC journalist & local compère)
- 12:00–12:45 – Harmer Jays (indie‑pop soundscapes)
- 13:15–14:00 – Mr Tea & The Minions (Balkan‑ska‑dub fusion)
- 15:00–15:45 – Horses on the Beach (Latin/Balkan/jazz/hip‑hop)
- 16:00–16:30 – Make Friends (indie with emotional hooks)
- 16:45–17:30 – Louis Cardozo Band (blues‑jazz‑Latin blends)
- 18:00–18:45 – The Longest Johns (UK’s most-streamed folk band)
One The Water
Saturday, July 19
- 11:00–11:10 – The Pyronaut Fire Boat (water cannons and pyrotechnics)
- 11:15–11:35 – Steamboat Association of Great Britain (classic steam launches)
- 11:45–12:00 – Young Shipwrights Model Boat Parade (sailboat parade by local school kids)
- 12:00–12:40 – Young Shipwrights Boat Race (100 model sail‑boat race)
- 12:40–13:00 – Bristol Cardboard Boat Race (teams race handmade cardboard boats)
- 13:00–13:30 – Prizegiving (cardboard boat winners announced)
- 13:30–13:40 – James Prestwood Flyboard (jet-powered acrobatics up to 18 m high)
- 13:50–14:20 – Canoe/Kayak Sprint Race (Bristol Canoe Club racing relay)
- 14:30–14:50 – Royal Marines Commando Raiding Craft Demo (high-speed manoeuvres)
- 15:00–15:30 – Bristol Gig Club Sprint Race (traditional gig boats racing and demo)
- 15:45–15:55 – James Prestwood Flyboard (second flyboarding set)
- 16:10–16:30 – Steamboat Association of GB (more classic steam launches)
- 16:40–17:00 – Royal Marines Commando Craft Demo (follow-up raiding craft display)
- 17:00–17:10 – The Pyronaut Fire Boat (closing finale)
Sunday, July 20
- 10:30–11:00 – Steamboat Association of GB (opening steam launches on day two)
- 11:00–11:10 – The Pyronaut Fire Boat (grand opening blast)
- 11:15–11:30 – All Aboard Watersports Flotilla (adapted boats and paddle craft showcase)
- 11:40–12:00 – Royal Marines Commando Craft Demo (second-day operations)
- 12:20–12:40 – Bristol (Adventure) Sea Cadets (youth rowing races)
- 13:00–13:15 – James Prestwood Flyboard (high-flying jet ski display)
- 14:00–15:00 – Family Model Boat Race (family-built model yachts race)
- 15:00–15:30 – Bristol Gig Club Sprint Race (traditional boat racing demonstration)
- 15:30–15:45 – James Prestwood Flyboard (afternoon flyboarding set)
- 15:50–16:10 – Royal Marines Commando Craft Demo (final day craft capabilities)
- 16:20–16:45 – The Bristol Boat Parade (flotilla closing the festival)
- 16:45–17:00 – Best‑dressed (boat award ceremony)
- 17:00–17:10 – The Pyronaut Fire Boat (fire-boat finale)
College Green (Cirque Bijou Presents…)
Saturday, July 19
- 12:40–12:50 – Baby Racing
- 12:50–13:00 – Circomedia Youth Circus
- 13:00–13:40 – Hazel Anderson (Able Mable)
- 13:30–15:00 – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 13:40–13:50 – Em & Raoul (musical genius)
- 13:50–14:20 – George Fuller Orange (Man on the Moon)
- 14:20–14:50 – Ms Merlin – Wonder Woman Hula Show
- 14:50–15:00 – Danni’s Dance Academy (street dance)
- 15:00–15:40 – Tit for Tat (juggling)
- 15:40–16:00 – Ms Merlin – Bubbles Galore
- 15:50–16:00 – Baby Racing
- 16:00–16:20 – Circomedia Academy
- 16:20–16:40 – Jony & Albert (multi‑skilled circus show)
- 16:30–18:00 – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 16:40–17:20 – Hazel Anderson
- 17:20–17:30 – Emmelita Puddy (carousel)
- 17:30–18:00 – George Fuller Orange (Man on the Moon)
- 18:00–18:30 – Jony & Albert Circus Extravaganza
Sunday, July 20
- 12:00–12:30 – Island Folk Choir (Bristol folk choir)
- 12:40–12:50 – Baby Racing
- 12:50–13:00 – Circomedia Youth Circus
- 13:00–13:30 – Billy Kidd (street magic)
- 13:30–13:40 – Em & Raoul
- 13:30–15:00 – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 13:40–14:10 – George Fuller Orange (Man on the Moon)
- 14:10–14:40 – Jony & Albert (multi-skilled circus show)
- 14:40–15:10 – Ms Merlin – Wonder Woman Hula Show
- 15:10–15:20 – Danni’s Dance Academy
- 15:30–15:40 – Baby Racing
- 15:40–16:00 – Circomedia Academy
- 16:00–16:30 – Billy Kidd (street magic)
- 16:00–16:30 – Ms Merlin – Bubbles Galore
- 16:30 – 18:00 – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 16:30–16:40 – Emmelita Puddy (carousel)
- 16:40–17:10 – George Fuller Orange (Man on the Moon)
- 17:10–17:40 – Jony & Albert – Circus Extravaganza
- 17:40–18:30 – Poco Drom (family rave)
To see the complete lineup for Bristol Harbour Festival head here.