Bristol Light Festival looks to return to the city for ten unmissable nights next week (February 19 to 28, 2026)—with the first few days to coincide with school half-term, allowing families more time to explore the free installations together. And, thanks to the newly unified Bristol BID, it will span a wider range of the city than ever before.
There are ten large-scale installations and immersive illuminated artworks across the city centre, but for its 6th year, a more city-wide, participatory and interactive programme—including illuminated landmarks, glowing window displays, and a vibrant schedule of bookable performances, workshops and one-off experiences.
What are the main installations of Bristol Light Festival?
‘Our Colour Reflection’ by Liz West
Known for her immersive light sculptures and chromatic environments, the British visual artist Liz West headlines Bristol Light Festival with two installations at Cabot Circus—transforming its multi-storey car park into a vast, reflective, colour-saturated spectacle.
Her acclaimed installation ‘Our Colour Reflection’ will take over Level 7 of the Cabot Circus car park and turn it into a shimmering spectacle. Over 765 mirrored acrylic discs, in 15 vivid hues and arranged at different heights, will form a reflective landscape that bathes visitors in shifting light, echoing colour across concrete and steel.
‘Our Colour’ by Liz West
If that wasn’t enough, Liz’s second installation, ‘Our Colour’, returns to the city for the first time since its 2016 premiere at Bristol Biennial—this time twice the size. Using coloured theatre gels, the installation saturates the space in a radiant spectrum of shifting hues, inviting audiences to walk through colour as if it were tangible.
“These works invite people to experience colour not just visually, but physically and emotionally,” said Liz West. “By playing with light, material and space, I want to transform the everyday into something vivid, reflective and full of discovery.”
‘The Lite Series’ by Cameron Balloons
The world-renowned hot air balloon manufacturers, Cameron Balloons, will light up College Green with a brand-new interactive installation, ‘The Lite Series’, that celebrates Bristol’s ballooning heritage. You’re invited to fire up a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons by pulling a simple cord, triggering a burst of colour and a resonant whoosh inspired by a real burner.
‘Jellymonsters’ by Rob Hodgson
A world premiere by Bristol-based illustrator Rob Hodgson, known for creating playful worlds for children through books and experimental projects that bring characters to life in unexpected ways. The installation introduces mysterious, wobbly creatures beneath the surface of the River Avon.
“Normally hidden from view and surviving on pie crumbs, the Jellymonsters are lured out by the sounds of passers-by, listening, reacting and playing along as visitors whisper, clap, sing or make noise, triggering responses through colour, light and movement.”
‘Bell Jar Fairies’ by Studio McGuire
‘Bell Jar Fairies’ invites visitors into the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) to discover 13 tiny glowing fairies displayed inside bell jars, each inspired by Bristol’s landscapes, wildlife and hidden corners—spot the fairies during special late-night openings of the gallery.
‘The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years’ by Air Giants
While over at Cascade Steps, meet a gentle giant, ‘The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years’, by pioneering soft-robotics studio Air Giants. Stretching 10 metres from ear to tail, the huge inflatable cat subtly responds to people nearby, breathing softly, twitching and purring, creating a moment of calm and wonder.
‘The Midnight Ballet’ by Will Budgett
In the University of Bristol’s Royal Fort Gardens, ‘The Midnight Ballet’ by Will Budgett transforms the landscape after dark, as seven illuminated steel and light sculptures gather to create an immersive play of light and shadow. Each precisely lit form casts the silhouette of a ballerina, with elegant, larger-than-life dancers emerging from the darkness.
‘Jacob’s Wall’ by Parker Heyl
‘Jacob’s Wall’, situated in the underground tunnels of Redcliffe Caves, will see the return of artist-engineer Parker Heyl with a hypnotic artwork inspired by the folk toy Jacob’s Ladder. Hundreds of wooden tiles flip between mirrored and timber surfaces, scattering light into ever-changing cascades.
‘The Electrical Age’ by Illuminos
‘The Electrical Age’ is a large-scale audiovisual installation by Illuminos that brings Bristol’s electrifying history to life. Projected onto the Grade II-listed Clockwise Generator Building, the site becomes a canvas for the story of Bristol’s journey from early power grids to renewable futures, including the Electrical Association for Women, a pioneering group that helped power that change
‘Swing Song’
‘Swing Song’ is set to return to the festival, following a UK tour and more than a million swings, this time in Portland Square. The interactive set of light-and-sound-controlled swings has been rebuilt and refreshed for 2026, inviting audiences of all ages to play, connect and co-create their own illuminated symphony.
What else is happening at Bristol Light Festival?
Alongside the free outdoor exhibition, festival-goers can also explore two new-for-2026 programme strands. BLF Plus expands the festival footprint with a city-wide map of light-based highlights, including illuminated landmarks, glowing window displays and unexpected encounters after dark.
Meanwhile, BLF Events offers a vibrant schedule of bookable performances, workshops and one-off experiences. A major part of the BLF Events programme sees Bristol’s world-renowned circus school Circomedia bring nightly activity to Portland Square, including Variety Bungalow Cabaret and Flying Trapeze Sessions.
BLF Plus
- Switched On: Showcasing Mid-Century Lighting – Wednesday 18 February – Wednesday 4 March, Ken Stradling Collection
- Lighting Up the Basin: The Historic John Sebastian Lightship – Thursday 19th – Saturday 28th February, The John Sebastian Lightship
- Mauretania Neon Landmark – Thursday 19th – Saturday 28th February, Mauretania
- Oceana Gromit Sculpture Illuminated – Thursday 19th – Saturday 28th February, Rise Technical
- Street Food Market – Thursday 19th – Saturday 28th February, Harbourside Market
- Shoal of Light – Thursday 19 – Monday 23 February, Puppet Place
- Crafting Hope display – Monday 23rd February – Sunday 1st March, Sparks
- Window Wanderland display – Monday 23rd February – Sunday 1st March, Watershed
BLF Events
- Lantern Making Craft Cafe Sessions – Thursday 19 – Saturday 28 February, St George’s Bristol
- Circus in the Square – Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 February, Portland Square
- Variety Bungalow Cabaret – Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 February, Circomedia
- Cocktails in the Dark – Thursday 19, Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 February, Lost & Found Bristol
- Kids Neon Rave – Friday 20 February, Bambalan
- Phytogram Printing Workshop – Saturday 21 February, Bristol Folk House
- Community Celebration – Saturday 21 February, Arnolfini
- Make Your Own Tealight Holder – Saturday 21 February, Cass Art
- Bristol Light Festival After Party Hosted by Fluff – Saturday 21 February, After Dark
- Lantern Making Workshops with Craft with Clare – Sunday 22 February, St George’s
- Songs by Lanternlight – Sunday 22 February, St George’s Bristol
- Keeping it Light Sunday 22 February, The Gaffe
- Flying Trapeze Sessions – Sunday 22 – Saturday 28 February, Circomedia
- Dark Humour – Sunday 22 February, The Gaffe
- Moments of Light: Celebrating Life with St Peter’s Hospice – Monday 23 February, Bristol Beacon
- Photography Walk – Tuesday 24 and Thursday 26 February, around select installations
- Dinner in the Dark: Blindfolded Dinner Experience – Tuesday 24 February, Lost & Found Bristol
- Lighting Futures: Spotlight on Skills and Careers – Wednesday 25 February, Bristol Beacon
- Sunset Yoga – Wednesday 25 February, Assembly Building
- Bristol in Light: Draw a landscape on a lampshade – Wednesday 25 February, The Stradling Collection
- Switched On: Curators Tour of The Stradling Collection – Friday 27 February, The Stradling Collection
- Bristol Samba Performance – Saturday 28 February, College Green
Bristol Light Festival 2026 will run nightly from 5pm to 9.30pm, between Thursday, February 19, and Saturday, February 28, 2026, with admission free and open to all. To learn more about the Bristol Light Festival programme, head here.
