Bristol Light Festival will return for ten magical nights next month (February 19 to 28). With this year’s dazzling line-up already being drip-fed to us, the world-renowned Bristol-based hot air balloon manufacturers, Cameron Balloons, have now been announced as one of this year’s headline creatives.
Their brand-new installation, The Lite Series, will bring the city’s ballooning heritage to life in a vivid, interactive artwork that celebrates Bristol’s craft and creativity. Situated on College Green, the world premiere installation will transform a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons into a responsive landscape of light, sound and play.
Visitors are invited to fire each balloon by pulling a simple cord, triggering a burst of colour and a resonant whoosh inspired by a real burner. As more people take part, the balloons glow brighter, sound bigger and build a shared spectacle that celebrates the collective joy at the heart of the festival.
Who are Cameron Balloons?
Cameron Balloons has been central to Bristol’s identity for over fifty years, creating more than 9,500 balloons that have flown across the world. Debuting at Bristol Light Festival 2026, The Lite Series marks the first public unveiling of this new collaboration between Cameron Balloons and the festival’s Creative Director, Katherine Jewkes, reimagining ballooning as an accessible, immersive experience for everyone.
Jess Siggers, Marketing Manager at Cameron Balloons, said: “Bristol’s skyline has been shaped by our balloons for generations, so we’re thrilled to bring that heritage back down to earth in an entirely new way for Bristol Light Festival. The Lite Series invites everyone to feel the magic of ballooning up close. It’s playful, it’s interactive and above all, it celebrates the engineering and imagination that Bristol is famous for.”
What else is happening at Bristol Light Festival 2026?
The Lite Series marks the second major creative commission for Bristol Light Festival’s 2026 edition, following the recent announcement of headline installations by Liz West. Known for her immersive light sculptures, the British visual artist will transform Cabot Circus’ multi-storey car park into a vast, reflective, colour-saturated spectacle.
Bristol Light Festival will span a wider range of the city—including Redcliffe, Cabot Circus, Park Street, Spike Island and Portland Square—and also feature a more participatory and interactive programme. The full 2026 list of events and installations will be announced soon. As always, admission is free and open to all.
Bristol Light Festival 2026 will run nightly from 5pm – 9.30pm between Thursday 19 – Saturday 28 February 2026.