Bristol Light Festival is back! The fifth iteration of the annual event began on Friday 31 January and will run until Sunday 9 February, with ten installations brightening up the city at a traditionally dark time of the year.
All installations and where to find them
Bristol Light Festival’s digital programme is now available to view at: https://issuu.com/bristolcitycentrebid/docs/blf2025_programme_digital
The festival covers much of the city centre, with artworks located in the Harbourside, Broadmead, College Green, St Mary Redcliffe Gardens and beyond…
Ramandu’s Table by Bruce Munro Studio - City Hall, College Green
College Green has become home to a flock of bright and beautiful flamingos, delighting visitors with a whimsical display of nature's most flamboyant creatures.
Somnius by Illumaphonium - Lloyds Amphitheatre
Shrouding the Amphitheatre in a cosmic blend of light and sound, Somnius responds to the audience’s every move, immersing crowds in a playful environment that puts them in control of their experience.
C-Scales by Bruce Munro Studio - Castle Bridge
Those crossing Castle Bridge are being painted in reflections of shimmering light as they admire the suspended facade of more than 1800 recycled CDs and DVDs, inspired by the waters of Sydney Harbour.
Swing Song by Bristol Light Festival - Queen Square
Back for another year of musical delights, Swing Song can be found on Queen Square. Due to popular demand, Bristol Light Festival organisers have introduced a fast track ticket for one set of swings at this year's event. More information around this, including how to book, is available to view at bristollightfestival.com/swingsong
Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo - St Stephens Church Gardens
Lighting up the gardens of St Stephens Church is Our Beating Heart, an enormous heart-shaped disco ball that brings people together in its display of shared love.
Tetra by Ottomata - The Podium, Broadmead
At Broadmead, visitors to the festival can find Tetra, a tactile installation that needs to be engaged with to truly be felt and understood, taking inspiration from the many forces of nature.
Parallels by Architecture Social Club - Temple Church
Temple Church has been illuminated into a world of lasers and mirrors, where moving footage of natural phenomena like flora and the cosmos are being transformed into floating abstractions of light with Parallels.
The Whilers by Air Giants - St Mary Redcliffe Gardens
The world premiere of The Whilers can be found in St Mary Redcliffe Gardens, where otherworldly creatures greet visitors as they interact with each other in an awe-inspiring experience.
Anthems: Volume One by Marcus Lyall with music from RUN Collective - Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus
Bringing the history of drum and bass to the centre of Bristol, Anthems: Volume One is inspired by the historic connection between the city and DnB music and can be found at Quakers Friars.
Katherine Jewkes, Creative Director of Bristol Light Festival, said: “Bristol Light Festival 2025 is underway and it’s amazing to see such a positive response from visitors once again.This year brings such a variety of artworks, but at their core is a real sense of togetherness and connection with audiences. We look forward to seeing what the run holds for visitors and hope that even more people will come to Bristol to see all that is on offer!”
Fringe events
For the current edition of Bristol Light Festival, several Fringe events are happening across the city to allow visitors to amplify their experience.
Photography Walk - Monday 3 February and Wednesday 5th February, 5:30 - 7pm
Award-winning photographer Adrian Wyatt will be guiding budding photographers around the installations, offering guidance on how to capture the best shots of the installations.
Walking Tours - Monday 3, Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February, 5:30 - 7pm
An opportunity for festival-goers to orientate themselves within the locations and to learn about the installations. Participants can choose between the ‘waterfront’ or ‘central’ routes, or join an accessible tour.
Official Silent Disco Tour - Wednesday 5 February, 5:30 - 6:30pm, Starting at Bristol Cathedral
On this one hour tour, visitors are invited to boogie their way between art installations accompanied by hit tunes from across the decades. High tech headphones mean that users will be able to hear both the music and their tour guide as they make their way around some of the festival’s highlights.
Neon Kids Rave - Thursday 6 February, 4 - 7pm, Bambalan
The whole family is invited to brighten up February with a non-stop rave party including bright colours and plenty of opportunities to boogie. Tickets can be purchased here.
Lights Under the Sea - Saturday 8 February, 10am - 7pm, Bristol Aquarium
To celebrate Bristol Light Festival, the Aquarium will be open later on this date, so visitors can experience the aquarium after dark with its botanical house magically lit with colourful lights. Special UV animal crafts will be available throughout the day, free of charge with an aquarium ticket.
Left Handed Giant x Bristol Light Festival
For the 2025 event, Left Handed Giant has once again created the event’s official beer. This year’s ‘Shining Stars’ is a bright and balanced pale ale, full of citrusy grapefruit and juicy tropical character, from a blend of citra, motueka and el dorado. While visitors check out C-Scales at Castle Bridge, they can grab a can of Shining Stars from Left Handed Giant Brewpub to enjoy the full Bristol Light Festival experience. Shining Stars will also be available at Small Bar, Glassboat and the Royal Navy Volunteer.
Festival Hub - Queen Square
Bristol Light Festival’s hub can be found at Queen Square. The perfect place for visitors to meet, regroup and rest, the hub hosts merchandise, including branded beanies, tote bags, light up umbrellas and prints. The hub also houses the information hut, seating and a food market, as well as being the site of two of the festival’s installations - Swing Song and Bristol is Always a Good Idea.
Partnerships
Bristol Light Festival was founded by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and is presented in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID. The festival’s Artwork Partners are Broadmead BID and Cabot Circus. Visit Bristol, Visit West's consumer channel for Bristol, is this year's media partner. The festival is curated by Katherine Jewkes, Creative Director.
Staying in Bristol
For those looking for somewhere to stay in Bristol City Centre during the festival, a list of offers and discounts for some of the best hotels in the area can be found at bristollightfestival.com/accommodation. The festival recommends booking early to avoid disappointment.
Travel
Bristol Light Festival recommends travelling as sustainably as possible. Visitors are encouraged to walk or cycle to the festival where possible, or to utilise the many train and bus options available to the city centre. More information about getting to the festival can be found here: bristollightfestival.com/getting-here/
All information about the festival can be found at bristollightfestival.com
For more information about all events, and to book, visit bristollightfestival.com/events
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