What’s On in Bristol This Weekend – 28th to 30th August 2026

Looking for what’s on in Bristol this weekend?

You’ve picked a good one. The August Bank Holiday weekend brings some of the biggest names of the summer to Bristol, alongside free live music, family entertainment, jazz, theatre and plenty of late-night options.

From Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August, here are the Base Radio picks for the weekend.

Friday 28th August – A Huge Start to the Weekend

Lorde – Clifton Downs

Friday gets the Bank Holiday weekend underway in fairly spectacular fashion.

Global star Lorde plays her first Bristol concert on Friday as part of FORWARDS Presents at Clifton Down.

She’ll be joined by Djo, Audrey Hobert, Rose Gray, Esha Tewari and Grove, making this much more than just a warm-up for the weekend’s main festival. (Visit Bristol)

Definitely one of Base Radio’s social media picks this week.

Jack White – The Prospect Building

Prefer guitars?

Jack White is also in Bristol on Friday night, playing The Prospect Building.

The show is listed for 7pm, with MORN also on the bill. (Ticketmaster UK)

Two major artists in Bristol on the same Friday night isn’t a bad way to start a Bank Holiday.

Bristol FREE Rave – Clock Factory

And if you’re planning on carrying on considerably later, the Bristol Summer Series FREE Rave returns to Clock Factory.

Friday’s event features The Sauce & ACP + Comma Dee, with the night listed from 10pm. (Resident Advisor)

Saturday 29th August – Bristol Takes Over

FORWARDS Festival – The Downs

This is unquestionably one of Bristol’s biggest events of the weekend.

FORWARDS returns to The Downs for two days of music and culture, running from 12pm until 11pm on Saturday and Sunday. (Visit Bristol)

Saturday’s line-up is seriously strong, with Tems, Self Esteem and Wet Leg joined by Joy Crookes, Tricky, Goldie live, Maribou State and Paraorchestra presenting Kraftwerk RE:WERK with Charles Hazlewood. (Visit Bristol)

There’s also dance music, emerging artists and The Information programme of talks and discussion.

This is another obvious Base Radio social media feature for the weekend.

Old City Sounds – FREE

If you’re looking for free things to do in Bristol this weekend, put this one near the top of the list.

Old City Sounds returns on Saturday 29th August and transforms Bristol’s Old City into a huge free music festival.

The event runs across 11 venues, including Bristol Old Vic, St Nicholas Market, The Old Duke, St Stephen’s Church, The Crown and The Mother’s Ruin, with music and entertainment running from 12pm right through until 4am across the wider programme. (Bristol BID)

Expect live bands, DJs, family activities, silent discos and plenty happening around King Street, Welsh Back and St Nicholas Street.

It’s free and family-friendly, making it one of our strongest recommendations this week. (Bristol BID)

The Old Duke Jazz Festival

Old City Sounds also incorporates one of Bristol’s longest-running musical traditions.

The Old Duke Jazz Festival celebrates nearly 60 years of free jazz at the famous King Street pub, with music scheduled from 12pm to 11pm on both Saturday and Sunday. (Visit Bristol)

Saturday’s programme includes The Jiveoholics, Patsy Gamble Blues Collective and Soul Strutters, while Sunday’s acts include The Blue Notes, Eddie Martin & The 58s, Jack Calloway & The Midnight Creepers and Dave Betts Latin Jazz Collective. (The Jazz Guide)

If FORWARDS isn’t your thing, this could be a brilliant alternative.

Something Different – Pericles (kind of)

Bristol’s weekend isn’t entirely about music.

Pericles (kind of) is at The Wardrobe Theatre on Saturday evening from 7.30pm.

It’s a fast-moving musical reworking of Shakespeare’s Pericles, mixing theatre, music and comedy rather than giving you a traditional Shakespeare production. (Total Bristol)

Sunday 30th August – Keep the Bank Holiday Going

FORWARDS – Day Two

FORWARDS continues on Sunday with another huge line-up.

This time Little Simz, Amyl and the Sniffers and Dijon lead a bill also featuring Viagra Boys, Oklou, Jim Legxacy, Princess Nokia, Jean Dawson, Gena ft. Liv.e & Karriem Riggins and Anaiis. (Visit Bristol)

If Saturday leans towards soul, pop, indie and electronic sounds, Sunday takes things in another direction altogether.

The World of John Williams – St George’s Bristol

For something completely different on Sunday afternoon, The World of John Williams by the Mystery Ensemble comes to St George’s Bristol at 5pm. (Ticketmaster UK)

A good option if your idea of a Sunday soundtrack involves cinematic music rather than a festival field.

Fantazia – Document Open Air

Bristol’s dance music heritage also gets a Bank Holiday outing on Sunday.

Fantazia – Document Open Air takes place at Document, with the event listed from 1pm. Current listings indicate that the event is sold out, so this is one for people who already have their tickets. (Headfirst Bristol)

Jaguar Sun – The Louisiana

And if you’d rather finish Sunday in one of Bristol’s smaller live music venues, Jaguar Sun plays The Louisiana from 7.45pm. (Ticketmaster UK)

Looking for Family Things to Do in Bristol?

Saturday’s Old City Sounds is probably our best family recommendation this weekend.

Because the festival spreads across Bristol’s Old City rather than sitting behind one festival gate, you can drop in during the daytime, enjoy some live music and family activities and combine it with a wander around St Nicholas Market and the Harbourside. The organisers specifically describe the event as family-friendly. (Bristol BID)

Alternatively, make a day of Bristol itself: walk the Harbourside, explore Clifton, visit M Shed or Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, or head towards Wapping Wharf for something to eat.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy Bank Holiday Bristol.

Base Radio’s Weekend Picks

If we had to narrow it down this week, Lorde on Friday gets our big-event pick, Old City Sounds on Saturday is the standout free and family-friendly option, while FORWARDS is the main event if you want a full festival weekend.

And for something more traditionally Bristol? Find yourself a spot on King Street and catch some of the Old Duke Jazz Festival.

There really is something for almost everyone this weekend.

Whatever You’re Doing This Weekend…

Make Base Radio part of it.

Whether you’re getting ready for FORWARDS, heading into town for Old City Sounds, driving somewhere with the family or enjoying a quieter Bank Holiday Sunday, we’ll provide the soundtrack.

Great music all day, every day. No repeats, just more variety.

Listen online at BaseRadio.co.uk

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