News / Forwards Festival

Forwards Festival 2025 lineup and stage times

By Susie Long  Friday Aug 22, 2025

As festival season draws to an end, Bristol is gearing up once more to welcome 60,000 people to Durdham Down over Saturday and Sunday for Forwards Festival.

With acts including Mercury Prize-winning bands Ezra Collective and English Teacher, and last-minute headliner changes that have kept attendees on the edge of their seats, the festival is set to be full of fan favourites.

This is the full stage-by stage lineup for Forwards 2025:

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SATURDAY

West Stage

  • Midday: Undici (Warchild Rising winner)
  • 1.15pm: Anna Erhard
  • 2.30pm: Katy J Pearson
  • 4pm: English Teacher
  • 5.30pm: Confidence Man
  • 7.25pm: Ezra Collective
  • 9.25pm: Barry Can’t Swim

East Stage

  • 12.45pm: Mermaid Chunky
  • 1.45pm: Ishmael Ensemble & The Rituals Orchestra
  • 3.15pm: Happy Mondays
  • 4.45pm: Nilufer Yanya
  • 6.25pm: Mount Kimbie
  • 8.25pm: Orbital

The Arches

  • Midday: SPICYIVY
  • 1.30pm: Feel the Real
  • 3pm: Helena Star
  • 4.15pm: Jamz Supernova
  • 5.30pm: Annie Mac

 
The Information Stage

  • 1.30pm: Team Canteen: Hospitality & Humanitarianism:
    • Andy Street, Eleni Morus, Josh Eggleton, Xante Clay
  • 2.35pm: Soliphilia: Climate, Conflicts & Care:
    • Moyah, Raeeka Yassaie, Ron Mendel, Tori Tsui, Gigi El-halalby
  • 3.40pm: Mobilising For A Free Palestine:
    • Ben Jamal, Denise Gough, Dr Eldin Fahmy, Zack Polanski, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
  • 4.45pm: Bristol Old Vic: What About Us?
    • Munya Chawawa, Youngsixsix Cohort, Tundun Adebanjo

The Information by Night

  • 6.30pm: Laura Dia
  • 7.10pm: Ava Zarate
  • 7.50pm: Alamay and Omar Cassius
  • 8.50pm: MOULD

 
SUNDAY

West Stage

  • Midday: Rose Holland
  • 1.15pm: Snapped Ankles
  • 2.30pm: Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra
  • 4pm: Pa Salieu
  • 5.30pm: Olivia Dean
  • 7.25pm: Nia Archives
  • 9.25pm: Jorja Smith

East Stage

  • 12.45pm: The Two Lips
  • 1.45pm: Alemeda
  • 3.15pm: The Silhouettes Project
  • 4.45pm: Moonchild Sanelly
  • 6.25pm: Squid
  • 8.25pm: The Last Dinner Party

 
The Arches

  • Midday: Miss Mash
  • 2pm: Rea
  • 3.30pm: Shy One
  • 5pm: Smith and Mighty Soundsystem
  • 6.30pm: LTJ Bukem

The Information Stage

  • 12.30pm: Citizens For Culture: Obstacles & Opportunities:
    • Dr Thom Oliver, Latoyah Mcallister-Jones, Ruby Sant, Saad Eddine-Said, Jemma Fo
  • 1.30pm: Talks4Change: The State Of The Dream:
    • Guy Bailey, Joyce Morris-Wisdom, Tina Johnson, Vernon Samuels, David Olusuga
  • 2.35pm: Saffron Music: Cultural Currency – Who profits from Black Music:
    • Dread MC, Moonchild Sanelly, Pops Roberts
  • 3.40pm: Big Team: Youth Sapces & DIY Culture:
    • Cherelle Grant, Eva Lazarus, Jayhadadream, Krust, Teddy Good
  • 4.45pm: The Movement Forward: Pissed off with politics:
    • Carol Vorderman, Gary Stevenson, Zarah Sultana, Coco Khan

The Information by Night

  • 6.30pm: Red
  • 7.10pm: GUY
  • 7.50pm: Waldo’s Gift
  • 8.50pm: Dizraeli & Joy Machine

Main photo: @khaliphotography

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