Things To Do / Bristol
21 things to do in Bristol this week, January 12-18 2026
Monday: The Cribs, Thekla
Rough Trade present this “out-store” live performance from the Yorkshire band on board the good ship Thekla to coincide with the release of their new album, Selling A Vibe.
The Cribs – photo: Thekla
Monday-January 24: Lost Atoms, Bristol Old Vic
Frantic Assembly return with a new play for their 30th anniversary, promising “a wild ride through a life-changing relationship, or Jess and Robbie’s recollection of it”.
Lost Atoms – photo: Tristram Kenton and Scott Graham
Wednesday: Piano for Palestine, Cube
This fundraiser for the Red Cross’ Gaza Crisis Appeal will feature performances from Pete Judge, Sandie Middleton and Huw Morgan.
Sandie Middleton, Huw Morgan & Pete Judge play their beautiful solo piano music to raise funds for those in need in Palestine – photo: Who’s Flying The Plane?
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Wednesday: The Wonder Years, The Prospect Building
The Wonder Years are bringing the No Closer to Heaven 10 Year Anniversary Tour to the UK, and The Prospect Building is lucky enough to be one of just four very special stops. Joining them are their friends Free Throw and Gully Boys.
The Wonder Years – photo: Kelly Mason
Wednesday: The ethical conundrum of memoir in the age of AI, Bookhaus
Writer Alice Jolly and memoir expert Lily Dunn will discuss memoir as a form for our times, and a necessary defence against AI. “Unpredictable, fallible, occasionally unbelievable, do the events that pepper most human lives defy the predictive powers of AI technology?”
The ethical conundrum of memoir in the age of AI – photo: Bookhaus
Thursday-January 31: Bristol Comedy Festival, various venues
The second annual Bristol Comedy Festival returns. Expect everything from intimate work-in-progress gigs in bars to some of the biggest names in UK comedy including local legends Mark Watson and Jayde Adams.
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Friday: Senses of Sudan, M Shed
An exhibition showcasing Sudanese identity, art, film, food and lived experiences.
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Friday: Lunchtime Talk: An Exercise in Perspective, Watershed
In this Lunchtime Talk, Pervasive Media Studio Resident and Video Design Director Reuben Armstrong shares the creative process behind his new documentary on blind runner and punk singer Phil Harrison. Free tickets or stream live on YouTube.
An Exercise in Perspective – photo: Watershed
Friday: After Hours, Wake the Tiger
It’s the first adults-only after hours event at Wake the Tiger in 2026, a year which will see the Bristol attraction open a new space in London.
After Hours at Wake The Tiger – photo: Giulia Spadafora
Saturday: Community Open Doors Event, Circomedia
At this family event, children and young people can try their hand at a range of circus skills as well as a range of other activities from St Paul’s creatives.
Circomedia aerial performer – photo: Circomedia
Saturday: Bristol Sauna Trail, various locations
The first Bristol Sauna Trail is aimed at both sauna enthusiasts and the “sauna-curious” to come and try out up to a dozen saunas across the city and its outskirts over the course of a single day.
One sauna taking part is Bristol Community Sauna which is based at the back of St Anne’s House – photo: Betty Woolerton
Saturday & Sunday: Don’t Tell Anyone, Hours Gallery
An exhibition by artist Amy Shiner showcasing work inspired by years of seeking creative expression and reflecting a journey of vulnerability and rediscovery.
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Sunday: Lola, Watershed
Humane, wistful, and witty, Jacques Demy’s crystalline debut Lola is a testament to the resilience of the heartbroken. Tickets £6.00-£11.50.
Lola – photo: Watershed
Sunday: Learning From The Future, The Mount Without
IMPERMANENCE presents Learning From the Future, a hypnotic dance-fiction by choreographer Colette Sadler. This striking performance imagines a post-human world where a futuristic cyborg navigates a sci-fi landscape, exploring adaptation, resistance, and the shifting body in motion.
Learning from the future – photo: The Mount Without | IMPERMANENCE
And coming soon…
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January 24: Ria Lina: Riabellion, Redgrave Theatre
Following her killer debut tour, Riawakening (Top Ten Best Stand-up Shows of 2024 – Telegraph), the wickedly funny Ria Lina realised she wasn’t just awake, she was ready to rebel. Expect a relentless stream of hilarity as Ria explores the state of the world, the eternal battle of the sexes, and the delight of throwing life up in the air after years of following the rules.
Ria Lina – photo: Rachel Berkowitz
SPONSORED
January 25: Earthling Ed The Journey to Veganism, Redgrave Theatre
Join bestselling author and vegan activist Ed Winters for a practical talk on shifting to a vegan lifestyle, followed by Q&A. Whether inspired by a film, friend, or personal choice, going vegan can feel daunting. Ed shares his experience and guidance to help you transition smoothly and confidently to a sustainable, compassionate way of living.
Earthling Ed The Journey to Veganism – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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January 30 & 31: Horrible Histories The Concert, Bristol Beacon
For the very first time, your favourite songs and actors from CBBC’s Horrible Histories TV series are coming to Bristol Beacon on 30 & 31 January. Bring your singing voices for a truly Horrible show! It’s the ultimate first concert for kids, for everyone aged 5 to 105!
Horrible Histories the concert
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February 4: Lucinda Williams, Bristol Beacon
Lucinda Williams brings her legendary voice and fierce songwriting to Bristol. A three-time Grammy-winning pioneer of Americana, she blends blues, folk and rock with raw Southern storytelling, from Car Wheels on a Gravel Road to Good Souls Better Angels. Gritty, poetic and unforgettable live.
Lucinda Williams – photo: Danny Clinch
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February 9: Anda Union, Bristol Beacon
Anda Union bring the sounds of the Mongolian grasslands to Bristol, celebrating 20 years of music-making. Winners of China’s The Big Band in 2024, the group captivate with soaring harmonies, hypnotic throat singing, and mastery of traditional instruments like the horse-head fiddle and two-stringed lute, a mesmerizing live experience.
Anda Union – photo: Julia Karrys
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February 15: Power Town Festival, The Prospect Building
The first Power Town Festival featuring music, dance and a celebration of African and Caribbean cuisine and culture hits Bristol on Sunday February 15. Kenny Allstar of Radio 1 Xtra’s Rap Shows, and rapper Donae’o headline at The Prospect Building on Feeder Road, Bristol. It runs from 1pm to 11pm.
Donae’o
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June 23: Kooks, Canons Marsh Amphitheatre
A night of pure indie nostalgia as The Kooks open Bristol Sounds on Tuesday 23 June 2026, marking the 20th anniversary of their legendary debut album Inside In/Inside Out. With unforgettable hits including Naïve, She Moves in Her Own Way, Ooh La, Sofa Song and You Don’t Love Me.
The Kooks – photo: Crosstown Concerts
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June 26: OMD’s, Canons Marsh Amphitheatre
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark will headline Friday 26 June, bringing a hit-stacked, high-energy synth-pop masterclass to the Amphitheatre. The duo’s Harbourside performance promises a dancefloor-worthy celebration of four decades of electronic innovation.
OMD’s – photo: Crosstown Concerts
Main photo: Bristol Comedy Festival
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