22 things to do in Bristol this week, December 29-January 4

Monday: Soufian Saihi, The Canteen
Moroccan oud virtuoso Soufian Saihi performs a free gig featuring evocative North African melodies and improvisational oud playing, showcasing his journey from street busking to concert halls with remarkable musicianship.

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Monday-Sunday: Wish Upon A Starfish at Bristol Aquarium
Discover the magic of the ocean this Christmas. Make wishes for a sustainable ocean future, meet Charlie the Christmas Clownfish and follow the Fishmas Trail, included with admission, alongside talks, feeds, and thousands of creatures to explore. All indoors for a perfect undersea safari whatever the weather!

Wish Upon A Star – photo: Bristol Aquarium

Tuesday: Robin Hood Free Tuesday Comedy
The Gaffe Comedy Club produces a weekly free comedy show at The Robin Hood Pub on St Michael’s Hill. Each Monday they platform the best comedians on the Bristol circuit and support them in developing their brand new material or editing their best jokes into a new routine.

Free Comedy at The Robin Hood – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club

Tuesday: The Calling Open Mic Night, The Victoria
Come and share your music in a rustic friendly atmosphere or simply just enjoy the secret local talent that awaits you.

The Calling Open Mic Night – photo: Christy Ruth Taylor

Wednesday: Discotheque At The End Of The Universe, George & Dragon
Get ready for a space-themed NYE club night with disco, house, breaks, bass, rave and jungle music, encouraging space disco fancy dress. Expect hypnotic DJ sets, energetic dancing and pub bar vibes as partygoers celebrate into the night.

Discotheque – photo George & Dragon

Thursday: After Hours – Streets of Soul, Mr Wolfs
Streets of Soul bring an after-hours club night with DJs spinning modern soul, funk and disco on a lively dancefloor, free entry and drink deals, plus a friendly crowd and 20% industry discount for late-night dancing till the early hours.

Afterhours – photo: Streets Of Steel

Friday: Thank Drag it’s FriGay, Seumus O’Donnell’s
Get ready for a night that’s all about the OG drag – no death drops stealing the show here! We’re talking classic, old-skool drag where the talent is bigger than the stage itself! Expect laughter, sass, and performances that’ll have you singing along and tapping those toes all night long.

Thank Drag it’s FriGay – photo: Seumus O’Donnell’s

Saturday: Daraa Tribes, The Jam Jar
A fusion of ancestral tribal music and Saharan Blues, Daraa Tribes comes from the oasis town of Tagounite in the Daraa River Valley.

Daraa Tribes – photo: The Jam Jar

Saturday: Wild Food Foraging Walk, The Avon Gorge
Join a guided foraging adventure through Bristol’s Clifton Downs and Avon Gorge, discovering wild edible plants, trees, and fungi with local expert Heath Bunting, a wild food forager and organic vegetable grower.

Wild Food Foraging Walk – photo: Foraging Bristol

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Saturday: 2026 New Year’s Viennese Gala, Bristol Beacon
Ring in 2026 with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth and soprano Elizabeth Watts for a sparkling New Year’s Viennese Gala. Enjoy iconic waltzes, polkas and marches from The Blue Danube to the Radetzky March, a festive celebration to start the year with music and joy.

New Year’s Viennese Gala – photo: Bristol Beacon

Saturday: Kaleidoscope fusion dance night, PRSC
Kaleidoscope Fusion is a welcoming monthly dance night celebrating improvised partner fusion dancing — no experience or partner needed. Expect an all-levels intro, DJ-driven beats, inclusive vibes and a safe, expressive space where everyone’s invited to move how they feel.

Fusion Dance night – photo: Kaleidoscope Fusion

Sunday: This Next Act – Standup Comedy, Kingsdown Vaults
New material at Standup Comedy night where pro’s come to try new jokes and less experienced acts polish there sets. Every Sunday, the show starts 8pm and it’s always free, always banging and hosted by Greg Winfield.

Standup comedy – photo: Kingsdown Vaults

SPONSORED
Throughout December -January 5: Sleeping Beauty, Redgrave Theatre
Polka Dot Pantomimes and the Redgrave Theatre are delighted to announce the Pantomime for the festive season of 2025 leading into 2026 and it’s the pantomime of your DREAMS – SLEEPING BEAUTY. Featuring great songs, dazzling dance routines, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and spectacular special effects, this dream of a pantomime will be an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike.

Sleeping Beauty – photo: Redgrave Theatre

SPONSORED
Until January 8: Marty Supreme, Watershed
Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness. Tickets £6.00-£11.50. Until at least Thu 8 Jan.

Marty Supreme – photo: Watershed

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Until January 8: Sentimental Value, Watershed
Sentimental Value is an intimate and moving exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art. Tickets £6.00-£11.50. Until at least Thu 8 Jan.

Sentimental Value – photo: Kasper Tuxen | Watershed

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Until January 10: Antarctica at Bristol Old Vic
Grab your hats and scarves and join Olivier Award-winning theatre company Little Bulb (Four Seasons, Hibernation, CBeebies’ The Nutcracker) for a brrr-illiant festive show for ages 3–7. Full of clowning, puppets and snowy surprises, Antarctica is “a seasonal slam dunk” (⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bristol 24/7). On now ’til 10 Jan.

Antarctica – photo: Bristol Old Vic

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Until January 10: Don’t miss Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure 🌊✨🎶, Bristol Old Vic
From the writers of the West End sensation The Great British Bake Off Musical, get friends and family together for some theatre magic with Bristol Old Vic’s latest blockbuster festive production. “Nothing short of a hoot” (⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Guardian). Ages 7+.

Treasure Island – photo: Bristol Old Vic

And coming soon…

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December 31: Love Saves NYE, The Prospect Building
Love Saves The Day takes over The Prospect Building, Bristol, for the city’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. The full Brouhaha Stage lands in our Main Room, joined by standout LSTD installations. Expect a spectacular festival lineup featuring Ewan McVicar, Katy B, Oppidan, Special Request, Dr Dubplate, Yung Singh, Y U QT and more.

Love Saves NYE – photo: The Prospect Building

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January 24: Henleaze Concert Society: Tchaikovsky Reflections
Explore the emotional world of Tchaikovsky in a richly expressive programme. From the magical melodies of The Nutcracker Suite to the tender Andante cantabile, Arensky’s heartfelt variations, and the passionate Souvenir de Florence, this concert celebrates lyricism, drama, and the enduring legacy of Russia’s most beloved composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Henleaze Concert Society – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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January 24: Nailsworth: Tchaikovsky, Bristol Ensemble
Bristol Ensemble’s professional musicians perform Tchaikovsky’s dramatic and lyrical Souvenir de Florence, vivid chamber music for string sextet bursting with energy and warmth. Tea and cakes served at 4pm. Tickets £15, available on the door and online at the Bristol Ensemble box office.

Nailsworth – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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January 26: NT Live: Hamlet, Redgrave Theatre
Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one. Please note this event is a screening.

Hamlet – photo: Redgrave Theatre

SPONSORED
February 2: Miles Kane, O2 Academy
Following the release of his sixth studio album, Sunlight In The Shadows, Miles Kane heads out on a run of 2026 UK and EU dates. Sunlight In The Shadows is 12 tracks of psyche infused rock n roll. Layered with lush, screeching guitars and packed to the brim with hooks, the album delicately toes the line between raw, energetic rock and laid-back crooning anthems, all with a sprinkling of Miles’ signature rippled tremolo guitar and a whole lot of fun.

Miles Kane – photo: O2 Academy

SPONSORED
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 20: Smith/Kotzen, O2 Academy
Smith/Kotzen, made up of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen, take their show on the road following the release of their No.1 album Black Light / White Noise.

Smith Kotzen – photo: O2 Academy

SPONSORED
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

SPONSORED
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: Kaleidoscope Fusion

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