Things To Do / Things to do
27 things to do in Bristol this week, April 27 – May 3 2026
Monday: Embodied Language, Wildact Studio
A welcoming women-only movement class blending dance, coordination and creative exploration. This class is energising, supportive and designed to build strength, rhythm and confidence through movement.
Women’s dance class – photo: Embodied dance
SPONSORED
Tuesday: The Gaffe’s Comedy Roast Battle, The Gaffe Comedy Club
A comedy night like no other! Comedians go head-to-head in a verbal slugfest of savage burns and razor-sharp insults, with absolutely no holds barred. This week is the grand final, with the victors from every previous roast battling it out for glory (and a cash prize)!
The Gaffe Comedy club – photo: Julian Preece Photography
Tuesday: Flow State, The Gallimaufry
A night of live performances, with beats made live by CGN, off-the-dome rap, raw expression and pure vibes. Co-hosted by Ramelle & Kwazi, bringing you cypher games, console games, and a space to tap into your creativity.
Flow State – photo: Kwazi
SPONSORED
Tuesday: Mammal Hands, Bristol Beacon
Mammal Hands craft hypnotic, genre-blurring soundscapes that fuse jazz, electronica, folk and minimalism. Known for their intense, immersive live shows, the Norwich trio weave intricate rhythms and cinematic textures into a deeply absorbing experience. Expect a mesmerising performance that builds, pulses and pulls you in.
Mammal Hands – photo: Bristol Beacon
Tuesday: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th anniversary, Bristol Beacon
A 4K-remastered screening with a live shadow cast performing throughout. Includes a pre-show Q&A with original cast members, a costume contest, and a display of film artefacts.
Rocky Horror Picture Show – photo: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Wednesday: The Blue Badgers and Bowker & Morse, Bristol St Andrew’s Bowls Club
The Blue Badgers signature sound is a blend of original folk music and rich vocal harmonies featuring fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bass, cajon and whistles. The band draws on Celtic, Americana and Eastern European influences to create a sound that is both rootsy and adventurous.
The Blue Badgers – photo: The Blue Badgers
Wednesday-Saturday: Pride & Prejudice… But Funny, Wardrobe Theatre
Lamphouse Theatre returns with a ridiculous romp through Bennets, Bingleys, bachelors and balls, featuring at least one soaking wet shirt.
Pride & Prejudice… But Funny – photo: Lamphouse Theatre
Thursday: Au Pairs, The Trinity Centre
Post-punk pioneers Au Pairs return for their first live shows in more than four decades, celebrating 45 years of landmark debut Playing With A Different Sex. Sharp politics, taut funk rhythms and urgent energy make this a standout comeback date.
Au Pairs – photo: Au Pairs
SPONSORED
Friday: A Burt Lash Cabaret, The Gaffe Comedy Club
Drag king Burt Lash (Drag Idol finalist 2025) hosts a night of glamour, sparkles, and a touch of chaos as a mix of glittering queens, daring kings, hilarious comics, and jaw-dropping cabaret stars take to the stage.
A Burt Lash Cabaret – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
Friday: Vinyl Gathering, The Red Church
Vinyl gathering has an amazing lineup of fresh collectors and selectors picked from its ever-expanding community of players. It promises a mix of crate dug disco, boogie, funk-soul, R&B, Balearic, Nigearian/ye-ye, with some disco and house into the later hours.
Bristol Vinyl Gathering – photo: Simon Arnoldi
SPONSORED
Friday: Food Truck Fridays, Tobacco Factory
Bristol does lots well, but some things it does very, very well… Bookend your week the right way at Tobacco Factory, with the very best street food, local brewery spotlights and tunes to lead you into the weekend.
Tobacco factory food truck – photo: The Tobacco Factory
Friday-Sunday: Bristol Folk Festival
A weekend of gigs and sessions featuring folk megastars The Unthanks and Sam Sweeney.
Bristol Folk Festival – photo: Paul Blakemore
SPONSORED
Friday-May 7: Miroirs No. 3, Watershed
After a car crash kills her boyfriend, piano student Laura is taken in by Betty, who witnessed the accident. Living with Betty’s family brings comfort, but Laura starts questioning their intentions as time passes.
Miroirs – photo: Watershed
SPONSORED
Friday-May 7: Primavera, Watershed
World-renowned opera director Damiano Michieletto gives a fictionalised account of Antonio Vivaldi’s time as resident composer and violin teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice.
Primavera – photo: Watershed
Friday-May 31: Bristol Walk Fest
May is national walking month and to mark it Bristol Walk Fest is putting on hundreds of events, from nature hikes and historical tours, to family-friendly strolls and challenge walks.
Bristol Walk Fest – photo: Bristol Walk Fest
SPONSORED
Friday-May 31: New Tour & Tasting experience , Wookey Hole
Wookey Uncovered is a new premium guided heritage tour for adults, offering rare off‑route access deep inside the Mendip caves, sharing stories of hidden chambers, folklore and the people who made Wookey Hole what it is today. Included in the tour is a live papermaking demonstration in the historic mill, and an exclusive tasting of cave‑aged Wookey Cheddar paired with Somerset cider.
SPONSORED
Friday-Sunday: Open Studios 2026, Spike Island
Spike Island is delighted to present Open Studios 2026 (1–3 May). You are invited to discover, celebrate and support Bristol’s internationally renowned art scene across a weekend of exhibitions, events, activities, food and drink. 2026 is especially significant as it celebrates 50 years since Spike Island was founded.
Open studios – photo: Lisa Whiting Photography
SPONSORED
Friday-Sunday: The Bristol Model Railway Exhibition, Thornbury Leisure Centre
The Bristol Model Railway Exhibition returns in 2026, showcasing over 30 detailed layouts alongside 40+ traders and specialist manufacturers. Discover expert demonstrations, meet clubs and societies, and find inspiration, advice, and great show deals – perfect for enthusiasts, collectors, families, and anyone curious about railway modelling.
Saturday: Jack in the Green procession, M Shed to Horfield Common
An annual folk tradition to mark the coming of summer. Jack processes through the streets of Bristol at the start of each May, dressed in greenery and standing nine foot tall.
Saturday: Steam train ride, Bristol Harbour Railway
Train rides at Harbourside’s heritage railway start again for the 2026 season on May 2, offering a family-friendly experience for a reasonable price.
Bristol Harbour Railway – photo: Martin Booth
SPONSORED
Saturday: Jam on the Horizon, St Jude’s
5 venues, 8 stages, 15 hours of music from across the globe. Featuring Quantic, Zero 7, Kanda Bongo Man, Joe Armon Jones, Raz & Afla, Pahua and many more. Day, night and combo tickets available on Headfirst.
Jam On The Horizon – photo: Sawmills
Saturday: Spring family fun, Red Lodge Museum
A day of storytelling, face painting and sightseeing, with a chance to dress up in historical costumes.
Red Lodge Museum – photo: Martin Booth
Saturday: Love Letter to Broadmead x DIASPORA!: Five Women, One Show, The Galleries
Part of the wider A Love Letter to Broadmead programme, this performance brings together five women for a show celebrating identity, resilience and shared stories. A mix of voices, creativity and community spirit in the city centre.
Five women one show – photo: DIASPORA
Saturday & Sunday: East Bristol Brewery Trail, various venues
Seven breweries – Arbor, Good Cheminstry, Left Handed Giant, Little Martha, Moor, Unwins and Wiper & True – join forces for the tenth annual trail.
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Sunday: Joy for me is… Arnolfini
A hands-on workshop blending creativity, conversation and community spirit. Using simple embroidery techniques, participants will craft a personal textile piece while sharing stories and ideas. Open to all abilities.
Arnolfini workshops – photo: Let’s Make Art
SPONSORED
Sunday: Live Music Sundays – TB3, Tobacco Factory
TB3 brings a fresh, expressive edge to contemporary jazz, blending lyrical melodies, deep grooves and dynamic improvisation. Led by pianist and composer Tom Berge, the trio thrives on intuitive interplay and a rich mix of jazz, funk and Latin influences.
Sunday: Malin Lewis, Bristol Folk House
Award-winning piper, fiddler and instrument maker Malin Lewis brings a blend of Scottish tradition and invention. Self-built smallpipes, soaring melodies and emotionally rich compositions make this a standout set for adventurous folk fans.
Malin Lewis – photo: Bristol Folk Festival
Sunday: May Day, Bridge Farm
Bridge Farm’s May day fundraiser returns with folk dancers, music, a maypole and an open fire. A bar and food will also be available.
Bridge Farm – photo: Bridge Farm
And coming soon…
SPONSORED
May 4: Lucrecia Dalt, Bristol Beacon
Lucrecia Dalt brings her new album, A Danger to Ourselves, to Bristol. A deeply personal, sonically rich live show blending experimental electronics, poetic vocals and intricate rhythms. With layered textures and emotional intensity, Dalt crafts immersive sound worlds that feel intimate and cinematic in equal measure.
Lucrecia Dalt – photo: Bristol Beacon
SPONSORED
May 9: From Grace To Grandeur, Trinity Henleaze URC
Mozart Divertimento in D, Stamitz Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Strings in G major, Schubert Octet. This refined and radiant programme brings together three masters of the Classical and early Romantic eras, offering a journey from sparkling elegance to expansive lyricism. Pre-concert talk with Steve Clarke begins at 6.45pm. Ticket price includes the pre concert talk, a programme and interval drink.
From Grace to Grandeur – photo: Bristol Ensemble
SPONSORED
May 10: Playtime! Pi-Rat Island, Redgrave Theatre
Play-along theatre adventures for 2-6 year olds and their grownups. Join Ratty and friends for a fun, relaxed participatory theatre session. There’ll be silliness, play-acting, games and music in this play-along theatre adventure… Expect to play, move, watch and laugh.
Playtime! Pi-Rat Island – photo: Redgrave Theatre
SPONSORED
May 17: Billy Lockett, Strange Brew
Singer-songwriter Billy Lockett is bringing his raw, piano-led ballads to Strange Brew, Bristol this June! For fans of artists such as Lewis Capaldi and Sam Fender. Tickets on sale now.
Billy Lockett – photo: Billy Lockett
SPONSORED
May 20: Red Ink: Bristol Ensemble Directed by Leon Bosch, St Georges Bristol
Bristol Ensemble Marks 50 Years Since Soweto Uprising with Powerful Musical Memorial Led by Leon Bosch at St George’s Bristol. In this performance, Bosch takes on the rare dual role of soloist and conductor, leading the ensemble from the double bass, creating a uniquely intimate and powerful musical experience.
SPONSORED
May 23: Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years, Redgrave Theatre
Critically acclaimed as one of the greatest tribute shows in the world, Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years continues to delight audiences across the globe, receiving standing ovations and selling out theatres night after night. Fronted by Dan Haynes and Pete Richards, the show is a masterpiece.
Simon & Garfunkel – photo: Redgrave Theatre
SPONSORED
June 25: Billy Fuller, Strange Brew
Billy Fuller (of Beak>) takes his debut solo tour to Bristol this June! Think krautrock-inspired sound with deep, driving grooves. Also known for work with Robert Plant, Fuller blends precision and improvisation, creating tense, atmospheric rhythms that pulse at the core of Beak>’s experimental, ever-evolving live performances. Tickets are on sale now!
Billy Fuller – photo: Billy Fuller
Main photo: Chris Cooper
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