Things To Do / Sponsored
43 things to do in Bristol in April 2026
April 1: Flower, Nø Man, Wet Nurse, and Docile, The Croft
Punk and metal fans rejoice at this multi-artist gig at the Croft featuring a Trans-Atlantic collection of punk musicians from Bristol, London, NYC and Washington DC.
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April 1: Mark Watson for Live Comedy Day, The Gaffe Comedy Club
The Gaffe celebrates Live Comedy Day with a homecoming for Mark Watson, star of Taskmaster, No More Jockeys, and Live At The Apollo. In “20 Years Of Doing My Absolute Bloody Best” Mark reassembles the best routines from his career so far – it’s the last chance to see most of this material!
Mark Watson – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
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April 1-4:: The Liar King, The Wardrobe Theatre
Phenomenal storyteller and Blindboy Podcast guest Clare Murphy (The Spanking Goddess & Other Discarded Tales) weaves a witty satire on the nature of power and stupid kings. Clare blends contemporary reporting and folklore with her playful wit to unmask who has the real power in the world. Evening performances at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2pm on April 3. Age 12+.
The Liar King – photo: The Wardrobe Theatre
April 1-4: The Boy at the Back of the Class, Bristol Old Vic
A play telling the story of a young refugee’s journey through friendship, courage and finding his place in a new school.
SPONSORED
April 1-12: The Everyworld, Watershed
In The Everyworld exhibition, artists Andrew and Eden Kötting invite you into an exuberant kaleidoscope of visions, snippets, memories, and collisions. Opens Fri 23 Jan. Tickets pay-what-you-can starting from £5.00.
The Everyworld – photo: Watershed
April 2: Nye Banfield Quartet, Hen & Chicken
Birmingham-based saxophonist, composer and bandleader Nye Banfield and his quartet take over the Be-Bop Club, blending traditional jazz with hip-hop and classical music.
April 2: Above The Noise, Beacon
Above The Noise is a conference intended to “connect anyone active in the region’s music scene with the modern music business”.
April 2-4: Twelfth Night, Tobacco Factory Theatres
This adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing plays is performed by graduating students of Bristol School of Acting, supported by Technical Theatre Arts students.
April 3: J.I.D, The Prospect Building
All the way from Atlanta, Georgia, this Grammy-nominated rapper is joined by Mick Jenkins as he combines lyricism with an explosive hip-hop sound.
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April 3: Friday Comedy Club at The Gaffe Comedy Club
End your week with a laugh by seeing a phenomenal line-up of stand-up comedians at The Gaffe, featuring Dee Allum, Sam Coade, and ‘charming’ (Chortle) headliner Morgan Rees! ‘If we had to choose one place for comedy in Bristol, this would be it’ – Culture Calling.
Michael Shafar – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
April 4 & 5: Bristol Transformed, various venues
Bristol’s grassroots radical festival featuring workshops, panels and discussions on socialist politics.
April 5: Historical Walk: 1831 Riots, starts at M Shed
Explore the sites and learn about the causes and consequences of the citywide riots of 1831, which were some of the most dramatic in British history and left much of the city in tatters.
April 7 & 8: Diversity, Bristol Beacon
A new show from dance group Diversity “packed with jaw-dropping choreography, powerful storytelling, and a whole lot of heart”.
April 7 & 8: Stampin’ In The Graveyard, Wardrobe Theatre
An immersive headphone experience fusing physical theatre and live music, which promises to draw audiences into an ephemeral and apocalyptic world.
April 9: Mambo Jambo, The Canteen
Catch Mambo Jambo at The Canteen, an exuberant acoustic duo blending jazz, world and folk into a joyful, genre-hopping set.
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April 9-12: Jazz Stroud 2026, The Goods Shed
Join us 9-12 April 2026 for four days of boundary-pushing UK jazz, live music, and grassroots creativity in the heart of Stroud. From emerging local talent to headline acts, this is where the new wave of jazz comes alive.
Jazz Stroud Festival – photo: Jazz Stroud
April 10: Internet friends, Thekla
Step back into the golden age of clubbing with Internet Friends at Thekla, a high-energy night dedicated to 2010s anthems.
SPONSORED
April 10-16: The Stranger, Watershed
Francois Ozon has adapted a monumental work of literature – The Stranger (also known as The Outsider) by Albert Camus. Tickets £5.00 – £11.50
The Stranger – photo: Watershed
April 11: Outer Town, various venues
It’s the fifth anniversary of this DIY multi-venue music festival with more than 60 acts playing on ten stages across Old Market.
April 12: Wear It Again Market, Lost Horizon
Browse rails of vintage, Y2K and streetwear finds at this laid-back market inside Lost Horizon.
April 13: Student comedy night, The Gaffe Comedy Club
A lively, budget-friendly evening of stand-up showcasing up-and-coming student comedians alongside fresh local talent.
April 13: Life Drawing & Social, the Grain Barge
A relaxed, sociable life drawing session open to all abilities. Expect guided exercises, creative tips and a welcoming atmosphere, with materials provided and plenty of time to chat, connect and unwind while exploring your artistic side.
April 14: Louis O’Hara & Pictureframes, Cube
A double bill of warm chamber folk and minimalist guitar pop from Pembrokeshire and the South West.
SPONSORED
April 16: National Theatre Live: All My Sons, Redgrave Theatre
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play. One family, the heart of the American dream. When wartime delivers profits for Joe, it comes at a price when his partner is charged with criminal manufacturing deals, and his eldest son goes missing in action. Will peacetime bring peace of mind, or will he be confronted by the consequence of his actions?
All my sons – photo: Redgrave Theatre
April 17: Brooke Combe, Thekla
Brooke Combe is a Scottish soul-pop singer and songwriter known for her powerful voice, retro sound and energetic live performances.
SPONSORED
April 17: A Foreigners Journey, Redgrave Theatre
Join us for a night dedicated to the music of Foreigner and Journey. A Foreigners Journey takes things far beyond the mere tribute act. Featuring the incredible vocals of Adam J Oades, this two-hour rock extravaganza, cherry picks the countless hits from both bands and turns them into an unforgettable night!
A Foreigners Journey – photo: Redgrave Theatre
April 17-26: Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival, various venues
Co-directed by Dr Lucy English and Danny Pandolfi, Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival is the south west’s largest dedicated poetry festival, featuring 10 days of events at leading arts venues across the city – including St George’s, Arnolfini, Watershed, Bristol Old Vic and Loco Klub.
April 17-19: BV Open Studios, various venues
The annual BV Open Studios is amongst the biggest weekends in the calendar for art enthusiasts in Bristol.
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April 18: The Improv Gauntlet, PRSC
The Improv Gauntlet has returned for its third instalment! Four teams will take to the stage on April 18th, but only one can be crowned champion. To take the crown, the performers must first appease Queen Rhiannon of the North, our iron-fisted ruler. Who will be crowned? Will it be I Know What I Saw, G.O.D.S, After the Interval, The Grims Brothers? Any one of these troupes could be crowned the Champion of the Gauntlet!
The Improv Gauntlet – photo: Live In Da Hive
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April 19&20: Blue, Bristol Beacon
Blue celebrate 25 years with a hit-packed anniversary tour! Expect era-defining favourites from All Rise and One Love to Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, plus new material from forthcoming album Reflections. With soaring harmonies and timeless pop anthems, this nostalgic, feel-good show revisits one of the UK’s most enduring groups.
Blue – photo: Bristol Beacon
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April 20: Son Little, Strange Brew
Son Little, has sonically traveled practically everywhere that his songwriting and instrumentation have taken him, especially since the beginning of the 2020s. He’s toured with the likes of Black Pumas, Kelis and Mumford & Sons, and many more. He headlines Strange Brew this April 20th.
Son Little – photo: Crosstown Concerts
April 21-24: The Rest of Our Lives, The Mount Without
Back in Bristol following an early performance at Circomedia in 2022, Jo Fong and George Orang will perform at The Mount Withoutfor four nights, off the back of an acclaimed ten -day run at Under the Radar festival in New York.
SPONSORED
April 22: Chalk, The Fleece
Noise rock/post-punk band Chalk are coming from Belfast to Bristol this April! Off the back of a sold out headline tour, Glastonbury, and Rolling Stone acclaim, the band are set to headline The Fleece in Bristol.
Chalk – photo: Crosstown Concerts
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April 22-26: Bristol New Music, Bristol Beacon
Exploring the outer realms of contemporary music, sound and visual arts, Bristol New Music returns for five days and nights of rolling concerts, performances, audiovisual works and installations. The sixth edition of the biennial festival takes place across exhibition spaces, venues, concert halls and unusual locations around the city.
Bristol New Music – photo: Bristol Beacon
April 23: Chris Ramsey, Bristol Beacon
Beginning as the host of a Newcastle open-mic night in 2007, Chris took his first solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 and says he hasn’t looked back ever since.
April 23-26: Forbidden Worlds, Bristol Megascreen
A film festival dedicated to screening repertory fantasy, action, science-fiction and horror films from around the world, and celebrating the people that made them.
April 25: England vs Wales, Ashton Gate Stadium
World champions the Red Roses return to BS3 to play Wales at a match that could see a record crowd for a Women’s Six Nations gate away from Twickenham.
April 25: Bris‑Fest 2026, Sawmills
Bris-Fest is back at new St Jude’s venue, the Sawmills.
April 25 & 26: Bristol Radical History Festival, M Shed & Cube
This year’s event has four main themes: propaganda, utopias and dystopias, Welsh risings and the 1926 General Strike.
April 27: Jonathan Agnew, St George’s
An Evening With Aggers promises wicket wisdom with cricket legend and renowned BBC correspondent, Jonathan Agnew.
April 29-May 16: Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bristol Old Vic
A major new co-production of the Tony Award-winning musical by Kander and Ebb (creators of Cabaret and Chicago) which follows the story of two prisoners who form an unlikely bond in prison.
April 30: Barrington Levy, Exchange
Reggae icon Barrington Levy brings his unmistakable voice and decades-spanning catalogue to the stage, celebrating a legacy that helped shape dancehall and roots reggae.
SPONSORED
Until May 10: Poster Power! at Victoria Art Gallery
Discover 200 years of British poster design at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. Poster Power! showcases an exceptional range of British advertising posters from the 19th and 20th centuries, promoting everything from theatre shows, events and travel to political campaigns and World War One recruitment.
Bath official guide book – photo: Victoria Art Gallery
And coming soon…
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May 2: 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
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 20: Red Ink: Bristol Ensemble Directed by Leon Bosch, St Georges Bristol
Leon Bosch is one of the few double bass players to conduct chamber and symphonic ensembles directly from the instrument. Red Ink serves as a musical memorial to the Soweto Uprising of 1976 in South Africa, an event that marked a turning point in the fight against apartheid but which came at a devastating human cost.
Leon Bosch – photo: Bristol Ensemble
Main photo: Sam Canvendar
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