News / Bristol Birdman
Hundreds gather for Bristol Birdman 2026
There may not have been much flying but there was plenty of enthusiasm and creativity at the second ever Bristol Birdman competition.
From a giant yellow can inspired by Bristol Beer Factory’s Clear Head ale to UWE Bristol’s model of Concorde, spectators lining the Floating Harbour were once again treated to an afternoon of inventive engineering and spectacular splashes.
Organised by Grassroot Communities, the event on Sunday raised money to support the charity’s work with young people from underserved communities across our city.
Even the engineering minds of UWE Bristol couldn’t get Concorde airborne
The rules for the contest were simple: put on your costume, jump off a ramp and the person who gets the furthest wins.
A range of organisations took part, including Clifton Coffee Roasters, Urban Pursuit, MUTI Live, Yogscast Games, Origin Workspace, Children’s Scrapstore, WECIL, Puppet Place, Bristol Harbour, All-Aboard Watersports, Eastside Community Trust, Scouts and organisers Grassroot Communities.
Grassroot Communities took first place in the flying competition while Bakehouse Factory was recognised as the team that raised the most money.
Host Ian Downes summed up the spirit of the day as “people getting wet in a funny way for a good cause”.
Stacy Yelland, the chief executive of Eastside Community Trust, a charity serving the communities of Easton and Lawrence Hill, was among those taking part as a pilot
WECIL’s caterpillar contraption won the ‘best looking’ award
Buoyed up by a team of malt, hops, yeast and water, a can of Clear Head was the entry for Bristol Beer Factory
Crowds gathered on both sides of the harbour to watch the Bristol Birdman
For their Birdman entry, the 91st Bristol Scout Group, based in Horfield, joined forces with the docks’ own Harbour Masters
Ben Carpenter, founder of the youth-empowering social enterprise, came up with the idea while backpacking in New Zealand where he encountered the Birdman phenomenon for the first time.
Ben said: “The Grassroot Communities – Bristol Birdman event showcases all that is great about our city.
“A fantastical, fun, free, family-friendly event that brings people together of all ages and backgrounds to watch business and charity teams fly across the harbour with purpose.
“The aim is to support transformational youth and community work in the underserved communities of Bristol all year round.”
Donations can be made through the event’s fundraising page here
All photos: Rob Browne
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