Bristol Summer Festival Calendar 2022

Bristol Summer Festival Calendar 2022

Posted on: 28 Jan 2022

Some of the city's best-loved festivals and parties are set to make a welcome comeback this year.

 

Bristol is a city famed for many things. It's known just as well for its collective love of cider as it is for its vibrant street art, and an extensive community of artists and creative professionals have kept it at the forefront of the UK's cultural scene for decades.

 

In recent years, a diverse selection of summer festivals has emerged across the city, showcasing a broad spectrum of musical genres, artwork, cuisines and more, and creating lasting memories for hundreds of thousands of attendees. 

 

We might be early to party on this one, but ahead of what we hope to be a triumphant return to action for Bristol's growing collection of excellent events, we've put together a quick rundown of what's coming up this summer.

 

Read on to browse our 2022 Bristol Summer Festival Calendar - listed in chronological order for your viewing pleasure - and be sure to secure your tickets sooner rather than later to avoid missing out!

Love Saves The Day 2021.

Dot To Dot Festival | Saturday 28 May

 

Multi-venue, multi-city festival Dot To Dot is a true celebration of British live music, showcasing some of the country's best and most hotly-tipped emerging acts every year.

 

This time around, Dot To Dot will be taking over The Louisiana, the O2 Academy, Thekla and Rough Trade for its Bristol edition, currently scheduled for Saturday 28 May.

 

A full 2022 lineup is yet to be announced, but if previous years are anything to go by (Easy Life, Sports Team and Bristol's own Heavy Lungs are among those to have featured since 2019), attendees are in for a treat.

 

 

Upfest | Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 May

 

Celebrating Bristol's world-renowned street art scene, Upfest brings together a lineup of international and homegrown artists and graff writers to form an unmissable live exhibition.

 

After going virtual in 2020 to celebrate its tenth anniversary, Upfest was altered slightly in line with lingering Covid-19 restrictions last year, replacing their full weekend festival with a challenge for local artists to paint 75 Bedminster walls across 75 days.

 

Keep an eye on Upfest's Instagram and Twitter pages for updates regarding their 2022 return, and don't go making any other plans on the May Bank Holiday weekend!

 

 

Love Saves The Day | Thursday 2 & Friday 3 June

 

Love Saves The Day keeps tens of thousands of party-goers coming back to the Westcountry every year for its renowned weekender, and it's no surprise given Team Love's uncanny ability to marry blockbuster lineups with vibrant stage design.

 

Having spent several years in Eastville Park, the festival moved to The Downs for a one-off September event last year, and will be taking over the sprawling grounds of Ashton Court for the first time this June.

 

Celebrating their tenth birthday in 2022, the team have gone all out to put together one of their most ambitious lineups to date, featuring the likes of Bicep, Chase & Status and The Blessed Madonna alongside a raft of homegrown DJs and live acts.

 

Find all the info and browse the full lineup here. 

 

 

Bristol Craft Beer Festival | Friday 10 & Saturday 11 June

 

Returning once again to Lloyds Amphitheatre, this year's Bristol Craft Beer Festival promises to be one of the biggest and best yet, boasting more than forty brewers on-site as well as a range of food options, a top-notch musical lineup and an unbeatable summer atmosphere.

 

Alongside some of Bristol's best-loved independent breweries - think Moor Beer, Wild Beer Co, Left Handed Giant and more - the two-day festival showcases a lineup of revered and award-winning labels from across the UK and around the world.

 

Tickets for this year's Craft Beer Festival grant attendees all the beer they drink on the day, as well as access to all areas of the site and a free tasting glass to take home. Find out more and get yours here.

 

 

Bristol Sounds | Wednesday 22 - Sunday 26 June

 

Celebrated open-air concert series Bristol Sounds is making a welcome return this summer, having been unable to go ahead in 2020 or 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The first wave of acts was announced late last year, with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds set to open the 2022 series on Wednesday 22 June, before Jungle take the stage on Saturday 25.

 

Swedish duo First Aid Kit will close Bristol Sounds on Sunday 26 June, with support provided by highly-regarded, Bristol-based artist Katy J Pearson.

 

Find all the info and secure your tickets for your chosen shows here.

 

 

Sequences Festival | Date TBC

 

Rescheduled to from July to October in 2021 due to lingering coronavirus restrictions, Sequences is back in its regular summer slot this time around to bring some of the UK's finest bass-driven electronic artists back to Bristol.

 

While organisers and revered promoters The Blast are keeping their cards close to their chest at the time of writing, Sequences 2022 promises to be an all-out celebration of mind-blowing underground sounds spanning drum & bass, grime, bassline and more.

 

Huge lineups are bread and butter for The Blast, so keep eyes peeled on their Instagram page for announcements in the coming weeks.

 

 

St Pauls Carnival presents Back A Yard | June & July

 

Undoubtedly the biggest and best-loved party in Bristol, St Pauls Carnival has been unable to go ahead at full capacity since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

In the absence of the regular Carnival programming this year, organisers have unveiled Back A Yard, a two-week programme of live performances, club nights, workshops and more as part of a broad celebration of culture and diversity.

 

A full lineup of events is set to land in the coming weeks, while the Carnival team continue to work towards the return of the full event in 2023.

 

For more information on St Pauls Carnival, to find out how you can get involved this year or to follow news and updates, head to the event's website or find the team on Twitter.

 

 

Bristol Pride | Saturday 9 July

 

Bristol Pride is one of the city's biggest annual events, inviting locals and visitors alike to get involved and show support for LGBTQ+ communities as they continue to fight for equality and recognition across the UK and around the world.

 

Pride celebrations culminate in a huge Pride Day, consisting of live music performances, DJ sets and much more, usually taking place in a city centre location.

 

After the organisers were forced to move Pride online in 2020, and cancel some of their main events the following year, you can be sure they'll be back with a bang this time around.

 

Head to the Bristol Pride website or find the team on Twitter to follow news and updates regarding Pride 2022 in the coming weeks.

 

 

Bristol Beacon Presents | Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 July

 

Bristol Beacon are set to host two of their biggest live events of the year this summer, bringing two world-renowned acts to Bristol's Harbourside Amphitheatre in July.

 

Legendary recording artist Nile Rodgers has been confirmed for two live performances with CHIC on Wednesday 13 & Thursday 14 July. Expect two unforgettable shows from a band responsible for an array of hit tracks, from 'Everybody Dance' to 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times'.

 

The following night, iconic indie-pop outfit Belle & Sebastian will be taking the open-air stage for their biggest Bristol show to date.

 

A handful of tickets remain for each of the three summer shows, but are expected to sell out well in advance - find out more and get yours here.

 

 

Bristol Harbour Festival | Friday 15 - Sunday 17 July

 

Another of Bristol's biggest annual events, the Harbour Festival is adored by locals of all ages, bringing together unmissable live music performances, some of the city's leading culinary stalls, esteemed local artists and more across one sun-soaked July weekend. 

 

Truly a celebration fit for the whole family, Bristol's much-loved Harbour Festival features something for everyone, and won't be one to miss this time around as the event celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary.

 

Keep an eye on the festival's website for updates as we approach its 2022 edition.

Bristol Harbourside.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta | Thursday 11 August

 

After a somewhat subdued affair in Summer 2021 due to the effects of the pandemic, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is set to return to its usual home of Ashton Court Estate in 2022.

 

The annual event, first held in 1979, involves teams from around the UK participating in a mass ascent that has, in previous years, involved over 100 balloons at a time. 

 

Pictures of colourful, creative and eye-catching balloons soaring through the summer skies have become synonymous with Bristol, and the annual Balloon Fiesta is adored by locals and visitors alike. 

 

Find the organisers on Twitter to follow news and updates as they put plans in place for what we hope will be a full comeback in August.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Have we missed your favourite Bristol summer event(s) from this list? Let us know! Get in touch via email and we'll be happy to make any changes to this article.

 

Main Image: Ania Shrimpton @ Bristol Sounds 2019

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.