What's on at Bristol Harbour Festival 2025
Music, food, politics and cardboard boats - here's your guide to this year's event
Bristol's iconic harbour festival returns on Friday (17th July), with around two hundred thousand people set to visit the harbourside.
The free three-day event celebrates the city's vibrant arts and culture, featuring music, dance, circus performance, political activism and nautical history.
This year, the historic Tall Ship will be sailing into the harbour once again to entertain families.
With hundreds of acts and performers to look forward to, here's a taste of what to expect over the weekend:
Friday
The weekend kicks off at 6pm, with a performance from classic rock and blues band Daytura in the Amphitheatre, followed by Lizzie Esau and punk-trio Idestroy. The main stage finishes with pop princess Holysseus Fly.
Deaf Rave DJ will start the show on the Expression Stage, with sign song artists playing a mix of genres to get the crowd dancing.
The Gaffe Comedy Club will be hosting a busy line-up of stand-ups from 7:30pm, with Amelia Hamilton launching her debut comedy album ahead of her Edinburgh Fringe set.
Saturday
Saturday's celebrations start all guns blazing with the Pyronaut opening the festival at 11am. Powerful water cannons on Bristol's former fire-boat will launch the day on the water.
Bristol schools will be taking part in cardboard boat races throughout the day, and the Royal Marines will entertain the crowds with a demo at 2:30pm.
Circus performers will be taking over the family area on College Green throughout the day. There'll also be fun workshops and baby races!
The Bristol Rising stage on Queen Square will celebrate local talent, with headliners Jus Now treating crowds to Carribean carnival music from 9:15pm.
The Dance tent will open at 11:30, with lively sets throughout the day, finishing with a St Pauls Carnival Takeover.
Over on the main stage, The Allergies - a duo of DJ Moneyshot and Rackabeat - will be lighting up the dancefloor in the headline slot.
Sunday
The UK's most-streamed folk band of 2024, The Longest Johns, will be returning to their Bristol home to headline the Amphitheatre on Sunday. Their set starts at 18:45.
The Rising Stage will treat crowds to sets from Frau Nima, Moxie Dolls and YŪNGOLD.
Conversations on allyship, climate and trans rights take place on the Expression Stage with Diverse Artist Network, Good Law Project and Bristol Legacy Foundation. Talks include award-winning and BAFTA nominated Ella Morgan and a Q&A with Carol Vorderman.
Socasise will close the Dance Tent with a high-energy fitness workshop, combining soca and dancehall at 6:15pm.
Getting to the festival
Festival organisers are encouraging visitors to use public transport to get to the harbourside, with town expected to be far busier than usual.
Buses will run throughout the day to the city centre and Temple Meads station is a 15 minute walk away.