The first-ever Bristol Light Festival illuminated the city centre from Thursday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2020 and saw 100,000 people interact with and enjoy city centre spaces filled with colour and light.

The event is the first of a three-year series and is designed to make the city more enjoyable for residents, attract visitors and boost the economy during a traditionally cold, dark and quiet month.

The City Centre BID has appointed two acclaimed Bristol-based creative directors – Katherine Jewkes and Vashti Waite – to build the festival into an internationally recognised event over the next three years and forge partnerships beyond the city. We are also leading a Light Festival partnership that includes Bristol City Council and the University of the West of England (UWE)’s Digital Cultures Research Centre, which has secured a £15,000 grant to evaluate the wider impact and benefits of this event on the city, helping to inform its development.
Katherine Jewkes, Bristol Light Festival co-director
…we have curated a group of fantastic local and international artists who all embody the playful and creative spirit of the city.