“That’s right folks, Upfest is back, returning to the streets of Bristol’s Bedminster area and beyond for a 17 day extravaganza of colour!” it all happens between 15th – 31st May 2026, and as it was in 2024, the festival will be on the street rather than the focus of just a weekend and the park which I guess is truer to what an actual street art festival should be, on the walls on the streets rather than, as brilliant as it was in the park, on boards that then get packed away after a weekend of painting…
“Following the successful format of 2024, we will be hosting a 17-day cultural programme throughout Bedminster, Bristol. From Fri 15th May to Sun 31st May, artists will be painting across familiar and new walls in the area; a combination of workshops, talks, panel discussions and mini-events in collaboration with local venues, for kids, adults, and artists; pop-up art shows in the gallery and beyond; walking tours; plus art battles, live small board painting and music” – all of which sounds good to us, well besides the art battle bit, art isn’t a battle (well besides the internal battle), art isn’t a competition, art isn’t a sport.
We’re promised 100 Walls, 250 Artists, 5000 free Workshop Spaces. The vibe at Upfest is always good, always welcoming, always friendly, that Bristol spirit that’s so refreshing, it is a pleasure to paint at Upfest, to get involved in all the engagement, the conversation and that massive community that the festival fosters, the friendships formed…. (sw)
More from www.upfest.co.uk
Previously… (we didn’t make it in ’24, here’s some of our coverage from ’22)
And here’s a small selection of images, including some of those #43Leaves pieces that people found all over Bedminster in 2022. Upfest is about people…
THE ORGAN 