Latest News (Bristol) - Visit West

Bristol Airport is preparing for another busy Easter weekend with 150,000 customers passing through the terminal to meet family and friends or enjoy a spring break. The Airport will also see visitors coming into the country to explore the South West and South Wales as well as return from a break away, with the busiest flights arriving from Poland, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

VisitEngland has today, 24 March, announced the winner of its Tourism Superstar 2026 competition with Mick Hurst from Worcestershire’s Battle of Evesham historical events and re-enactments taking this year’s crown.

The Diverse Artists Network (DAN) is thrilled to announce the programme for DIASPORA! 26 is now live. Following the success of the 2024 pilot, this landmark festival has doubled in length, returning from 1–10 May to spotlight the incredible creative diversity of the region.

Kids Go Free is coming back again for the Easter school holidays, giving free bus travel for a fortnight to around 150,000 kids aged under 16 across the West of England. 

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project has officially planted some of the final trees in an ambitious three-year effort to restore and diversify woodland impacted by ash dieback. Over 9,000 trees have now been planted at Forestry England’s Westonbirt, The National Arboretum.

Bristol’s hoteliers hope 2026 continues in the way it has started as Easter approaches, which traditionally marks the start of the holiday season.

Spike Island is pleased to announce the dates for Open Studios 2026, offering free behind-the-scenes access to its 80,000-square-foot arts space over a vibrant weekend of exhibitions and events. The hugely popular annual event will take place from 1–3 May 2026.

UPFEST will launch its 2026 programme with Quakers Art Lane in Quakers Friars, a new permanent outdoor street art gallery delivered in partnership with Cabot Circus.

A new podcast from Show of Strength Theatre Company exploring Bristol’s hidden history of pirates, crime and punishment launches this month - revealing the extraordinary true stories behind the city’s past. 

Bristol Zoological Society’s Royal Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will make a special visit to Bristol Zoo Project on 17 March, ahead of the public opening of the site’s major new African Forest habitat on 1 April.

Theatre Manager & Artist Development Producer for Bristol’s The Wardrobe Theatre, Aisha Ali, was recognised as a local theatre hero at The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals. 

The Underfall Yard Trust has announced the opening of the ‘Underfall Showtime Ticket Raffle.’