Crowd sourced joy: Get involved and help build Show of Hands Festival

A fresh, community-powered festival is coming to the South West - and it’s taking off in more ways than one. Show of Hands, the new music and arts festival, will debut over the May Bank Holiday (Friday 22 - Sunday 24 May 2026) at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton. 

Following a successful launch in June, the festival has already crowdfunded £30,000 from its future attendees in early ticket sales. Now, Show of Hands has announced a new community-first initiative: a public voting system for everything from non-music programming to its very design. Everyone who buys a ticket can now submit ideas for workshops, activities, experiences and more to see at the inaugural event, and vote on others’ suggestions. The most popular proposals will be brought to life in the final festival lineup.

From special guests to communal storytelling sessions, pottery for beginners to sunrise yoga with views of Glastonbury Tor, the aim is to create a festival that’s shaped by the audience. 

Image - Show of Hands Festival

“This is where things get really fun,” said Festival Director Alex Lane. “Want to run a jazz improv class for beginners? Fancy seeing a dog show hosted by kids? If it fits the spirit of the festival - playful, participatory and people-powered - we’ll put it to a vote. This is about crowd-sourcing joy.”

Tickets are now on sale for sunrise and sunset hot air balloon flights from Gilcombe Farm, the festival site. Each morning and evening, a limited number of guests will take to the skies above the Somerset countryside, with panoramic views of the Mendips, the Levels and the iconic silhouette of Glastonbury Tor. Balloon ride tickets can now be purchased alongside a festival ticket over on the Show of Hands website: show-of-hands.net 

Every ticket sale directly supports the development of the festival and its grassroots model. There are no sponsors, no VIP enclosures and no corporate branding at Show of Hands, just a 2,500-capacity creative playground built from the ground up by the people who attend it.

Show of Hands will take place at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, Somerset, from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 May 2026. For updates on the event, follow Show of Hands Festival on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok.