24 things to look forward to in Bristol in 2024

If the tenth anniversary of Bristol24/7 was not enough to get excited about for 2024, we round up even more happenings across our city this year.

1. Hamilton at the Hippodrome

Hamilton is coming to the Hippodrome – photo: Hamilton

In what will undoubtedly be the theatrical event of the year in Bristol (sorry, Starter For Ten at Bristol Old Vic), Hamilton is coming to the Hippodrome from April 30 to June 22.

2. 30th anniversary of Circomedia

Circomedia is a world renowned centre for contemporary circus and physical theatre training – photo: Circomedia

Not the only anniversary this year but probably the most fun, with a gala celebration planned in the spring at Circomedia’s central Bristol base in St Paul’s Church on Portland Square.

3. Ashley Down station opening

The new Ashley Down train station is part of the MetroWest 2 project – image: TravelWest

New stations are like buses in Bristol. You wait almost 100 years and then two come along. Following the opening of Portway Park & Ride, Ashley Down is part of MetroWest 2 project.

4. Bristol Beacon shows

Classical music made a return to Bristol Beacon thanks to a sold-out performance by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in December – photo: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Following its triumphant – albeit costly – reopening in 2023, this year should see Bristol Beacon come into its own as an, umm, beacon of Bristol’s cultural life. Shows already announced include Róisín Murphy on February 11, Paul Weller on April 5 and Orbital on May 2.

5. We The Curious reopening

We The Curious used to be called At-Bristol – photo: Martin Booth

A fire on its roof in April 2022 has seen We The Curious closed since then. But it will hopefully be reopening in early 2024 following a multi-million-pound repair programme.

6. Clown Sex at the Wardrobe Theatre

Sutton Williams is an award-winning writer, actor and composer – photo: Clown Sex

Clown Sex is the critically acclaimed solo show from Natasha Sutton Williams coming to the Wardrobe in March, featuring everything from garlic-flavoured nipples to cat cunnilingus.

7. Massive Attack on the Downs

Massive Attack most recently played in Bristol at the temporary Steel Yard on Filton Airfield in 2019 – photo: Martin Booth

The biggest gig of the year is set to be Massive Attack on the Downs on August 25. The band are not only returning to home soil but are promising to put on the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged, collaborating with climate scientists and analysts from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to trial new decarbonisation measures.

8. Wake the Tiger phase 2

The experience was created to “highlight the issues, provoke ideas and suggest alternative paths that gives hope for our future” – photo: Wake The Tiger

The team behind Wake the Tiger have told visitors to expect “a complete dazzling wonder of the senses” as they announced plans to expand the immersive attraction. Dubbed the world’s first ‘amazement park’, the “mind-bending” expansion will arrive in early 2024 with the creative team experimenting with cutting-edge technology to further develop its alternate world.

9. International cricket

2023 promises a brilliant season of cricket – photo: Martin Booth

England women take on New Zealand women at the Seat Unique Stadium on July 3, while England men take on Australia men in a one-day on September 29 to round off the summer.

10. Starter For Ten at Bristol Old Vic

It will be the world premiere of the new musical based on the novel and the film – photo: Starter for Ten

The new musical will receive its world premiere at Bristol Old Vic from February 29 to March 30 as part of Nancy Medina’s inaugural season as artistic director.

11. My City by Marvin Rees

Rees’ term as mayor comes to an end in May when the committee system comes into play – photo: Bristol24/7

Marvin Rees’ autobiography, My City, is due to be published on June 30, just weeks after his term as elected mayor comes to an end and Bristol moves to a committee system of governance. Will his recently awarded OBE in the New Year Honours List make the final edit?

12. The return of the Harbour Railway

Bristol Harbour Railway was built by the Great Western Railway in the 1870s and extended in the 1900s – photo: Martin Booth

The long-awaited reopening of the Chocolate Path in 2023 could hopefully herald the reopening of the Harbour Railway in 2024, which is sandwiched between the path and Cumberland Road.

13. Hotwells tour from Show of Strength

Hotwells is bursting with history that will be brought to life by the brilliant Show of Strength –  photo: Martin Booth

One of the most fascinating but misunderstood areas of Bristol will star in the latest tour from Show of Strength, who have previously explored pirates, Bedminster and Cary Grant (who will also star in a new tour in 2024).

14. Undershed at Watershed

“Undershed feels brave, new, exciting and completely obvious for Watershed,” says chief exec Clare Reddington – photo: Jon Aitken

Exhibitions at Undershed will include film, projections, mixed reality and VR. The gallery featuring a year-round programme of immersive work will be downstairs next to Watershed’s box office.

15. Second novel from Moses McKenzie

The young author’s latest novel is sold as “a powerful story of broken dreams and divided loyalties” – photo: Fairfield High School

Following the success of his award-winning debut novel An Olive Grove in Ends, Moses McKenzie’s second novel, Fast by the Horns, will be published by Wildfire in April.

16. Hugh Bonneville to host Slapstick gala

Expect a lineup of “silent comedy classics at the Slapstick festival – photo: StudioCanal UK

Hugh Bonneville, who will reprise his role as Mr Brown in Paddington in Peru released in November, is the host of the Slapstick gala at the Bristol Beacon on February 16.

17. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

The cast of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and author Holly Jackson (with blonde hair) – photo: BBC

Based on the Holly Jackson novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – coming to BBC Three – is filmed at Bristol locations including Redmaids’ High School and Redcliffe Caves.

18. BoxHall

What BoxHall could look like if it ever opens – image: BoxHall

Will 2024 be when BoxHall finally opens on Welsh Back? The project has been beset by delays but the BoxHall team still promise a “brand-new premium food & beverage concept”.

19. Simple Things 2024

Expect to see George Riley among a host of artists at 2024’s festival – photo: Ninja Tune

The tenth anniversary of Simple Things features a packed multi-venue day and night lineup, featuring acts including Antony Szmierek, Fever Ray, George Riley and Julio Bashmore.

20. Hartcliffe Betrayed by Paul Smith

Hartcliffe Betrayed looks at the design of the estate and explores the history of some of its activists -photo: ‘Normal for Hartcliffe’

Bristol’s former cabinet member for housing grew up in Hartcliffe, which forms the focus of his new book looking at how the estate’s story reflects the fading of a post-war dream.

21. England vs Wales at Ashton Gate

Ashton Gate will play host to an array of women’s sport in 2023  – photo: JMP

The Red Roses will return to Ashton Gate for a rematch with Wales in 2024 as the stadium plays host to its first ever Women’s Six Nations fixture on March 30.

22. Tangk by Idles

‘Tangk’ is out February 16 – photo: Partisan Records

Idles describe Tangk as “a love album open to anyone who requires something to shout out loud in order to fend off any encroaching sense of the void, now or forever”.

23. Mayfest

The festival spans three weekends in May – photo: Paul Blakemore

Mayfest – Bristol’s biennial festival of contemporary theatre – returns with “vibrant and boundary-blurring context for the presentation of unusual, playful and ambitious live performance”.

24. Colston statue goes on display in new exhibition

Colston’s statue was toppled on June 7 2020 – photo: Martin Booth

Nearly two years after being removed from public view, the statue of Edward Colston is being put back on display as part of a new exhibition at the M Shed due to open in March.

Main photo: Danny Kaan

Read next:

• 12 new food and drink openings to look forward to in 2024
• Bristol’s cultural highlights of 2024
• How to get fit (and have fun) in Bristol in 2024

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