Simple Things Festival 2026

Simple Things Festival returns to Bristol on Saturday 7 November for its twelfth edition, a city-wide celebration that spreads boundary-pushing music and contemporary culture across several venues rather than keeping it under one roof. This time it's presented by Crack Magazine, Bristol Beacon and Team Love, and it runs from 12:00 across the Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew, Rough Trade, The Island and Shredenhams.

The big change this year is the introduction of guest curators. Squid, Shabaka, Jeremy Deller and Cobrah each program their own selection of artists, so a good chunk of the bill is shaped by their particular tastes. Around those curated pockets, there's a wider bill of established and emerging names: The Avalanches, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Olof Dreijer, Moor Mother, Cloud Nothings, Alewya, Hannah Diamond, Big Brave, Gold Panda, Mykki Blanco, PVA, Nathan Fake and caroline, plus Bristol artists and emerging acts. It's a broad spread that pulls from electronic, experimental and indie, so you can build your own day across the different stages.

Because it's spread across the city rather than held at a single site, you'll be moving between venues throughout the day. The line-up is a mix of big names and smaller, newer acts, and the guest curators give you a way to follow a specific thread through the bill if that's how you like to do it. It's a long day that starts at midday, so you've got plenty of room to see as much as you want.

Tickets are £75.46, and entry is restricted to over-18s. The festival kicks off at 12:00 on Saturday 7 November across the Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew, Rough Trade, The Island and Shredenhams.