UPFEST reveals Saturday Sessions art and music lineup for free Bristol courtyard takeovers

Bristol is about to become a hub of art and creativity, as UPFEST, Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival, returns this month - and the next shade to its canvas comes in the announcement of some local sonics that'll be serenading the artists each Saturday.

The Saturday Sessions at Tobacco Factory Courtyard are day-long artistic takeovers featuring live painting, art battles, DJs, and family fun in the Yard, as well as a dedicated Upfest exhibition throughout the Cafe Bar and Snug. Landing on the 16th, 23rd and 30th May, these are guaranteed highlights in the festival’s packed programme.

With music curated by long-time UPFEST soundscaper DJ Cridge, the sessions each bring in a fresh rotation of artists and DJs into the courtyard, keeping that same crossover of sound and street art culture at the heart of things, with lineups for each Saturday now announced. 

Find more information on each Saturday Session, and find out more about UPFEST 2026 - HERE

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Kicking things off on Saturday, 16th May, the first session features Common Ground ft. Diggz, Becky Morgan, Peter D, Black Wax Solutions, MD Jnr, Sip the Juice, Lynx B2B Sir Beanz OBE, Craig D Brown, ChunKE & Phoxy, Gemski, Andy Sonar, and Hugo.

The second session lands on Saturday 23rd May, with Mike Shawe & Deli G, Suv presents Ramp Up, Benji Prime Time Crew, Jonny Dee, Kali Mist & Costly Kover, SUSANSLEGPOLICY, and an X-Amnt showcase featuring Bunjy, Kickback & Kayla Kelley.

Closing things out on Saturday, 30th May, the final session brings Origin One B2B Rukus B2B A:Sine, Jamie Anderson & Cridge, Vinyl Junkie, Jim Charlton, The Backroom, Graham S, Lee Pattison, and Will Somers to the courtyard, rounding off the series in style.

The sessions offer a slightly different way to experience the art, less wandering, more settling in, with a steady flow of music, art and energy throughout the day. It’s the kind of setup that lets you dip in for a few hours or stay locked in from start to finish.

All of this sits within the wider Upfest return, which sees over 300 artists create more than 120 murals across a 17-day programme from 15th–31st May, spanning Bedminster, Southville and new locations across the city.

Alongside the large-scale works, the festival also brings a packed schedule of creative workshops, live painting and community-led projects, with artists from across the globe contributing a mix of graffiti, muralism, illustration and experimental styles.

Elsewhere, Quaker's Art Lane at Cabot Circus launches as a permanent outdoor gallery featuring new works from HazardOne, Melo, Insane51, My Dog Sighs and Inkie, to name a few. Add in Scale-Up opportunities for artists to work at a larger level and a youth-led project in Hartcliffe, and it’s clear Upfest's reach goes far beyond the walls themselves. A must-visit if you live or find yourself in Bristol later this month. 

Find out what other raves are happening in Bristol - HERE

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