• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Wednesday January 7 2026

Interactive balloon glow gives lift to Bristol Light Festival

World-renowned balloon-maker Cameron Balloons is to bring an interactive night glow to this year’s Bristol Light Festival.

Their brand-new installation, The Lite Series, will bring the city’s ballooning heritage to life in a vivid, interactive artwork that celebrates Bristol’s craft and creativity.

Situated on College Green, the world premiere installation will transform a cluster of illuminated hot air balloons into a responsive landscape of light, sound and play.

Visitors will be invited to fire each balloon by pulling a simple cord, triggering a burst of colour and a resonant whoosh inspired by a real burner.

As more people take part, the balloons glow brighter, sound bigger and build a shared spectacle which, say organisers, “celebrates the collective joy at the heart of the festival.”

Cameron Balloons has been central to Bristol’s identity for over fifty years, creating more than 9,500 balloons that have flown across the world.

Debuting at Bristol Light Festival 2026, The Lite Series marks the first public unveiling of this new collaboration between Cameron Balloons and the festival’s creative director Katherine Jewkes, reimagining ballooning as an accessible, immersive experience for everyone.

Jess Siggers, marketing manager at Cameron Balloons, said: “Bristol’s skyline has been shaped by our balloons for generations, so we’re thrilled to bring that heritage back down to earth in an entirely new way for Bristol Light Festival.

“The Lite Series invites everyone to feel the magic of ballooning up close. It’s playful, it’s interactive and above all, it celebrates the engineering and imagination that Bristol is famous for.”

Creative director of Bristol Light Festival, Katherine Jewkes, said: “Cameron Balloons is such an iconic part of Bristol’s story and reimagining their craftsmanship through light and play has been a joy.

“The Lite Series captures the magic, warmth and wonder of ballooning in a completely new way, inviting audiences to fire the burners themselves and become part of the spectacle.

“It’s a celebration of Bristol’s creativity, brought to life by one of the city’s most beloved makers.”

Bristol Light Festival is organised by Bristol Business Improvement District. The 2026 light festival is the first mjor event to take place since Bristol’s city centre BIDs came together to form a single Bristol BID, representing over 1,000 businesses across Broadmead, Redcliffe & Temple and the wider city centre.

Over the next five years, the unified BID will invest around £5.75 million into events, placemaking and culture.

Anna Farthing, interim head of place at Bristol BID, said: “Our newly unified Bristol BID is committed to championing creativity within every sphere of business and bringing memorable and meaningful moments to the city centre.

“The Lite Series is a shining example of how partnerships between Bristol’s extraordinary makers and our cultural organisations can transform public spaces and support the evening economy.

“We’re proud to help bring this extraordinary installation to College Green for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Bristol Light Festival 2026 will run nightly from 5pm to 9.30pm between Thursday, February 19 and Saturday, February 28.