Bristol Beacon hands over the stage to young people from across the city for a takeover festival featuring 500+ performers

Fusion Fest  to take over Bristol Beacon with two days of live music, mass participation, immersive performances and workshops on Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 July 2026

Bristol Beacon is handing over its stages to the city’s young people this summer, as more than 500 performers take part in a brand-new, youth-led music festival spanning orchestral premieres, immersive choral experiences and venue-wide takeovers.

Taking place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, the two-day festival, Fusion Fest will see Bristol Beacon taken over by emerging artists, youth groups and large-scale participatory projects. The festival look, feel and name has been designed by the organisation’s Youth Advisory Committee. 

Created by young people, for audiences of all ages, the festival showcases the depth and diversity of Bristol’s next generation of talent, from genre-spanning orchestral collaborations and mass choral performances to hands-on workshops, DJs and late-night sets.

Highlights include Live and Loud: Symphonic Sessions (7pm, Saturday 4 July), a 100-strong youth ensemble premiering brand-new orchestral arrangements of original music by emerging Bristol artists in a powerful, genre-crossing performance. On Sunday evening, Choral Soundscapes: An Immersive Experience (6:30pm) will see more than 200 singers from Bristol Youth Choir and alumni transform Beacon Hall into a fully immersive environment, culminating in the world premiere of a new work by composer Anna Appleby, inspired by Bristol itself. Earlier that day, Massive Come and Play with National Children’s Orchestras (9am) invites over 200 young musicians aged 7-11 to take part in a large-scale workshop, ending in a free public performance in  Beacon Hall.

Across the weekend, the festival will fill Bristol Beacon with activity, including interactive workshops, family-friendly craft sessions and performances on the Soundbites Stage, spotlighting school bands, inclusive youth music groups and emerging local artists. An evening afterparty featuring Bristol Youth Studios and special guest Lady Nade will round off the celebrations.

Adam Kent, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Creative Learning & Engagement  at Bristol Beacon said: “We’re handing the keys of the building to young people. This festival puts them at the centre – not just as performers, but as creators, curators and collaborators. It’s a bold showcase of the creativity, ambition and diversity of Bristol’s next generation and a chance for audiences to experience the venue in a completely new way.”

The festival is a key part of Bristol Beacon’s vision following its major reopening in 2023, placing young people and future talent at the heart of its programme. It has been shaped by the venue’s Youth Advisory Committee, with local secondary school students also gaining hands-on behind-the-scenes experience as part of their work placements.

Find out more and book tickets for Fusion Fest