Since our first festival in 2008, it has always been free to register for an artist space, and for visitors to attend and every year we do our absolute best to keep it that way.

With your support Upfest will return in 2026 as a 17-day cultural programme with 250 new artworks being painted across the 2 weeks. Upfest will pop-up at multiple venues across Bedminster and wider BS3 with free to attend workshops, live painting, artist talks, arts activities, panel discussions, tours exploring the area and Saturday music and art battles at the Tobacco Factory.

Not only will you receive your chosen reward, you'll be entered into our draw for some fabulous summer festival tickets from our friends at Valley Fest & Pride, we'll be in touch if you're successful. 

Artists will be invited to paint large scale murals on buildings throughout the area, with a schedule available for visitors to pop by and see their progress. They will also take part in Tobacco Factory takeover each Saturday, talks and panel discussions about their work, visitors and artists alike will be invited to curated events at venues in Bedminster and beyond.

We’re not an ‘invitation only’ festival. Anyone’s welcome to apply to be a festival artist and we give as many people as possible the opportunity to paint. We’re always humbled that so many artists want to take part.  In return, they get a fantastic platform for their work, the opportunity to develop and come together with other artists, which often leads to new partnerships and collaborations.

The festival also contributes to the local economy and the quality of life in the community that extends way beyond the festival weekend.

Whether you can donate £5 or £250 your contribution will make a real difference to how many artists and free activities and workshops we can host.

The Team

Upfest is made up of three staff members, two directors, twenty five year-round key volunteers and another sixty-plus helping out over the festival period… these are some of the most dedicated and hardworking people going and we couldn’t do any of this without them.

Thank You

Big UP to everyone that pulls together to make Upfest possible, from the artists who travel under their own steam from across the globe, to our sponsors and supporters who massively contribute to hosting our free festival, and to Colin Moody for the video and especially our ninja crew of volunteers, we love you all...