FORWARDS is a two-day inner-city music festival held on Bristol Downs, bringing international names together with established and emerging artists from Bristol and beyond. Its programme celebrates diverse, high-quality music while recognising Bristol’s long-standing identity as a music city. Designed as more than a series of performances, FORWARDS explores how metropolitan festivals can create positive change and bring people together through live music.

The festival’s wider work is centred on FORWARDS THINKING, a platform for year-round social initiatives in Bristol delivered through partners Big Team CIC and Team Canteen CIC. It also features The Information, a dedicated space for debate and understanding around current affairs and cultural issues. Together, these elements connect music and shared cultural experiences with community-focused activity and discussion.

FORWARDS presents itself as a festival “for the future,” combining a contemporary music programme with a commitment to lasting positive change. The festival has announced that it will return in 2027. Visitors can sign up for updates, and people seeking lost property can contact the organisers by email.