The Festival of Nature returns from 6-14 June, hot off record-breaking temperatures in May and making its clearest ever commitment to empowering citizens to take nature recovery into their own hands.

With over 180 free events taking place across Bristol and Bath, this year's festival aims to equip the public, from children and young people to pensioners, with the knowledge and skills to become active agents in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss in their local communities.

This year a stronger focus on hands-on activities sees the first-ever 'How To' tent constructed in Millennium Square. This will host a range of citizen science workshops and activities from creating wildlife-friendly gardens to building mini wetlands.

The 2026 festival will coincide with the launch of the West of England's State of Nature report, offering the strongest evidence to date on biodiversity and nature in the West of England. The festival will also give visitors the chance to learn more about the Western Forest, a new national forest spanning Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol and Somerset, which will plant 2,500 hectares of woodland and 20 million trees by 2050. 

Savita Willmott, chief executive of the National History Consortium, said: "Record temperatures in May have again emphasised the urgent need for us all to take action to protect the natural world.

"We're opening up new ways for people to feel empowered to experience nature and build crucial skills – as well as to learn more about the wonders around us from the hidden life of trees to nature at night.

"There really is something here for everyone, whether it's your first festival or twenty-third." 

This year's Bristol highlights

Trees and woodlands are the running theme of the programme – from ancient oaks to urban street canopies, and this year the UK's largest free celebration of the natural world will explore the vital role trees play in supporting human, climate and wildlife health.

At the heart of Bristol's Wild Weekend (13-14 June) in Millennium Square, a new 'How To' tent will, for the first time, create a dedicated space to give visitors the chance to build practical skills for supporting nature. Led by experts from organisations including WWT and Avon Wildlife Trust, sessions will cover everything from creating wildlife-friendly gardens and building mini wetlands to identifying birds and mammals. Wild Weekend will also feature workshops from CBeebies presenter Andy Day.

In another festival first, 'Nature at Night' will invite audiences to experience the natural world after dark. Events include a night-time safari at Redcatch Community Garden, featuring UV wildlife exploration and night-time photography, alongside a woodland foraging walk in Stoke Park and an evening eco-poetry workshop online.

Elsewhere, 'Pride in Nature' (6-7 June) at WWT Slimbridge will celebrate the diversity of the natural world with queer ecology walks, drag queen story time and a silent disco. Community-led events around the region will inspire visitors to connect with nature, channel their creativity and learn new skills. 

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, said: "From the Avon Gorge to the Severn Estuary, from the Cotswolds and the Mendips, we are rightly proud of some incredible nature across our region. 

"The Festival of Nature is a brilliant celebration of that local pride – bringing people together through an inspiring and engaging programme, and showcasing once again why the West of England is recognised nationally and internationally for our environmentalism.

"Our new State of Nature report will be another key milestone in the region's continuing work. As the new Western Forest is planted and as people take part in our Wildlife Index to count regional wildlife, nature, climate resilience, and clean energy are at the heart of our ambitious ten-year Growth Strategy."

Now in its 23^rd year, the Festival of Nature has grown from a single-site event in Bristol to a major cultural moment across the West of England, attracting more than 30,000 visitors each year and inspiring similar events in cities like Manchester and Oxford.  

All events are free and accessible to all, but advance booking is recommended and donations are welcome to support the charity's activities. The full programme and ticket information is available at www.festivalofnature.org.uk.