Forwards Festival | Bristol announces lineup for 2025

The Bristol-based festival will take place over the August bank holiday weekend, 23-24 August, with five headliners.

Barry Can’t Swim and Ezra Collective will headline the Saturday, with Doechii, Jorja Smith and The Last Dinner Party taking to the stage on Sunday. Other names announced include Confidence Man, Orbital and English Teacher, who won the Mercury Prize. The latter three will perform on 23 August. Sunday will also feature Olivia Dean, Moonchild Sanelly, Fabio & Grooverider, and The Outlook Orchestra.

This will be the festival’s first stint on the August bank holiday, and it will take place at its regular location at Bristol Downs.

Past events have seen LCD Soundsystem, Charli XCX, Little Simz, Erykah Badu, Self Esteem, Jamie xx, and Aphex Twin perform.

Here’s what you need to know before tickets for Forwards Festival 2025 are released!

What’s the 2025 lineup?

Saturday, 24 August – Barry Can’t Swim / Ezra Collective / Confidence Man / Orbital / Mount Kimbie / English Teacher / Happy Mondays / Katy J Pearson / Ishmael Ensemble and The Rituals Orchestra / Mermaid Chunky.

Sunday, 25 August – Doechii / Jorja Smith / The Last Dinner Party / Olivia Dean / Moonchild Sanelly / Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra / The Silhouettes Project / Alemeda / Snapped Ankles.