# Upfest

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Annual street-art festival in Bristol, England

Upfest 'The Six Sisters' mural project on North Street, Bedminster, with the festival's gallery seen on the centre-right of the image Status Active Genre Street art, graffiti Frequency Annual (biennial since 2023)[1] Locations Bedminster and Southville, Bristol, England Years active 2008–present Founders Stephen Hayles and local artists Attendance c. 50,000 (pre-2020 estimates)[2] Area c. 30,000 ft² painted surfaces (2015)[2] Budget ≈£250,000 (2024)[1] Organised by Upfest Website www.upfest.co.uk

**Upfest** is a [street-art](/source/Street_art) and [graffiti](/source/Graffiti) festival held in the [Bedminster](/source/Bedminster%2C_Bristol) and [Southville](/source/Southville%2C_Bristol) districts of [Bristol](/source/Bristol), [England](/source/England). Since its founding in 2008 by Stephen Hayles, it has grown from a one-day event by twenty artists to what is described as Europe's largest street-art festival.[2]

Upfest also curates a spin-off event called **Weston Wallz** in nearby [Weston-super-Mare](/source/Weston-super-Mare), [Somerset](/source/Somerset), commissioning large-scale murals in the town since 2021.[3]

## History

The festival was founded by printer and gallery owner Stephen Hayles as a not-for-profit venture to raise funds for the children's charity [NACOA](/source/National_Association_for_Children_of_Alcoholics_(United_Kingdom)). By 2011 Upfest had attracted more than 250 artists and donated £15,000 to the charity.[4]

A peak was reached in 2015, when 250 artists from 25 countries painted 30,000 ft2 of wall space over three days.[2] The festival traditionally centred on North Street and the nearby [Tobacco Factory](/source/Tobacco_Factory); larger editions extended into [Greville Smyth Park](/source/Greville_Smyth_Park).

The 2021 edition was postponed due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom), and was replaced by the "75 Walls in 75 Days" project.[5] The Weston Wallz event was also established at this point, later becoming a permanent event.[6] In 2024 "Upfest Presents" hosted more than 100 international and UK artists over seventeen days;[7] roughly half of the £250,000 budget was provided by [Arts Council England](/source/Arts_Council_England), the remainder through sponsorships and crowdfunding.[1]

## Format and programming

Upfest ordinarily combines live mural painting with music, exhibitions, panel discussions and street-art tours. Programming is curated but non-juried, and participation remains free for artists. Since 2023 the main gathering has alternated with "Upfest Presents", a two-week distributed programme across multiple Bedminster venues, introduced to curb rising infrastructure costs while retaining free public access.[1][8]

### Weston Wallz

Since 2021,[6] Upfest has curated Weston Wallz. Originally launched as a modest mural trail, the event has grown into a major event in the town,[9] delivering more than 75 permanent murals to date.[10] The festival spans a week each July, featuring live mural painting by international artists.[11][12] Locations have included seafront landmarks and historic town-centre buildings such as the [RNLI](/source/RNLI) Gift Shop, Oxford Corner Café, and Old Post Office Lane.[12]

Alongside the painting programme, the festival includes the "S.M.Art Sprayjam" and workshops at the [Italian Gardens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_Gardens,_Weston-super-Mare&action=edit&redlink=1), promoting engagement among young people and families.[10][9] Co-creation initiatives with local youth are also supported by partner organisation Super Culture.[10] The project is jointly backed by [Weston-super-Mare Town Council](/source/Weston-super-Mare_Town_Council), Arts Council England, and local sponsors.

## Impact and reception

Commentators highlight Upfest's role in establishing Bristol as ‘‘the home of British graffiti’’[4] and in supporting emerging street artists alongside figures such as [Inkie](/source/Inkie), Jody Thomas and [Thierry Noir](/source/Thierry_Noir).[2][7] Local authorities credit the festival with contributing to cultural tourism and urban regeneration in [BS3](/source/BS3_postcode_district). Stephen Hayles received a letter from [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom) [Theresa May](/source/Theresa_May) in 2017 in recognition of his work as part of Upfest and its charitable contributions.[13]

## See also

- [See No Evil](/source/See_No_Evil_(artwork)), another street-art festival held in Bristol, Europe's largest when it was held in 2011, and partly organised by Upfest staff.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-B247_2024_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-B247_2024_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-B247_2024_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-B247_2024_1-3) Perera, Milan (17 May 2024). ["Upfest returning to south Bristol"](https://www.bristol247.com/festivals/news-festivals/upfest-returning-to-south-bristol/). *Bristol24/7*. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2015_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2015_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2015_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2015_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2015_2-4) Devine, Matt (27 July 2015). ["Upfest 2015: Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival – in pictures"](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2015/jul/27/upfest-2015-street-art-graffiti-festival-in-pictures). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Weston Wallz to make a splash as world-class artists create spectacular sea-nic views"](https://wsm-tc.gov.uk/weston-wallz-to-make-a-splash-as-world-class-artists-create-spectacular-sea-nic-views/). *Weston-super-Mare Town Council*. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TIB_2011_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TIB_2011_4-1) ["Celebrate home of graffiti"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110810153942/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Celebrate-home-graffiti/story-12655804-detail/story.html). *Bristol Evening Post*. 2 June 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Celebrate-home-graffiti/story-12655804-detail/story.html) on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Bristol street festival Upfest postponed until 2022 because of Covid"](https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-05/bristol-street-festival-upfest-postponed-until-2022-because-of-covid). *ITV News*. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) ["Weston Wallz is Back!"](https://superculture.org.uk/listings/weston-wallz/). *Super Culture*. Retrieved 2025-05-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_2024_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_2024_7-1) ["Upfest street art series announces 2024 line-up"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68787347). *BBC News*. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Dhame, Sofia (2024-04-10). ["Upfest 2024: full lineup announced"](https://www.bristol247.com/culture/art/upfest-2024-full-lineup-announced/). *Bristol24/7*. Retrieved 2025-05-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BristolPost_2025_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BristolPost_2025_9-1) Hughes, Lorna (26 May 2025). ["Weston-super-Mare street art festival returns with 75 colourful murals taking over town centre"](https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/weston-super-mare-street-art-10196916). *Bristol Post*. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mercury_2025_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mercury_2025_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mercury_2025_10-2) Roberts, Jack (23 May 2025). ["Popular street art event Weston Wallz to return in July"](https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/25182680.popular-street-art-event-weston-wallz-return-july/). *Weston Mercury*. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bristol247_2022_11-0)** Anderson, Sarski (22 July 2022). ["Weston Wallz street art festival returns"](https://www.bristol247.com/culture/art/weston-wallz-street-art-festival-returns/). *Bristol24/7*. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_2022_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_2022_12-1) ["Street art spreads across town as Weston Wallz returns"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62284689). *BBC News*. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Pipe, Ellie (2017-08-24). ["Prime minister awards Upfest founder"](https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/prime-minister-awards-upfest-founder/). *Bristol24/7*. Retrieved 2025-05-28.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Upfest](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Upfest).

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