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friday 28 august 2026 22 stories · all real · bristol

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22 good things from across bristol, from the last 7 weeks. every one real, recent and linked to the local outlet that told it first.

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Twenty-five balloons light up Ashton Court for the final Night Glow

Thousands of spectators cheered as up to 25 balloons, including a sheep and a screwdriver, were inflated for the last Night Glow of this year's Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

via Bristol24/7 · 9 aug

Hot air balloons glowing at night at a previous Bristol Balloon Fiesta Photo: Fofr, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons · Archive image, 2004
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Wills Memorial Building at the University of BristolPhoto: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Health

Bristol researchers to build the world's largest menstrual health biobank

The CycleTrack study, led by the universities of Bristol and Exeter, aims to speed up diagnosis and treatment for heavy periods, endometriosis and fibroids for millions of women. BBC Bristol26 augCitywide
Southmead Hospital, BristolPhoto: Mojo0306, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Health

New series goes behind the scenes with Southmead's major trauma team

Emergency 24/7 follows staff at Southmead Hospital, placing viewers right inside the pressure of the emergency department. BBC Bristol20 augSouthmead
The staircase inside Bristol Central LibraryPhoto: Rob Brewer from Bristol, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Community

Bristol Libraries become the first in the South West named a Library of Sanctuary

The city's 26 branches have been recognised for welcoming people seeking sanctuary, from ESOL conversation clubs to library tours run with resettlement teams that help new arrivals feel part of the community. Bristol City Council20 augCitywide
Colourful terraced houses in Hotwells, BristolPhoto: Gothick, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Illustrative Community

Red Tiger finds a permanent home after St Nick's success

After a year and a half running a stall in St Nicholas Market, Hari Nathan and Previta Karthigesu have opened their Malaysian eatery on St George's Road, a space they say helps Malaysians feel at home. Bristol24/717 augHotwells
Shops at the junction on Henleaze Road, BristolPhoto: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Illustrative Business

Henleaze Garden Shop reaches 80 years of family trading

Opened by navy veteran John Stenner in 1946 and still in the family today, the plant shop between a chippy and a petrol station will mark eight decades in Henleaze this November. Bristol24/717 augHenleaze
The galleried interior of Bristol Museum and Art GalleryPhoto: Adrian Pingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Culture

Warhol, Riley and Hokusai head for Bristol in a major new colour exhibition

The Secret Life of Colour opens at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery on 24 October, bringing together art, natural history and science to explore how colour is made and what it does to us. Bristol City Council14 augCitywide

BBC Bristol28 augCitywideCulture

All four chairs turn for Bristol singer Diogo Ferreira on The Voice

The 28-year-old, who taught himself to sing and spent part of his childhood in foster care, won over every judge in the blind auditions and chose team will.i.am for the battles.

BBC Bristol21 augCitywideCommunity

Craft club offers a piece of home for women from Hong Kong

The Crafting Smiles group in Bristol is designed to bring Hongkongers together, with one resident describing the club as a piece of home.

BBC Bristol20 augCitywideYoung people

Results day smiles for thousands of students across Bristol and the West

The long wait ended as pupils across Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire collected their GCSE results.

Bristol24/720 augCitywideCulture

Sixty thousand chicken wings head for Bristol as Wing Fest returns

The touring festival of all things chicken wing is coming back to the city this autumn, with 60,000 pieces due to be served over the weekend.

BBC Radio Bristol18 augCitywideCommunity

Rating Bristol's benches, one sit at a time

Sam Wilmot, who reviews benches across the city on his Rate This Bench account, told BBC Radio Bristol the story behind the project and where to find a perfect ten.

Computer Weekly14 augCitywideBusiness

University of Bristol's Dimitra Simeonidou recognised on national tech list

The director of the university's Smart Internet Lab, and chief scientific advisor to the European Commission, appears on Computer Weekly's Most Influential Women in UK Tech longlist for 2026.

Bristol24/713 augCitywideBusiness

Vertical Aerospace lands 100 million dollars to bring its air taxi to market

The Bristol-headquartered firm has secured around 75 million pounds of new funding to keep certifying and commercialising its Valo aircraft.

Bristol City Council13 augCitywideYoung people

Ninety-four per cent of Bristol students pass three A-levels as results land

Provisional figures show 94 per cent of students achieved at least three A-levels across the city's schools and colleges, with one in eight taking three grades at A star or A.

Hot air balloons in flight at a previous Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Bristol24/77 augCitywideCulture

Seventy balloons rise at dawn as the Fiesta lifts off

Around 70 hot air balloons took part in the mass ascent on Friday morning as the 48th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta opened its free three-day run at Ashton Court.

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

The Grand Appeal3 augCitywideHealth

Twenty-five years of Bristol Children's Hospital, through Ciara's lens

A photography exhibition marks the hospital's 25th anniversary, led by Ciara, who aged four was the face of the 1995 appeal that helped build it. Collections rotate monthly until autumn.

Houses on Windmill Hill, Bristol

Windmill Hill City Farm23 julWindmill HillCommunity

Windmill Hill City Farm marks 50 years with a screen-free summer

The Bedminster farm is celebrating half a century of growing with the community, with a packed holiday programme of animals, arts, cooking, theatre and sport running to 31 August.

Solar panels on a house roof

Bristol City Leap22 julCitywideEnvironment

Community energy fund opens its sixth round of grants

Bristol City Leap's Community Energy Fund is taking applications again, backing local schemes from heat network connections to community solar across the city.

Crowds by the water at a previous Bristol Harbour Festival

Bristol Harbour Festival19 julHarboursideCulture

Harbour Festival puts the water centre stage, with Underfall Yard as charity partner

This year's free festival ran across five harbourside areas with circus and on-the-water performance, and celebrated Underfall Yard's two centuries keeping the Floating Harbour alive.

Bristol Harbour near the SS Great Britain

Bristol City Council16 julHarboursideEnvironment

Floating wetlands bring new wildlife habitat to the Floating Harbour

Two floating wetlands were installed beside the SS Great Britain and the Cascade Steps in July, a partnership between WWT, Planet Wild, Young Bristol, the council and harbour partners, giving young birds a nursery and helping clean the water.

Crowds celebrating at Bristol Pride

Bristol24/711 julCitywideCommunity

Thousands march as Pride fills Bristol with colour

Rainbows filled the city as thousands walked the Pride parade from Castle Park to the Amphitheatre in the sunshine, a Bristol tradition with roots reaching back to 1977.

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