The lineup has been announced for the Bristol Walk Fest launch event on Friday 1 May, bringing together artists, advocates and innovators for an evening exploring the meeting of creativity and city walking.
What is the Bristol Walk Fest launch event?
The 2026 launch celebrates walking as a creative and cultural act, with an evening of guest speakers reflecting the breadth of Bristol’s arts scene. The event will be held at Hamilton House, Stokes Croft.
Who are the speakers?
Sheila Hannon, Show of Strength Theatre Company
Sheila is Show of Strength’s co-founder and one of ten finalists for Visit England’s ‘Tourism Superstar’ award, nominated by Visit West. She writes the company’s theatre walks and leads them along with associate producer Gerard Cooke.
Read Sheila’s Q&A here.
Anita Karla Kelly, Misfits Theatre Company
Anita is artistic lead at Misfits and has been working with learning disabled adults to develop their voices and create new work since 2005. Her practice focuses on collaboration, accessibility and creating space for artists who are unheard to tell their stories. Anita will be joined by Bill Loveridge and Rob Traill, both actors, poets, trainers and longstanding members of Misfits.
Read the Misfits’ Q&A here.
Hana Sutch, Go Jauntly
Hana is co-founder and CEO at Go Jauntly, a multi-award-winning walking, wayfinding and nature connection app. The app breaks down barriers to walking by helping people discover urban walks and enjoy outdoor adventures with friends.
Dr Subitha Bagirathan
Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UWE for 11 years advancing health equity in Bristol, she collaborates with Soultrail Wellbeing CIC, supporting nature-based programmes for People of Colour and leading Poetry in Nature walks.
Pre-launch walk: an evening that starts on foot
‘We couldn’t launch a festival of walking without putting on a walk too, so this is an evening that starts on foot‘
Launch event attendees are invited to join an exclusive city centre walking tour led by Show of Strength Theatre Company. Created especially for Bristol Walk Fest, the walk is led by Sheila Hannon and actor Gerard Cooke and offers a taste of Show of Strength’s walks, three of which feature in this year’s Bristol Walk Fest programme.
Walkers will get a glimpse into the Bristol of Blackbeard, Cary Grant, King Henry VII and Long John Silver, and a stop not featured on any other walk (yet) – the prison where ten Bristol women were held before being transported to Australia as convicts in 1817.
Event details
Date: Friday 1 May
Evening launch event: Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 7-9pm
Pre-launch walk: 5.30pm, starts Queen Square, ends at Hamilton House, 6.45pm (limited spaces)
Tickets: event only £5 / walk and event £10