Explore Bath: Bath Carnival

Date

11 Jul 2026

Time

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Price

FREE

Location

Aquila Court

Turn up the summer

A day of colour, music, and non-stop celebration in the heart of Bath.

Get ready for a day full of colour, music, and celebration. Bath Carnival is here! Join us for one of the most exciting events of the summer and experience the city at its most vibrant.

Whether you’re a pre-sessional student just arriving or a postgraduate who’s spent the year in Bath, this is your chance to come together, explore something new, and soak up the festival atmosphere.

We’ll kick things off at Party in the Park in Sydney Gardens, where you can enjoy live bands, DJs, great food, licensed bars, and a buzzing crowd all day long. It’s the perfect place to relax, dance, and spend time with friends old and new.

Then we’ll head into the city centre to catch the Carnival Parade, expect drumming bands, dancers, giant puppets, colourful costumes, and high-energy performances that bring the streets to life.

Come along, celebrate together, and make the most of summer in Bath. This is not one to miss!

ResLife Ambassadors will be ready to meet you in the Aquila Court Social Space by the reception desk from 12.30pm. You’ll be able to recognise them wearing a light blue t-shirt or hoodie with the ResLife logo on.


If you prefer to arrive earlier, there is plenty of seating available in the social space. The group will leave Aquila Court at 12.40pm, so please make sure you are ready to leave and have joined the group by this time.


The walk into town is around 15–20 minutes at a relaxed pace. It’s a great chance to chat with others and get into the carnival spirit before the festivities begin. 


Our group activity will finish at 4:00 PM, but you're welcome to stay and enjoy more of the carnival on your own if you’d like — there’s lots to see and do into the evening!

At this event you’ll get to step into one of Bath’s most exciting annual events!


The carnival includes:

• Lively street parades with music, dancers, and colourful costumes.

• Live performances from local and international artists.

• Food stalls offering a variety of global cuisines and sweet treats.

• Pop-up markets, art installations, and interactive spaces throughout the city.


You’ll have plenty of time to explore the carnival at your own pace. Whether that’s enjoying the parade, grabbing some food, or just soaking up the atmosphere with friends.


We suggest you bring with you:

• Comfortable shoes for walking

• A refillable water bottle

• Weather-appropriate clothing (make sure to check the forecast ahead of time).

• Some money if you’d like to buy food or souvenirs.

If you would like to attend more events like this one, make sure to check the ResLife Events page regularly for our latest updates.

For more ways to connect, you can see events hosted by the SU here, as well as information on societies and how you can join.

Please note:

We have photographers and film-makers at some of our events to capture footage to share online and for use in future promotional materials. If you don't want to be featured, please inform a member of the ResLife Team.

Want to know more about this event? Get in touch

Email: reslife@bath.ac.uk

Instagram: @unibathreslife