Weird and wonderful traditions coming up in the west in 2026

From tumbling down hills after cheese to racing homemade contraptions, the West Country’s calendar is packed with events as eccentric as they are beloved.

Crowds come from far and wide to be a part of the weird and wonderful traditions that make our region unique.

“These special events draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area, boosting our local visitor economy which is worth more than £2.7bn to the West of England and supports 43,000 jobs,” said Kathryn Davis, CEO of Visit West.

Here is a round-up of the wackiest traditions in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire that are waiting to be celebrated in 2026.

Each spring, daredevils hurl themselves down the near-vertical slopes of Coopers Hill, chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese.

The centuries-old contest is notorious for its bruises and broken bones, yet competitors return year after year, determined to be crowned winner and take home the cheese wheel.

“[The event] gives Gloucestershire a unique identity that people recognise and celebrate across the UK and beyond,” said councillor Lisa Spivey, leader of Gloucestershire County Council.

Nature provides its own spectacle with the Severn Bore, a tidal surge that sends a wall of water rushing upstream.

Surfers and kayakers flock to ride the wave, as wellie-wearing spectators gather along the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire to catch a glimpse of the action.

“These wonderful traditions give Gloucestershire a distinctive character and help keep the county firmly on the map”, added Ms Spivey.

Europe’s largest ballooning event sees hundreds of hot air balloons lift off over Bristol in August.

Mass ascents take place at Ashton Court at dawn and dusk, while the “Night Glow” sees tethered balloons inflate and glow in sequence to music.

Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “[The fiesta] sits proudly amongst the highlights of Bristol’s world-renowned events calendar, a showcase for our city’s heritage of ingenuity, enterprise, and curiosity.”

Creativity takes flight at Bristol’s Birdman contest, where participants launch themselves off the harbourside in homemade flying machines.

The challenge, which came to Bristol for the first time in 2025, will be returning again in 2026.

Each September, Bath transforms into a scene straight out of a Regency novel for the Jane Austen Festival.

Fans of the author wear period costumes and take part in parades, dances, and talks celebrating Austen’s life and works.

The Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, which has been running since 1847, is a yearly procession of illuminated carts and costumed performers.

It attracts people from across the country – and overseas – to the Somerset town which is transformed into a blaze of light and colour.

When the longest day arrives, thousands gather at Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor to welcome the sunrise.

In 2025 a record-breaking 25,000 people gathered at the monument to watch the orange sun rise from behind it.

Crowds also gather at Glastonbury Tor each June, which is regarded as one of the most spiritual sites in the UK.

Competitors sprint up and down the steep Gumstool Hill over the late May Bank Holiday carrying heavy sacks of wool on their backs—a nod to Tetbury’s historic wool trade.

The event, which dates back to the 1970s, draws crowds from across the UK, with categories for men, women, and even children.

“These events both enhance the reputation of the place as images are shared by media and social channels across the world and add real ‘visit now’ moments for people whether locally, nationally or further afield,” Ms Davis, of Visit West, said.