Bristol announces city-wide low carbon pilot for major music events in 2026

Bristol is set to decarbonise major music events in 2026 as part of a new pilot programme launched by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Bristol City Council.

The initiative follows Bristol-hailing band Massive Attack’s recent efforts to reduce carbon emissions when performing live with their ACT 1.5 project. 

The scheme will “follow Massive Attack’s lead” by cutting pollution for over 20 major music, cultural, and film & television events on council territory by establishing a clean power hub.

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Announced on Wednesday (November 12), the pilot programme promises to bring a temporary mobile power hub to Bristol with multiple clean power providers, using a "range of battery and pioneering green-hydrogen solutions”.

“Clean energy and the creative industries are both key growth sectors for us over the coming decade,” says Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England. “Next summer in Bristol, major events on council sites can follow Massive Attack’s lead by cutting pollution for live events.”

The scheme will run from May to September 2026, and can be used by a range of “high attendance” music and cultural events, as well as ongoing TV and film shoots.

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Last summer, Massive Attack performed their first Bristol gig in five years with their ACT 1.5 show, which broke a world record for producing the lowest carbon emissions at a live event.

“2026 will be the summer of plug for Bristol events, seeing in excess of 20 major events decarbonised, and an entirely new, viable model introduced,” says Mark Donne, Lead Producer at ACT 1.5.

“This is a major step of unprecedented scale and the perfect legacy of Massive Attack’s transgression - not only for the environment, but for the people who live near, work at, or go to summer festivals and events.”

Find out more about the pilot programme here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter