NoFit State Circus: CARNATION 2026, Bristol

What it’s like

Big Top circus show in central Bristol, about two hours with a 20-minute interval, and a family ticket that softens the price.

This is a proper Big Top show, not a fairground sideshow, running around two hours with a 20-minute interval in the middle to get everyone to the loo and back. The tent's fully accessible for wheelchair users, and there's an accessible toilet on site, so mobility isn't the barrier it can be with travelling shows.

Tickets are £28 full price, £18 concession for over 65s, under 16s, students and the unwaged, and a family of 4 comes in at £72 as long as you've got at least one adult and one child under 16 in the mix. That's a fair chunk of money for an evening out, but the group discount is worth knowing if you're going with a bigger crowd: get ten people in one booking and one ticket's free.

There's no paper ticket to lose. You get a hand stamp on arrival instead, as part of their environmental policy, so just give your booking name and number of tickets at the door. The box office on site opens an hour before curtain up and will sell you tickets on the day if there are any left, though turning up on spec for a family show feels like a gamble worth avoiding.

It's a central Bristol spot, so the bus gets you close and Temple Meads is a 25-minute walk if you fancy the train. Parking on site is first-come, first-served on unpaved ground, which is fine until it's been raining for a week, and there's on-street parking and Cabot Circus car park as backups. If anyone in your group has additional access needs, get in touch before you go rather than sorting it on the night, there's free carer seats and reserved accessible seating but they need advance notice.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

First-come, first-served audience parking on site (unpaved), on-street parking available locally, Cabot Circus Car Park nearby

How long to allow

Roughly 2 hours including a 20-minute interval

Wheelchairs

Big Top tent fully accessible for wheelchair users, accessible toilet on site, reserved easily-accessible seating for limited mobility

Dogs

Guide dogs welcome if visually impaired audience member informs box office in advance

Getting there by bus or train

Central Bristol location, well-served by bus (many routes on Bond Street, central Bus Station 14 minutes walk away)

Worth knowing

Family of 4 package at £72 requires at least 1 adult and 1 child (under 16)

• Bring nothing to swap for a ticket, it's a hand stamp on entry, not a paper ticket
• Group of 10 gets one ticket free automatically when you add them to the basket
• Guide dog owners should let the box office know in advance if visually impaired
• Carer seats are free but need to be booked by phone, not online

Plan your visit

See all Circus & Street Performance in Bristol · Things to do in Bristol