By Lenny Osler, News Editor
October 10, 2026 will commemorate a century and a half since the opening of University College Bristol, the current institution’s predecessor.
The University is running more than 30 public events across campus, including guided tours, interactive exhibits, and family friendly activities. All events will be free to attend, with most being unticketed.
The occasion will be a chance for the University to flaunt its latest investment - the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC) - which cost £500 million, according to the BBC.
Highlights of the day will include talks from researchers working on the Children of the 90s study - a 30-year ongoing research project on the health of parents and children in Bristol.
A talk will be held by Professor Bruce Hood, author of The Science of Happiness - a book which helped develop the University’s first year optional module of the same name.
Prof. Oliver Johnson will give a lecture exploring the role of mathematics throughout the University’s history, exactly 150 years on from University College Bristol’s first ever lecture.
An outdoor exhibition in Royal Fort Gardens will feature artwork depicting the early history of the University, alongside live music and a recital from Sukina Noor, the current Bristol City Poet.
Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, Prof. Evelyn Welch, said:
‘Our 150th anniversary is a moment to reflect on the people, partnerships and ideas that have shaped the University since its foundation in 1876, while also looking forward to the future we will build together.
‘We are proud of our deep roots in Bristol and of the positive impact our students, staff, alumni and partners continue to make locally and globally. We look forward to welcoming the public to join us in celebrating this milestone.’
Featured image: Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus / University of Bristol
