Big Day Out returns to Principality Stadium as Bear Country takes over Cardiff for an epic double-header on Saturday, March 28th – here’s everything you need to know!
🎟️ TICKET INFORMATION
Big Day Out 2026 IS included in the 2025/26 Bristol Bears Season Ticket package, so there’s no need to purchase an additional ticket.
Season Ticket holders can claim their seat in Category A, B, C or D areas and will also be able to secure additional tickets for friends/family with a 10% discount.
Both Bears Men and Bears Women Season Ticket holders will be able to watch both games as part of the double-header at one of the world’s top rugby arenas.
Your Big Day Out tickets will be emailed to you as PDF tickets and you should expect to receive them no later than 7 days before the fixture. They will be sent by ‘[email protected]’ and please check your junk/spam folders.
Download your PDF tickets to your phone’s files ahead of time to scan at the turnstiles! This avoids any signal issues at the gate. Printing is okay, just keep the scale at 100% so the scanners can read your QR code.
Please note, if you have booked tickets in multiple transactions, you will receive your tickets in separate emails that could be sent on different days.
If you purchased your ticket through the WRU, please ensure you have opened your app before arriving at Principality Stadium as an internet connection is required to download your ticket. For ticketing support in advance of matchday please contact [email protected].
📋 MATCHDAY RUNNING ORDER
Check our full matchday schedule to plan your Big Day Out!
🏉 COMMUNITY FESTIVALS
Bristol Bears Foundation will be hosting two Community Rugby Festivals for our local clubs at Cardiff Arms Park in the build-up to the club’s highly-anticipated Big Day Out.
The festivals will bring together hundreds of young players from across the region for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their passion and talent on a famous rugby stage before the Bears men and women light up the Welsh capital.
Big Day Out 2026 will begin with a U12-14 Girls Only Festival from 10.30am, followed by a flag bearing/pitch parade opportunity for the women’s fixture at Principality Stadium, before the Foundation hosts an U8 Mixed Festival from 12pm ahead of the men’s clash.
Youngsters taking part in the Mixed Festival will also be able to form part of the Bear Run welcoming the men’s team into Principality Stadium, while all Big Day Out festival participants will receive a unique Bristol Bears gift as a reward for their efforts.
🍻 THATCHERS FAN VILLAGE!
The Thatchers Fan Village at Cardiff Arms Park is the place to be to soak up the pre-match atmosphere, with live music, DJ Sets, player Q&As and Thatchers drinks offers.
In partnership with long-time friends Thatchers Cider, the Fan Village will be the central hub for Bears supporters, serving up a full schedule of pre- and post-match entertainment just moments from the stadium.
Expect live music, DJs, special guest Q&As and all the build-up from 11.30am, ahead of Bears Women’s PWR clash (12.30pm KO).
Between the women’s and men’s fixtures, fans can enjoy a special ‘Bears Den’ player Q&A – a chance to hear from members of the squad and get closer to the action as the atmosphere builds across the city.
Supporters are invited to stay for the official after party at Cardiff Arms Park, with the entertainment continuing long into the evening in true Big Day Out style.
👋 WELCOME THE TEAM WITH THE BEAR RUN
We’re calling all Bears fans to join us on Westgate Street on Saturday, March 28th to welcome the team into the Principality Stadium for Big Day Out in Cardiff.
Supporters are encouraged to come together for The Bear Run and roar Pat Lam’s men into the stadium, creating a wall of sound and colour 90 minutes before kick-off.
The Bears squad will depart the Parkgate Hotel at approximately 2pm before making their way along Westgate Street and entering through Gatland’s Gate (Gate Four).
Line the streets and bring the noise as the squad soak up the Cardiff atmosphere, with prime viewing spots located outside Brewdog, Queen’s Vaults and Zerodegrees.
🏟️ STADIUM INFORMATION
Please arrive early to allow time for security checks and scanning your ticket at the gate.
Your waiting time will be longer if you bring a bag. Principality will not permit large bags into the stadium, only small bags and handbags allowed. No larger than 35cm x 40xm x 19cm.
Collapsible bottles up to 500ml will be permitted but must be empty at the point of entry and tops removed.
The ticket office desk is accessible via 26 steps. Ticket office staff will be available to provide support on the ground floor if required.
Please note, Principality Stadium operates a strict no re-entry policy. If you leave the building, then you will be refused access back inside.
🍔 FOOD AND BEVERAGE
See the below map for all the food and drink options available at Principality Stadium.
Principality Stadium is a cashless venue. Food and beverage outlets throughout the stadium accept card and contactless payments only.
Gluten free options will be available, please see the map below for locations.
🎶 BIG DAY OUT BEATS
In-bowl entertainment kicks off at 12pm with a set from DJ Kay Russant before former Wales international Josh Navidi returns to his former stomping ground with a very different kind of performance as he takes to the decks for a headline DJ set.
British & Irish Lion Navidi will swap tackles for turntables as he fires up the crowd inside the iconic Principality Stadium as part of the mammoth double-header of PWR and Gallagher PREM action as Bear Country takes over the Welsh capital once again.
The 33-cap international has already performed at the WRU’s Judgement Day and Wales’ Rugby World Cup warm-up clash with England in August 2023 – and now he’s dropping in for the biggest date in the domestic rugby calendar.
🍎 THATCHERS FAN PUBS
As part of Big Day Out, three official Thatchers Fan Pubs – Walkabout, The Philharmonic and O’Neills – will become home-from-home for Bears supporters, giving you the perfect base to meet friends, build the atmosphere and get match ready.
Throughout the day, these venues will be packed with Bears fans for the build-up to the big games and serving up exclusive Thatchers offers to keep the celebrations flowing.
Expect club colours, big-match energy and plenty of pre-and post-match chat.
Whether you’re starting your day there, stopping by en route to the stadium or celebrating long into the evening, these fan hubs are not to be missed.
🚍 TRAVEL INFORMATION
Here’s everything you need to know about getting to Principality Stadium in Cardiff for Big Day Out on Saturday, March 28th.
SUPPORTER COACHES
Pre-booked supporter coaches, courtesy of our partners Turners Coachways, will travel to and from Cardiff direct from Ashton Gate at 10.15am, in time for both games.
Coaches will depart Ashton Gate and arrive in Cardiff ahead of the Bristol Bear’s Women’s kick off. Coaches will depart 60 minutes after the final whistle, dropping back at Ashton Gate Stadium.
There will be an accessible coach for supporters with disabilities and limited mobility, dropping off near the Principality Stadium.
Please note, these coaches are no longer on sale and no coach tickets will be sold on the day.
PUBLIC COACHES
Many coach services that operate out of Bristol and Bath travel to Cardiff. National Express, Megabus and Flixbus all operate from Bristol with journeys into central Cardiff.
Please check their individual websites to check journey options and book tickets.
TRAIN SERVICES
Bears fans can now book their train travel to Cardiff for the Big Day Out double-header on Saturday, March 28th.
The Bears have teamed up with Great Western Railway to cater for the bumper crowd making its way to the Principality Stadium for the men and women’s clashes with Harlequins.
There will be 20 extra trains and more than 20,000 seats for Bears fans between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central but trains to the Welsh capital will be available with a seat reservation only.
Cardiff Central Station is next to the Principality Stadium so why not travel via Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway, with connecting services from surrounding areas including Yate, Yatton and Nailsea.
Fans are strongly encouraged to book for the earliest service possible to get into Cardiff ahead of the women’s kick-off at 12.30pm and the men’s kick-off at 3.30pm and allow plenty of time for their journey.
A queuing system will be in place on a first-come-first served service basis for the return trip and supporters should consider delaying their return from Cardiff Central and enjoy the party atmosphere to avoid waiting. The last train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Parkway is at 9.18pm and from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads 10.47pm.
When arriving from Cardiff Central station passengers should bear left along Wood Street for Gates 5, 6 and 7 or bear right along Wood Street to Westgate Street for Gates 4, 3, 2 continuing around to Gate 1 on Castle Street.
Another option is, Cardiff Queen Street Station which is around a 15-minute walk to get to the stadium and offers local rail services across Cardiff and from the South Wales Valleys.
FREE PARKING AT BRISTOL PARKWAY
Bears fans can get free parking near Bristol Parkway Station.
Thanks to CBRE, Lake View (formerly the Aviva Centre) off Brierly Furlong, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SW, will be open from 8am to 10.30pm for supporters to take advantage of the extra services between Parkway and Cardiff Central Station.
Entry to Lake View, which is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Bristol Parkway as per the map below, will be permitted on production of a match ticket or email proof of a match ticket purchase.
LOCAL BUSES
Principality is well connected to Cardiff and surrounding areas by an extensive public bus network.
The easiest way to plan your route is the Cardiffbus Journey Planner.
Many services across Cardiff are operated by Cardiffbus – you can find more information on their routes, timetables and fares here.
Bus routes may be impacted by road closures near the stadium, please check diversion routes and temporary bus stops by visiting Major City Centre Events – Cardiff Bus.
PARK & RIDE
The event park and ride facilities will be using the car park by Vindico Arena on International Drive in the Sports Village, Cardiff Bay, CF11 0JS
For more details on the Park & Ride service, please visit Travel advice for major events closer to event day.
ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
Many road closures will be in operation around the Principality Stadium on matchday. Please visit Travel advice for major events closer to the fixture to check updates on any road closures, planned engineering work or disruptions to car travel.
Road closures will be in operation near the Stadium with closure times starting from 11am – 8pm, please check the Cardiff Council website for more information.
For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
TAXIS & DROP-OFF/PICK-UP
Cardiff has many taxi operating services including Uber and Bolt. Fans can use these services to reach the Stadium as well as to depart post-match. A suggested drop-off and pick-up point would be at Callaghan Square, which is approximately a 10-minute walk to the Stadium.
For more information on taxi services in Cardiff, please visit Taxi Passengers.
DISABLED PARKING
Where available, The Principality Stadium reserves parking for blue badge holders.
To book this parking on a first-come, first-served basis please email the Principality Stadium’s Supporter Services team at [email protected].
Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks, please see the Parking section for more.
PARKING
There are no dedicated spectator parking options at or immediately near the Stadium. However, there is plenty of parking options in the city centre which fans can book in advance.
There are no dedicated spectator parking options at or immediately near the Stadium. However, there is plenty of parking options in the city centre which fans can book in advance.
Some options available for parking include:
Fans can also use Your Parking Space to find parking locations around Cardiff – please click here to discover more on this option. Pre-booking parking in advance of the match is advised to avoid disappointment closer to the time.
Pre-booking parking in advance of the match is advised to avoid disappointment closer to the time.
WALKING TRAILS
The easiest way to get to the Principality Stadium once in Cardiff is on foot. The Principality Stadium is a short walk from many central points in Cardiff, including:
- 5 minutes away from Cardiff Central Station
- 10 minutes away from Cardiff Castle
- 15 minutes away from St David’s Centre for shopping
- 35 minutes away from Cardiff Bay
For further information on attractions and places to see in Cardiff, please check out Visit Cardiff.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please visit the Principality Stadium travel page here: Principality Stadium | Getting Here
Alternatively check out Visit Cardiff for tips and visitor information Visit Cardiff.
