8 of the best upcoming car events and festivals

The best UK car events and festivals in 2026

TL;DR: What are the best UK car events in 2026?

From the hillclimb spectacle of Goodwood Festival of Speed to the gloriously ordinary at the Festival of the Unexceptional, 2026’s UK car event calendar has something for every petrolhead.

Whether you’re after historic racing, concours elegance, or a full family festival weekend, there’s no shortage of reasons to get your diary out and pencil in some fun.

If you’re a car enthusiast looking to make the most of your summer weekends, these eight upcoming car events and festivals are must-sees

Whether you want to experience the thrill of historic racing with a vintage fashion twist, fancy a spot of glamorous car-spotting at a palace, or have a more unexceptional taste in cars, there’s something for every motoring fan.

Get your diary out and your tickets booked.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

When: 9-12 July 2026

Where: Goodwood House, West Sussex

How much: From £78 per person

Founded in 1993 by Lord March to bring motor racing back to the historic Goodwood Estate, the Festival of Speed has become the ultimate celebration of motorsport past, present and future.

The centrepiece hillclimb sees everything from historic F1 cars to the latest hypercars tackling the famous course, while the Supercar Paddock showcases the most desirable road-going supercars money can buy.

The Future Lab is where you’ll spot prototype flying cars and autonomous vehicles that look like they’ve driven straight out of a science fiction film.

Don’t miss the First Glance Paddock, where manufacturers often choose to reveal their latest models to the world for the very first time. Plus, the Red Arrows will be putting on an aerial show that’ll have you looking skyward.

BRDC Classic

When: 24-26 July 2026

Where: Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire

How much: From £20 (Friday) and from £40 (weekend day)

The spiritual home of British motorsport turns back the clock for a weekend of historic racing that spans nearly a century of competition.

Shaped by the British Racing Drivers’ Club – whose members include some of the world’s most accomplished drivers – the BRDC Classic is as authentic as historic motorsport gets.

The headline grid, GP Icons, brings Formula One’s most evocative decades back to life on the track, from 1960s pioneers to the turbo monsters of the ’80s. Alongside it, Endurance Icons and GT3 Legends channels the spirit of Le Mans.

Grids ranging from pre-war sports cars to Formula Junior complete the racing portion of the event, filling out a programme that spans the full breadth of racing history.

Off track, there are driver Q&As, an Iconic Auctioneers sale featuring over 150 collectible cars, and the Silverstone Museum on the doorstep for anyone who wants to keep the history lesson going.

Festival of the Unexceptional

When: 25 July 2026

Where: Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire

How much: £25 per person

Tired of supercars and hypercars?

Fed up with million-pound rarities that most of us could never afford?

Bored of seeing incredibly fast cars go incredibly fast in circles?

The Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional is here to celebrate the cars that actually matter – the ones we all remember from our childhoods.

This brilliant event turns the traditional concours on its head by celebrating the ordinary cars from 1971 to 2001 that were everywhere when they were new, but are now surprisingly rare. Think your dad’s company car, your driving instructor’s trusty hatchback, or that neighbour’s motor you secretly admired.

The Concours de l’Ordinaire features around 50 carefully selected vehicles competing for the title of most ordinary, while the general car park becomes a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

It’s refreshingly honest motoring, celebrating the cars that kept Britain moving.

British Motor Show

When: 21-23 August 2026

Where: Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, Hampshire

How much: From £27.50 (if booked before June)

Billed as the ‘Greatest Show on Wheels’, the British Motor Show has established itself as the go-to event for motoring enthusiasts since launching in 2020.

The Showroom puts the latest models from leading brands under one roof, while the Supercar Paddock delivers the dream machines. The Live Arena serves up drift displays and stunt shows for those who like their cars at full throttle, while Lowered and Loud celebrates custom builds and modified classics.

Fancy getting behind the wheel?

The Ride and Drive zone lets you do exactly that, from family favourites to cutting-edge EVs.

And the Festival Fields brings live music, street food, and fairground rides into the mix, so even the least car-obsessed member of your group will have a brilliant time.

CarFest

When: 28-30 August 2026

Where: Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire

How much: From £91 for an adult day ticket, or £240 for a three-day adult camping ticket

CarFest is where music meets motoring in the best way possible.

Founded by Chris Evans in 2012, this family festival raises funds for children’s charities – including BBC Children in Need, Young Epilepsy, and the Teenage Cancer Trust – while delivering an unforgettable weekend of entertainment.

Now taking over from the Silverstone Festival at its spiritual home, the event brings over 1,000 cars to the iconic circuit, with drag, drift and track shows running across the weekend.

The paddock gives you close-up access to everything from classic F1 machinery to the latest supercars, while FoodFest, KidsFest, and a packed live music programme mean there’s something for everyone. The 2026 lineup includes Jessie J, Tom Jones, Rick Astley and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

And, over the last 13 years, CarFest has raised millions for UK children’s charities.

So yes, you can gawk at a supercar or bop to some live music while ticking off your good deed for the day.

Salon Privé

When: 2-6 September 2026

Where: Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

How much: From £60 per person

Think Royal Ascot, but with cars instead of horses.

Now in its 21st year, Salon Privé at Winston Churchill’s birthplace is the epitome of automotive elegance.

Five delicious days on the South Lawn of Blenheim Palace, where the UK’s only professionally judged multi-marque concours draws some of the rarest cars in the world.

Wednesday and Thursday host the Concours d’Elegance, Friday is Ladies’ Day (complete with Best Hat competition), and the weekend opens up to over 1,000 privately owned sports and hypercars.

Fair warning on the dress code: No shorts and t-shirts here. Best hats, smart trousers, and elegant dresses galore!

Concours of Elegance

When: 4-6 September 2026

Where: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

How much: From £71 per person

Set in the stunning gardens of Hampton Court Palace, the Concours of Elegance brings together 60 of the world’s rarest cars – many making their UK debut.

What makes this event a bit different is that there are no judges.

Instead, the car owners themselves vote for the Best of Show.

The Levitt Concours on Saturday celebrates cars owned and driven by women, in honour of Dorothy Levitt (the Edwardian racing pioneer dubbed the Fastest Girl on Earth), while the Thirty Under 30 gives younger enthusiasts a stage of their own.

The weekend closes with the Grand Depart: 60 cars firing up their engines and leaving the palace gardens together.

A spectacular end to a spectacular weekend in the spectacular sunshine (we hope).

Goodwood Revival

When: 18-20 September 2026

Where: Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex

How much: From £84 per person

The Goodwood Revival is motorsport theatre at its finest – the only historic race meeting staged entirely in period dress.

Step back to the glamour of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s as the Goodwood Motor Circuit comes alive with the sights, sounds and styles of motorsport’s golden age.

The 2026 theme is La Dolce Vita. Think mid-century Italian style, passion and romance woven through the entire weekend, raising the fashion bar even higher than it already was.

Eight races on Sunday make it the most action-packed day, with overall winners crowned in the St Mary’s Trophy for 1960s saloon cars and the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy for motorcycles.

Between races, explore the vintage fun fair, catch a film at the drive-in Revival Cinema, or admire the aircraft display.

Get moving with your next lease

Whether you’re inspired by the cutting-edge technology at Goodwood’s Future Lab, the classic elegance of Salon Privé, or the high-octane action at Silverstone, there’s never been a better time to get behind the wheel of something special.

Our personal car leasing deals put you in the driving seat of your dream car without the hefty price tag.

Then there's electric car lease deals that’ll have you driving silently into the future, SUV lease deals that turn every journey into an adventure, and saloon lease deals that deliver comfort and style in equal measure. Truly, something for everyone.

After all, life’s too short for boring cars.