Goodwood Festival of Speed – 2026
Festival of Speed 2026 at the Goodwood Estate
From 9 to 12 July 2026, the Richmond family’s estate in West Sussex once again becomes the largest playground in the motorsport world. Along the famous 1.16 mile (1.86 km) Hillclimb in front of Goodwood House, Formula 1 cars, MotoGP bikes, rally legends, Le Mans prototypes, dragsters and classic motorcycles take their runs one after another — a mix that exists nowhere else on the planet.
The festival was founded in 1993 by Charles Gordon-Lennox, today the Duke of Richmond. What started as a small event for historic vehicles has grown into the world’s biggest motorsport garden party. According to the organiser, more than 600 cars and motorcycles covering the full history of motorised competition take part over the four days.
The 2026 theme: “The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels”
Goodwood puts the greatest rivalries in motorsport history centre stage. Under the banner “The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels”, legendary duels from all disciplines are set to come back to life — from Formula 1, MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship to the WRC, FIA World Endurance Championship, NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula E. Champions and challengers from several decades will be assembled around the Goodwood Estate.
For motorcycle fans this usually means that legendary Grand Prix and Superbike machines are brought back on track by their former riders, complemented by current MotoGP and WSBK bikes from the works teams. The full line-up is traditionally announced shortly before the event.
The Hillclimb and the wider festival site
The heart of the festival is the Hillclimb: a narrow, 1.86-kilometre course across the estate, lined with straw bales and a densely packed crowd. Competitors run individually against the clock rather than in classic races. Around this central feature, a network of supporting attractions covers the whole site:
- Hillclimb Paddock – open pit lane with close access to riders, drivers and machinery
- Supercar Paddock – current production models and new launches
- Forest Rally Stage – a special stage through Goodwood Forest featuring WRC and rally classics
- Cartier Style et Luxe – concours d’elegance with rare cars and motorcycles
- Goodwood Action Sports – BMX, FMX and stunt shows aimed at a younger audience
Tickets and prices
Friday, Saturday and Sunday day tickets as well as four-day passes for the 2026 Festival of Speed are now sold out. Currently only Thursday tickets remain available via the official Goodwood website. Under-12s go free at all Goodwood events, and discounted rates are available for visitors aged 13 to 21. Members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) additionally receive ten per cent off tickets and grandstand passes as well as priority access to hospitality packages.
Grandstand tickets provide access to twelve fixed stands along the Hillclimb. The Roving Grandstand Pass allows holders to switch between all twelve public grandstands throughout the day. In addition, the official Festival of Speed campsites traditionally open from midday Wednesday until midday Monday.
Schedule and programme
Thursday (9 July) is traditionally the “Moving Motor Show” day, with demonstration runs by current production cars and prototypes. From Friday to Sunday, the classic festival programme takes over with Hillclimb runs, the Sunday shoot-out, parade laps and support shows. According to the organiser, the detailed schedule will be released “closer to the event” and will be added here once published.
Travel and location
The Goodwood Estate lies in West Sussex, around an hour’s drive south of London and some six kilometres north of Chichester. Access is mainly via the A286 or A285. During the festival, Goodwood runs shuttle buses from Chichester railway station and operates designated parking areas on site. Visitors from mainland Europe can use the Eurotunnel to Folkestone (approximately two hours’ drive away) or the ferry into Portsmouth (half an hour west of Goodwood).
Event key facts
Event: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
Theme: The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels
Dates: 9 to 12 July 2026
Location: Goodwood Estate, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Hillclimb length: 1.16 miles / 1.86 km
Timezone: Europe/London (BST, UTC+1)
Website: goodwood.com
Note: The detailed schedule and official line-up for 2026 will only be published by Goodwood in the weeks leading up to the event. Details will be added as soon as they are officially confirmed.
