Category: News UK

Brooklands Museum’s 2026 Events Calendar & Grand Prix Centenary

Brooklands Concorde

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Britain’s 1st Grand Prix, held at Brooklands Race Circuit. It will be a year of celebrations, including a special event on 8 August 2026, to honour the speed, passion and heritage at the original home of British motorsport.

Alongside the centenary celebrations the Museum’s events programme is set to be as busy as ever, offering many memorable days for motoring and aviation enthusiasts and families alike.

Our ever-popular New Year’s Day Classic Gathering kick-starts the season on 1 January, the first of three Classic Gatherings in 2026. This will be followed by the Easter Classic Gathering on 4 April and later the Summer Classic Gathering and Autojumble on 26 July, where enthusiasts can peruse and grab a bargain amongst the large array of trade stands.

Witness competitive action at several events throughout the year including the Vintage Sports Car Club’s annual Driving Tests on 8 February where drivers will tackle complicated courses around the historic site. Later, the Brooklands National Autotest returns for its second year on 2 August featuring Championship drivers take on challenging manoeuvres in timed tests. And not forgetting, the Brooklands Relived – Festival of Motorsport weekend on 13-14 June that steps back into Brooklands’ hey-day. Featuring Sprints on Mercedes-Benz World track, Autotests on the Finishing Straight, Pride of Brooklands Concours, race starts and Test Hill ascents – the site will come alive with the roar of engines. Alongside the motoring action, visitors of all ages can enjoy live vintage themed music, costume and food, dancing and traditional family games, to truly reignite the spirit of Brooklands!

Another highlight for 2026 will be the highly anticipated Aviation Day, returning to Brooklands after a hiatus on 13 September, transforming the site to all things aeronautical with exciting displays in store.

As ever, Brooklands Museum will celebrate marques from across the globe including firm favourites Italian Day on 2 May, American Day on 30 August and German Day on 27 September. Furthermore, following the successful introduction of Japanese Day in 2025, it will be returning earlier in 2026 on 21 June. Explore the full range of marque specific events on the website, which will be complimented with busy trade and food stands alongside entertainment, sure to make a fun day out for all generations.

Special guests will be returning to delight our younger fans including Paddington Bear at Best of British on 25 May, which combines the best of British manufacturing alongside traditional British family entertainment. Popular children’s characters Bluey and Bingo will be joining for special guest appearances on 18 July at Working Vehicles Day, where the site will be filled with working machines such as tractors, mobile cranes, airfield vehicles and more. And the annual favourite Emergency Services Day on 19 September, gives everyone a chance to see the everyday heroes of our country as well as exciting demonstrations, together with PAW Patrol’s Skye, Chase and Marshall coming back to say hello.

Don’t miss the usual favourites, including Mini Day on 22 March, Motorcycle Day on 5 July and Motorsport Day on11 October, alongside London Bus Museum’s three popular events – Spring Gathering, 19 April, Summer Festival, 28 June and Transportfest, 18 October. Finishing the season will see the return of Off Road Day on 1 November where anyone with an off road vehicle can challenge themselves on the off road course at Mercedes-Benz World and ascend the famous Test Hill.

Tickets for the whole year are available now and there is so much more to discover in the 2026 programme. See the full calendar on the website for the planned fly ins, evening talks, club and rally meets, and get involved in the Grand Prix themed activities throughout the school holidays to celebrate this special centenary year.

With our amazing value membership you can enjoy unlimited admission all year round including a large list of events. Plus, there are a range of benefits including a members’ magazine and selected special discounts. As a registered charity and protected heritage site, a Brooklands membership goes a long way in helping preserve the original home of British motorsport and aviation, and to continue inspiring future generations.

Make 2026 memorable – fantastic days out await at Brooklands.

EXPLORE THE 2026 CALENDAR

Ready to make RIAT26 truly unforgettable?

RIAT Packages

The Royal International Air Tattoo is an awe-inspiring three-day event filled with incredible flying displays, amazing aircraft, and a fantastic atmosphere for all ages.

To help you enjoy the show in total comfort, we offer a range of enclosure options designed to give you the very best views, extra space to relax, and an upgraded experience throughout the day.

Explore our selection of premium enclosures or get in touch with our team to create a unique experience that suits you.

Start by exploring two fan-favourite enclosures below, or browse all available packages.

Explore all Packages

Exciting news for RIAT visitors!

We’re thrilled to welcome Freemans Event Partners as our exclusive public food and drink partner. 

Freemans are local to Gloucestershire and have been part of RIAT’s story since the 1970s – starting with a simple fish and chip stand at RAF Fairford. Today, they support more than 650 major event days a year, and we’re excited to bring their expertise to the world’s greatest airshow. 

With RIAT26 tickets already selling faster than ever, guests can look forward to an upgraded food and drink experience alongside next year’s Fighter Meet theme and the celebration of 30 years of our Royal status. 

We can’t wait for you to taste what’s new! 

www.airtattoo.com

Museum Scoops Silver Award

Army Flying Museum Silver Award

A glittering awards ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Brighton on Tuesday evening, saw the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire, scoop the silver award for Tourism Event of the Year for Wallop Wheels and Wings, at the Beautiful South Awards organised by Tourism South East.

The awards celebrate excellence within the tourism sector, with 75 finalists from tourism and hospitality businesses in South East England gathered for the ceremony.

This is the second consecutive year that the Army Flying Museum has reached the final of the prestigious awards and recognises the hard work the Museum team has undertaken in establishing this event on the national calendar.

Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum, Lucy Johnson said: “We are so thrilled to have been given this award which recognises the hard work that the entire team of staff and volunteers at the Museum has achieved over the last few years. Wallop Wheels & Wings is our flagship event, and we are extremely proud of how it has developed since our inaugural event in 2021. The last year has been a very special one at the Museum with us celebrating 40 year and we continue to go from strength to strength.  I am incredibly proud of all the team and to be presented with the silver award by Tourism South East was the icing on the cake.”

Fran Downton, Chief Executive of Tourism South East said: “It was a real honour to play host to such truly exceptional businesses, and the strength of the winners is testament to the incredible standards and unwavering quality of the South’s tourism industry.”

The Museum, which also won Silver in the Best Small Attraction Award last year and ‘Best Aviation Museum’ in the Airscene Awards 2023 and 2024, is most certainly getting recognised both locally and nationally, and firmly making its mark on the local tourism sector.

www.armyflying.com

How you’re supporting the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust

RIAT RAFCT

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) continues to play a transformative role in widening opportunities for young people across the UK, with its success directly powering the impact of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT).

As a not-for-profit event, RIAT generates the funds that enable the RAFCT to deliver an expanding portfolio of STEM education and skills programmes for young people broadly aged 5–25 across the UK. This has allowed the charity to surpass its ambitious goal of inspiring 500,000 young people by 2026 – achieving over 750,000 engagements more than a year early and now exceeding 780,000.

By attending RIAT, the public, industry partners and international air and space communities contribute directly to this growing national impact. The 2025 show alone welcomed more than 178,500 visitors, offering not only world-class aviation displays but also hands-on STEM experiences through the Techno Zone® and Inspire Stage. Here, young people met leading figures such as astronaut Tim Peake and explored cutting-edge aerospace technology, helping to spark curiosity and confidence in air, space, engineering, and technology.

The event’s success has strengthened the RAFCT’s ability to invest in new educational initiatives. Its latest partnership with Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) marks the charity’s first significant foray into supporting further education students through mathematics. By backing the Further Education Maths Challenge – a national programme involving over 80 colleges and 40,000 learners – the Trust is helping 16–19-year-olds build vital numeracy, problem-solving and teamwork skills. For many participants, the challenge provides a pathway to renewed confidence in maths and improved future career prospects.

Across all its programmes – from primary-school STEM engagement to national digital-safety partnerships – FE maths and flying and engineering scholarships, the Trust ensures that RIAT’s impact extends far beyond the airshow weekend. Attendance at the event directly fuels opportunities for increasing numbers and diversity of young people to explore how science, technology and aviation shape the world, helping them gain the essential skills, inspiration and self-belief to fulfil their potential. In turn, this collective effort supports the UK’s acute need for the next generation of STEM innovators, engineers and aviators.

Find out more about RAFCT

Have you got your tickets yet?

We’re thrilled to share that excitement for RIAT26 is already soaring – and so are ticket sales! With thousands of aviation fans securing their spots early, this year’s show is shaping up to be another spectacular one.

If RIAT is on your must-attend list for 2026, now’s the perfect time to book. From breathtaking aerial displays to interactive experiences, RIAT26 promises a weekend you won’t want to miss.

Lock in your tickets today to make sure you get the best availability and pricing. Once they’re gone, they’re gone and we’d hate for you to miss out on the action.

We can’t wait to welcome you to RIAT26!

Book RIAT26 Tickets

Shuttleworth Engineering Apprenticeship Applications Now Open

Shuttleworth Engineering Apprenticeships

Here at Shuttleworth, we’re keen to welcome the next generation of engineers into the industry. Our rolling apprenticeship scheme offers those with a passion for aviation the chance to work on our unique Collection.

Beginning over 50 years ago, we have seen many apprentices pass through our workshop, with many of them staying at Shuttleworth following their four-year programme.

The scheme is always heavily subscribed due to the diverse selection of aircraft within our Collection, but we’d love to ensure this opportunity reaches as far and wide as possible to ensure that candidates from a range of backgrounds can apply.

Applications for our next apprenticeship placement (starting September 2026) are now open. Apply by 2 March 2026.

Apply foe Engineering Apprenticeship HERE

Royal International Air Tattoo welcomes Freemans Event Partners as exclusive public food & drink partner

RIAT Freemans

The Royal International Air Tattoo has teamed up with fellow Gloucestershire business Freemans Event Partners to provide catering at the iconic aviation showcase.

Less than 30 miles separates RAF Fairford, home of RIAT since 1985, and Freemans Event Partners’ Head Office in Gloucester. However, when Stephen Senior and Karen Freeman first launched their business selling fish and chips in 1975, the then called ‘International Air Tattoo’ was one of the first events they attended.

Freemans Event Partners and the Royal International Air Tattoo continue to build on their long-standing success. Freemans Event Partners now supports more than 650 event days each year, while the Royal International Air Tattoo recently celebrated a record attendance of over 178,000 visitors. Tickets for RIAT26 are already selling unprecedented speed and are currently 20% ahead of this time last year.

Chief Executive Officer at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, Gavin Gager said: “We are excited to partner with Freemans Event Partners to bring a new high-quality catering offer to our visitors.

“As the leading large-scale food & drink partner for a huge range of leading global events, Freemans Event Partners is well suited to help the world’s greatest airshow to take its catering offer to new heights.”

Next year’s aviation showcase will see the event explore fast jets after announcing an operational theme of Fighter Meet earlier this year, 2026 also represents 30-years since the Air Tattoo was given its royal status, giving their guests plenty to look forward to in addition to the new food & drink offer.

Executive Chairman at Freemans Events Partners, Stephen Freeman said: “The Air Tattoo is an event our family have a long association with, starting with my family selling fish and chips at RAF Fairford in the 1970s.

“To be working with the Royal International Air Tattoo all these years later is fantastic and we are looking forward to elevating the customer experience with exciting new food & drink concepts.” If you are a trader offering catering services and would like to participate in RIAT26, contact: concessionsenquiries@freemanseventpartners.co.uk

www.airtattoo.com

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust rounds off bumper year with 15th partnership

RAFCTE Jet Launch

After record crowds descended on the Royal International Air Tattoo this year, the event’s parent charity has been able to agree a number of partnerships to help young people fulfil their potential in STEM.  

The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) is powered by the aviation showcase and has now launched a new agreement with the Jon Egging Trust, which is their 15th partner to be supported this year.  

This new collaboration will see RAFCT join the Jon Egging Trust as the Premier Partner for their Blue Skies programme in Wiltshire. The Blue Skies programme offers long-term support to young people who face barriers to engaging at school. Using dynamic STEM settings as a hook for learning, Blue Skies raises aspirations, self-belief and resilience. 

The launch event took place at Oxfordshire’s RAF Brize Norton as students from Swindon Academy worked alongside Royal Air Force personnel from the Parachute Engineering School to learn the skills involved in safely packing the parachutes used by RAF display teams. This hands-on experience not only taught technical skills but also highlighted the responsibility and leadership required to ensure the safety of colleagues in real-world RAF operations. 

Director at RAFCT, Dr Kevin P Stenson said: “The Blue Skies Programme is the perfect fit for the RAF Charitable Trust, because it supports young people to challenge themselves, re-engage with education and unlock their full potential, all using the essential skills and confidence learned from engaging with real world science, technology, engineering and maths. 

We firmly believe in the power of collaboration to increase our impact, and working with the Jon Egging Trust given its close alignment with our own mission is an exciting next step. It is also particularly important to us as the Red Arrows, of which Jon was a part, are a such a highlight of RIAT each year” 

Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life whilst displaying with the RAF Red Arrows at Bournemouth Air Show. The Jon Egging Trust was founded in his memory in 2012, and since then, over 45,000 young people have benefited from their work from across the country. 

Chief Executive Officer at the Jon Egging Trust, Dr Alex Brown said: “It was a pleasure to host the RAF Charitable Trust at our Blue Skies session in RAF Brize Norton. The session was an excellent example of how we work with exceptional partners like the RAF to deliver lifechanging impact for our young people.  The funding from the RAF Charitable Trust will be instrumental in enabling us to change the lives of young people in the communities local to RIAT, enabling them to leave school with the skills, resilience and self-belief they need to succeed.” 

www.rafct.com

Historic Aircraft Collection’s Hawker Hurricane Makes Move to Shuttleworth

Shuttleworth Hurricane

On 26 November 2025, pilot Dave Harvey flew Hawker Hurricane G-HURI into Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, where the aircraft will now reside amongst Shuttleworth’s own Collection aircraft. Staff were thrilled to welcome another Hurricane into the Collection hangars – with their own Hawker Sea Hurricane being a firm favourite with visitors.

Acquired by Historic Aircraft Collection in 2002, Hawker Hurricane G-HURI was one of the first civilian Hurricanes flying in 1989. Over the years, it has worn many schemes – including 71, 126 and 303 Squadrons – and now wears the 302 (City of Poznan) Squadron colour scheme. The squadron codes depicted are also significant in representing two Polish pilots who were scrambled out of RAF Duxford during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Flying Officer J Kowalski and Flight Lieutenant T Chlopik left the base on 15 September 1940 with only Kowalski going on to survive the war – Chlopik was killed in action later that day.

The aircraft was part of the 2005 ‘Merlins Over Malta’ project that saw it fly with Spitfire VB BM597 over Malta in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, and is due to take part of Polish Heritage Flight’s upcoming commemorative flight to Poland.

Pilot Dave Harvey, said, “We are delighted to begin this new chapter for Hawker Hurricane G-HURI at Old Warden, surrounded by the remarkable aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection. We look forward with great anticipation to our first air show season at one of the UK’s premier airshow venues.”

John Munn, Head of Engineering at Shuttleworth, said, “We are thrilled to now house this fantastic aircraft amongst our own Collection. With two Hurricanes now residing at Old Warden, we’re even more excited for the air show season ahead.”

Hawker Hurricane G-HURI is now on display in Hangar 4 of the Shuttleworth Collection – aptly named ‘Dangerous Skies’ for its celebration of iconic military aircraft. To see the aircraft, you can purchase 30-day return tickets to Shuttleworth Collection and Garden or look out for which of Shuttleworth’s 2026 air shows will feature a display from the aircraft (once confirmed) via www.shuttleworth.org.

Autumn Update at Newark Air Museum

Newark Air Museum Lightning

The recent drop in temperatures has meant that volunteers at Newark Air Museum (NAM) have been forced to reduce the amount of work being undertaken on the external exhibits around the site.

However, this was not before they were able to complete the all-important application of detailed markings on their repainted Jaguar XX829. This T2A version of the Anglo-French strike fighter training aircraft now wears the wraparound camouflage markings it once wore whilst in squadron service with 54 Squadron.

Sadly, work on the adjacent Lightning T5 aircraft, XS417 has also been suspended due to the weather, this is before the new 56 Squadron repaint could be completed. XS417 still requires the application of the detailed markings, which will be carried out when temperatures rise to acceptable levels.

Some in-depth restoration work is currently underway on the Blue Steel missile, which has been moved into NAM’s on site Workshop.

Elsewhere on site planning is underway for the 2026 restoration projects that will be resourced and implemented in the New Year.

www.newarkairmuseum.org