Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026: What to Watch For
By the Editors · Published 28 June 2026
The Goodwood Festival of Speed returns to the Duke of Richmond's West Sussex estate from 9 to 12 July 2026 for what will be the 33rd running of an event that, in three decades, has grown from a modest hillclimb gathering for friends of the family into the most ambitious celebration of motoring culture anywhere in the world. More than 200,000 visitors are expected across the four days. Over 600 cars and motorcycles will run the 1.16-mile course past Goodwood House. For the serious collector, it remains the single most concentrated week of significant machinery in motion on the annual calendar — and for the editors of this title, it is the event we plan the rest of the summer around.
The 2026 theme
The Central Feature outside Goodwood House — Gerry Judah's annual sculpture commission — honours 75 years of Aston Martin in international motorsport, marking the marque's 1951 Le Mans class victory through to its current Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship campaigns. Expect a strong Aston paddock across the four days, with the DBR1, DBR4 and a representative selection of the works racing cars confirmed to run on the hill.
Manufacturer debuts
Goodwood has, over the past decade, quietly supplanted the traditional European motor shows as the venue at which manufacturers choose to debut their most significant new road cars. The 2026 edition is expected to be no exception. Confirmed new-car appearances at the time of writing include the production-specification Ferrari F80, the first European running of the Bugatti Tourbillon and Aston Martin's Valhalla in customer-delivery form. The McLaren and Lamborghini stands are both understood to be holding announcements for the Thursday morning press session.
The Cartier Style et Luxe concours
Held on the lawn in front of Goodwood House on the Sunday, Cartier Style et Luxe remains the most stylistically adventurous concours in the British calendar. The 2026 classes are reported to include a celebration of coachbuilt Maseratis from the 1950s, an assembly of competition-prepared Porsche 911s spanning the 2.7 RS through to the current 992 GT3 RS, and — most intriguingly — a one-off class for cars designed by Marcello Gandini, marking the second anniversary of his death.
Historic racing on the hill
The Goodwood hill is the rare place in modern motorsport where cars that would otherwise live behind ropes are driven, in anger, by drivers who know what they are. The 2026 timed shootout entry list is not yet final, but the supporting cast confirmed so far includes the 1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 driven by Stirling Moss at the 1955 British Grand Prix (now permanently in private hands following its 2024 RM Sotheby's sale), a 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV, and the ex-Vic Elford Porsche 908/3 from the Targa Florio.
The Future Lab and the Forest Rally Stage
The Future Lab continues to expand each year and is now genuinely worth the walk across the estate. The 2026 edition includes hydrogen-combustion prototypes from two major manufacturers, advanced battery research demonstrations and, for the first time, a public display of solid-state cell technology from a tier-one Japanese supplier. The Forest Rally Stage — the most spectacular part of the site for those willing to walk — runs a full rally programme on Friday and Saturday, with works WRC machinery from the 1980s Group B era well represented.
Practical notes
Friday remains the connoisseur's day — the same access as the weekend with markedly smaller crowds. The Drivers' Club enclosure offers the best paddock proximity if you can secure tickets. The most underrated viewpoint is the bank above Molecomb corner, where the hill narrows and the cars are working hardest. Car parking is well organised but the M27 and A3 routes both back up significantly from mid-morning on Saturday and Sunday — early arrival is rewarded. Public transport via Chichester and the festival shuttle remains the most efficient option.
Tickets are always in high demand and typically sell out months in advance. We recommend visiting the official Goodwood website early in the year to secure admission before the most popular days are gone.