CarFest 2026 presented by bp is at Silverstone this August Bank Holiday, and there has never been a better time to get your tickets. Unlike most festivals, where the entry fee gets you music and not much else, CarFest is seven magical festivals and one big party every evening... all rolled into one fabulous weekend. Cars, music, food, wellness, kids' entertainment, celebrity talks and so much more, all included in the ticket price
And this year, CarFest has a home worthy of its scale. Silverstone Circuit, the legendary venue that has hosted the British Grand Prix for over 75 years, is where it all happens this August Bank Holiday. The same tarmac. The same atmosphere. A whole new CarFest.
There are only 50 days to go, so here are 50 great reasons to join us.
CARS AT CARFEST
1. Watch breathtaking drift and track shows on the iconic Michelin Protyre Track, three times a day
2. Take a Grid Walk and experience the legendary Silverstone starting grid up close for the very first time at CarFest. Step out onto the same stretch of tarmac where racing history has been written time and time again, get up close to an incredible lineup of cars on the iconic start/finish straight, and stand in the same spot as motorsport legends before you. Immersive, exhilarating and uniquely CarFest
3. Explore the Michelin ProTyre Motorsport Paddock and get closer to the cars and the action than most fans ever do. Admire over 1,000 cars on display and on track, from iconic F1 cars and cutting-edge supercars to classic vintage models polished to perfection. Browse the Car Club Collective, where every vehicle has its own story and every owner has a passion to share
4. Meet the country's leading manufacturers and get behind the wheel with test drives from leading car brands across the weekend
5. Bid on something spectacular at the Iconic Auctioneers live auction. You might just drive home in something special
6. Get hands-on at The Tread Shed with Michelin and Protyre , where motoring experts share everything you need to know about looking after your car. Hear from automotive legends including Richard Hammond, Mat Watson, Petrol Ped and Dan McLaren, Neil Cole and Torie Campbell, with more names still to be announced
7. See the grand final and find out what it takes to become a Hot Wheels Legend at The Hot Wheels Legends Tour, one of the most exciting car showcases at the festival
8. Support a brilliant cause and get a dream ride in a breathtaking car with Sporting Bears Dream Rides, raising money for children's charities with brand new Safari runs on the National Circuit as well all off site rides
9. Get the little ones behind the wheel with Young Driver and Firefly , with experiences for ages 4 to 17
10. Let younger CarFesters burn off energy at The Pitstop Playground, a safe and fun space designed for little ones to play at full throttle
MUSIC
11. Sing your heart out across three nights of headline live music on The Main Stage, with more big names including Jessie J, Tom Jones, Nile Rogers & Chic, Sugababes, Rick Astley, Sophie Ellis Bextor and many more
12. Keep the party going late into the night at Club CarFest with DJs including special sets with Virgin Radio DJs Emma B and Edie, Huey Morgan and Goldierocks. Plus sets from Switch Disco, Rickie & Melvin, Jack Keating and Toby Anstis
13. Get hands-on at The Talent Lab, CarFest's creative chill-out space for the next generation. DJ workshops, songwriting sessions, filmmaking, games development and live performances from young, up-and-coming emerging artists, all in one place
14. Discover brilliant tribute acts and laid-back live sessions at The Wigwam Stage, set in the relaxed pub-garden atmosphere of the BarFest Arms
15. Dance the night away at The Silent Disco every evening, three channels, zero judgement, pure feel-good chaos
STARFEST
16. Hear jaw-dropping stories, laugh-out-loud moments and behind-the-scenes gossip from the stars of TV, comedy, film and sport at The StarFest Stage with Away Resorts with household favourites including Angela Barnes, Harriet Kemsley, Ben Miller, George Clarke, Jimmy Carr, Joe Wicks, Lee Mack, Maisie Adam, Rob Brydon and Susie Dent amongst others
17. Pull up a chair at The Author's Stage for sharp insights and brilliant storytelling from Adele Parks, Bryony Gordon, Dame Maggie Aderin, Dame Prue Leith, Ivo Graham, Lucy Porter, Marian Keyes, Patrick Grant, Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Victoria Pendleton and more
18. Know that every ticket sold this August Bank Holiday makes a real difference. CarFest has raised over £28 million for UK children's charities since 2012, directly supporting BBC Children in Need, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Rainbow Trust Children's Charity, Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, Smallpeice Trust, Starlight Children's Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Epilepsy
19. Explore the Discover Different Village with Away Resorts and experience great family focused activities including art and crafts, puppet shows, nerf gun challenges, a Landrover track challenge for the kids and a sneak peak at their winter experience!
20. Take an immersive journey through the flower fields across the globe with Prestige Flowers, and discover where different flowers are grown and their journeys from field to vase
21. Browse an incredible selection of books at the Waterstones Bookstore in StarFest and get them signed by some of your favourite authors across the weekend. The perfect literary pitstop between the action
FOODFEST WITH ŠKODA
22. Watch culinary magic unfold live at The Chef's Stage with Š koda, hosted by Briony May Williams, with Cherish Finden, Ching He Huang, Crystelle Pereira, Glynn Purnell, José Pizarro, Kwoklyn Wan, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Tom Kerridge and more rolling up their sleeves and sharing the dishes that made them famous
23. Pull up a chair at The Kitchen Table with host Mark Wogan for intimate, relaxed conversations with food and drink producers and chefs including Dame Prue Leith and Tom Kerridge
24. Watch the BBQ masters work their magic at The Big BBQ Cookout presented by Napoleon with hosts Sam and Shauna from Hang Fire BBQ, joined by Atul Kochhar, Big Nath, Cyrus Todiwala, The Happy Pear and more
25. Level up your kitchen skills at The Cook's Companion, hosted by food writer Ellen Manning, with hands-on sessions in cake making, bread baking, truffle making, BBQ rubs and more
26. Explore expert-led drinks tastings at The Tipple Tent, from craft spirits and rare whiskies to flavour-packed sessions with a story behind every sip
27. Wander through Britain's Best Farmers Market and discover exceptional artisan producers from across the country, from farm-fresh ingredients to craft drinks
28. Kick back at The BarFest Arms, the festival's own pub garden in the heart of FoodFest, with live music from The Wigwam Stage and a cold drink in hand.
SPAFEST
29. Hear from leading wellness experts at The SpaFest Stage, hosted by Alexandra Legouix, covering nutrition, women's health, mental fitness, mindset and reinvention. Confirmed names include Chemmy Alcott, Dr Rangan Chatterjee, Dr Philippa Kaye, Sally Gunnell OBE and many more
30. Drop into The Inspiration Hub, hosted by Donna Easton, for candid conversations and hard-earned wisdom from people who've genuinely been through it
31. Move, breathe and reset at The Studio with yoga, sound bathing, breathwork, strength training, laughter yoga, line dancing and more, led by Mr Motivator, Kate Rowe-Ham, Maude Hirst and others across the whole weekend
32. Slow down and get creative at The Oasis with candle making, flower crown workshops, painting sessions, macrame, bracelet making, sonic massages, vision board workshops and more
33. Treat yourself to a proper spa experience at Soul Stretch, with Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology and Roxiva Light and Sound Therapy in beautifully adorned bell tents
34. Discover The Kids Canopy in SpaFest, a calming, colourful space where little ones can explore wellness through play, from gentle movement and Susie Sloth's Playful Pilates to mindful crafts and Forest School sessions with Claire Pickman
KIDSFEST WITH CHERY
35. Join Pudsey and presenters Chris Jarvis, Darren Hart, Evie Pickerill and Naomi Wilkinson at Pudsey's Spot for a whole weekend of free, family-friendly entertainment with live shows, singalongs and interactive moments showcasing the very best of CBeebies and CBBC
36. Get hands-on with science at The Curiosity Factory, with explosive demos from Silly Science, ocean adventures at the Mares Aqua Zone, a peek inside your own body with Medical Mavericks and shark discovery with The Shark Trust
37. Take on The Champion's Ground with wheelchair rugby with Northampton Saints, golf with England Golf, Globe Trotters Crazy Golf, mini handball, gymnastics from Tees Valley and football with Sands United
38. Get creative with plenty of arts and crafts sessions at The Imagination Station with Art Lab, Gootopia, Bubble House, Tinker Town, The Event Postie and more
39. Feel the rush at The Adrenaline Arena with the Zip Line, Climbing Wall, Parkour, Blaster Battle Zone, Go Wild axe throwing and archery, and cycling with HOY Bikes and Bikeability
40. Let the little ones loose at The Play Patch with Carl the Bubble Man, free trampolining and Jazzminton, table tennis and It's a Knockout back bigger than ever
41. Met Pudsey and support BBC Children in Need at the charity stand across the weekend, pick up exclusive merchandise and find out more about the incredible work CarFest's charity partners do for children across the UK
RETROFEST
42. Dance, sing and relive your favourite decade at The Rewind Stage, brand new for 2026
43. Browse stunning classic cars from across the decades at The Classic Quarter, meet passionate owners from clubs including Simply Mustangs, the MR2 Drivers Club, Porsche 924 Owners Club and more, and hear the stories behind every one of them
44. Dig through thousands of records, CDs and music memorabilia at The Retro Record Fair, with handpicked dealers from across Great Britain and genuine collectors' finds at every turn
45. Step back into wartime Britain at Life on The Frontline and On The Home Front, two of RetroFest's most popular and vividly realised living history displays.
46. Lose yourself in arcade nostalgia at Game On, with over 1,500 games from PAC- MAN to Mario, courtesy of Corporate Amusement Services
47. Stop for tea, cake and a proper moment of calm at The Vintage Tea Room, one of RetroFest's most beloved fixtures
THE SILVERSTONE EXPERIENCE
48. Explore the award-winning Silverstone Museum with free entry included in every CarFest ticket, and discover 100 years of British Grand Prix history right on your doorstep
49. Experience the brand new karting track at Kart Silverstone, a state-of-the-art facility open for the whole family to enjoy across the CarFest weekend
50. Lace up and take on the Festival Dash fuelled by Subway on Sunday 30 August at 10am. A 3K route around the iconic Silverstone Circuit open to campers of all ages and abilities. Fancy dress encouraged, finisher medal and cookie for everyone that takes part. Sign up when booking your camping ticket or log into your account to add to your booking
50 reasons. One weekend. One iconic venue. CarFest 2026 is at Silverstone this August Bank Holiday, and tickets are on sale now. Every single one sold raises money for UK Children's Charities. The best festival weekend of the summer, and it all goes to an incredible cause.
Get your tickets now at
carfest.org 
