More than 36,000 visitors packed Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre over the weekend for three days of new car debuts, live action and show-stopping displays.
Hampshire became the centre of the UK motoring world over the weekend as The British Motor Show 2026 brought together the latest new cars, electric vehicle technology, supercars, classics, modified motors, live arena entertainment and hands-on experiences under one roof. Across the weekend, visitors had the chance to explore more than 1,000 cars on site, with manufacturers, clubs and specialist exhibitors showcasing the breadth of the automotive world. More than 1,000 test drives took place across the weekend for Ford, Tesla and BYD.
New car debuts and headline displays at The British Motor Show
A major highlight was the arrival of three UK car debuts: the LINKTOUR Alumi, BYD Ti-7 and AION UT. Their appearance reflected the show’s position as a platform for consumer launches and automotive innovation.
Halo cars on display featured Zach’s Garage’s Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut and Lamborghini Miura, in addition to a Formula 1 display of Michael Schumacher’s first Ferrari, the 1996 Ferrari F310, the Jordan EJ12 once driven by acclaimed Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato, and the Alpine A526 F1 car. Universal Pictures celebrated 25 years of its legendary Fast & Furious franchise with a special display featuring exclusive replicas of two iconic vehicles from the blockbuster film series, the Dodge Charger from Furious 7 and the stunning gold Lamborghini Gallardo featured in Fast X.
Celeb hosts and live arena action
The show’s host line-up brought together familiar faces from across motoring, television and live entertainment, including Grace Webb, Helen Stanley, Tim Shaw and Sam Hard, alongside stunt-driving favourite Paul Swift, young racing talent Oscar Stockley-King and grassroots drifter Taylor Clark of RFLX.
Paul Swift, RFLX, Team Maximum Lock and Jonny Davies wowed crows with their daily stunt shows and drifting showcases in the Live Arena, sponsored by Bridgestone, in partnership with KwikFit, while Grace Webb and Helen Stanley captained this year’s car football teams, hosted by Kevin Harris.
Car culture, clubs and hands-on experiences
Car culture was also out in force, with 40 car clubs displaying vehicles throughout the venue. From cherished classics to custom builds and enthusiast-owned favourites, the club displays helped create a festival atmosphere and gave visitors plenty to discover between the headline attractions.
Ride & Drive experiences included Drift Limit passenger rides, a Monster Truck experience, Young Drivers lessons and Mini Rovers, while The Grid offered visitors a chance to go head-to-head with Alpine Sim Racing.
Family entertainment and discovery zones
The Lego Group & Smyths Toys Live Stage offered a chance for families to immerse themselves in the world of LEGO® and take part in a variety of challenges and live demos that sparked the imagination. The next generation was invited to the Discovery Garage, sponsored by Draper, for interactive exhibits, hands-on STEM activities, and creative workshops that make engineering and technology exciting.
Festival Fields added a relaxed, family-friendly break from the high-octane show action, with live music stage and tribute performances celebrating Status Quo, Robbie Williams, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, as well as original music from JAMROKI, joined by singer Ophelia, Rascal Raves and singer-songwriter Jemima. The area also featured fairground fun and the British Army Village, where visitors could try interactive games, see military vehicles and take on challenges while learning more about future careers.
Wrap Championships returned
The weekend also saw the return of the Wrap Championships, sponsored by Avery Dennison. Reigning champions Prestige Graphics successfully defended their title, taking the win for a second consecutive year and adding another crowd-pleasing moment to the packed programme.
A successful show for visitors and exhibitors
With strong attendance, high-profile debuts and hundreds of vehicles for fans of every age to enjoy, The British Motor Show once again underlined its position as one of the UK’s standout automotive events.
Andy Entwistle, CEO of The British Motor Show, said: “This year’s show proved once again that the UK has an incredible appetite for accessible, family-friendly motoring events. From major new car debuts and packed test drives to live arena action, car clubs, music and hands-on attractions, the weekend brought together everything people love about cars in one place. We’re hugely grateful to our exhibitors, partners, hosts and visitors for making it such a memorable success, and we’re already looking forward to building on that momentum in 2027.”
Save the date for 2027! The British Motor Show will return 20-22 August 2027.
