Newbury Show 2026: when and where was it?
If you love a traditional British country show like us, then the Newbury Show is certainly one to put in the diary. This year the show took place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026, at the Newbury Showground. The show opened at 8.30 a.m. with Saturday continuing into the evening, while Sunday finished at 5.00 p.m. The showground was vast, and one of the first things we discovered was that comfortable shoes were essential! There was an enormous amount to see, from livestock and equestrian events to farming machinery, countryside displays, shopping, food and live entertainment.
Organised by the Newbury & District Agricultural Society, the show retains all the traditional character of a British agricultural show while offering plenty to entertain visitors who, like us, also enjoy spending a day discovering something a little different.
Getting to The Newbury Show
Getting to the showground by car was quite straightforward, with its convenient location close to the M4/A34 interchange. There was free parking available, with a park and ride service also provided for visitors. For visitors preferring to park closer to the entrance gates, pre-booked paid parking was also available, which could be particularly convenient for anyone who wanted to minimise the amount of walking before getting into the show itself. There was also a public transport option, with the N10 show shuttle connecting Newbury Station, Newbury Wharf and the Showground. For anyone travelling by train, this provided a useful alternative to taking the car, although for those planning to stay for the Saturday evening entertainment, it would have been necessary to check the return arrangements carefully.
Tickets
Tickets were available in advance, with prices depending on when they were purchased with concessions and family options available. One thing I would definitely recommend is to buy the official show guide for £3.50. With such a large showground and so much taking place throughout the day, the guide proved really useful for finding our way around and checking what was happening when and where, meaning we could keep an eye on the timings of the events we particularly wanted to see.
The livestock were one of our highlights
One of the first areas we explored was the Livestock Building, and in hindsight I was very glad we made this a priority. It was very enjoyable viewing the cattle, sheep and pigs close up in their pens and then watching the judging taking place outdoors. This gave us a real appreciation of the agricultural side of the show and the work involved in breeding, preparing and presenting these magnificent animals.
In addition to watching the judging taking place in the livestock rings, later we saw the Grand Parade of Livestock in the main ring.
This was a wonderful spectacle, with the animals being brought together to give visitors a chance to see livestock classes presented in a grandstand setting.
Plenty of excitement in the Main Ring
There was a full line up to enjoy in the main ring with the JCB Dancing Diggers headlining the 2026 show. Watching these huge machines being manoeuvred with such precision was great fun and a real crowd pleaser. They were certainly not something we see on an ordinary day out and with performances twice in each day there was ample opportunity for everyone to enjoy the spectacle.
The Pony Club Mounted Games were another highlight. Six Pony Clubs from across the south of England competed in fast and furious racing, with ponies and riders hurtling around the course. There was plenty of excitement from the crowd as the competitors battled for every point, and the skill and teamwork on display was impressive from riders of such a young age.
We also watched the Scurry Driving, where ponies and drivers raced around an obstacle course at considerable speed. It looked exhilarating from the sidelines, but it was also clear just how much control, concentration and partnership between horse and driver were involved. It was the first time that the National championships were being held at Newbury and as they were so popular, I’m certain they will be back in 2027.
The Hounds were also presented in the Main Ring, giving visitors the opportunity to see them as part of the main programme rather than having to seek them out elsewhere on the showground.
There was more riding action in the equestrian ring, where we watched showjumping, with horses and riders tackling the jumps with a combination of speed and precision.
Hawks, Bee-keeping and a taste of the countryside
Away from the main rings, we enjoyed simply wandering around and seeing what caught our attention. The Harris Hawk display offered a very different experience. Watching these beautiful birds flying and responding to their handlers was impressive, and it was lovely to see them demonstrated at close quarters.
The Bee and Honey Marquee was another interesting stop. It offered an insight into beekeeping and the world of honey production and fitted perfectly with the show’s wider celebration of the countryside.
Shopping, food and plenty of tempting distractions
As we wandered around the showground, we inevitably found ourselves browsing the many side stalls. There was a wonderful mixture of produce, gifts, crafts, country goods and food, making it very easy to spend longer browsing than we had intended.
There were plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments too. With such a large showground, having somewhere to pause, eat and rest was important, particularly after several hours on our feet.
A comfortable break in the Members’ Enclosure
For members, the Members’ Enclosure offered a rather more relaxed way of enjoying the show. There was ringside access to two rings, comfortable seating, hot drinks, lunch and bar facilities.
After spending so much time walking around the showground, having somewhere comfortable to sit down for a while was particularly welcome. It also meant that members could continue watching the action without having to stand at the ringside. If you are interested in becoming a member, annual membership costs £62 for adults which includes free entry to the show on both days, parking and exclusive access to the Members Enclosure. For non-members free grandstand seats are available and plenty of food stands to suit all tastes.
Machinery, steam and some wonderfully traditional attractions
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Newbury Show was the contrast between modern farming and traditional rural life. The display of the latest farm machinery was impressive, with enormous tractors and agricultural equipment demonstrating just how far farming technology has developed. For anyone interested in machinery, there was certainly plenty to admire.
Then, in complete contrast, we came across the Heritage Steam Engine display, which provided a fascinating glimpse into an earlier era of agriculture and engineering.
The Forge was another memorable stop. We watched horseshoes being made and traditional metalworking taking place. Seeing the skill required to work the metal was fascinating and made us appreciate just how much knowledge lies behind these traditional rural crafts.
Then there was Lawnmower Racing. Quite simply, it was one of those wonderfully quirky attractions that could only really belong at a British country show. It attracted plenty of interest and provided some light-hearted entertainment between the more traditional displays.
The evening at the 1909 Bar
As our day progressed, it became clear that Saturday at Newbury Show was more than simply a daytime event. The 1909 Bar provided a place to relax both during the day and long into the evening, with live music and entertainment continuing until late. After a full day of animals, machinery, horses and shopping, it was rather nice to be able to sit down with a drink and enjoy some music before finally calling it a day.
Our day at The Newbury Show
What we enjoyed most about The Newbury Show was the sheer variety. In one day we had watched cattle and sheep being judged, admired pigs and livestock, cheered on pony racing, watched hounds, showjumping and scurry driving, marvelled at dancing diggers and Harris hawks, explored farming machinery and heritage steam engines and browsed food, produce and gift stalls.
Yet despite all that variety, the show never felt as though it had lost sight of its agricultural roots. The livestock and farming displays remained at its heart, and that was something we particularly appreciated.
By the time we left, we had spent a full day walking, watching, eating, browsing and discovering all that The Newbury Show had to offer. Our overall impression was that the show had managed to combine the nostalgia of a traditional British county show with plenty of modern entertainment, making it a fun day out for all the family.
Diary dates for 2027
If you’re thinking about visiting next year, make a note in your diary now as the Newbury Show will take place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September 2027 at the Newbury Showground, Priors Court Road, Hermitage, Thatcham, Berkshire. We’ll certainly be keeping those dates in our diary and hope to see you there!
We were guests of The Newbury Show and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
If you have enjoyed this post you may also like:
The Great Yorkshire Show Review
The Three Counties Show, Malvern: Ultimate Guide to the Annual Agricultural Event
Leave a comment