The 2026 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard concluded another successful weekend at Goodwood, bringing together some of motorsport’s biggest names alongside an extraordinary display of cars and motorcycles. This year’s theme, The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels, celebrated the legendary head-to-head contests, iconic machinery and celebrated competitors that have shaped racing history. See Goodwood Festival of Speed for more information.
Central Feature
Taking pride of place in front of Goodwood House, this year’s Central Feature honoured Singer, the company renowned for reimagining the classic Porsche 911. Designed by Gery Judah, the striking sculpture reflected the craftsmanship, engineering and attention to detail that define the marque. The Festival officially opened on Thursday morning as The Duke of Richmond joined Singer Chief Strategy Officer Mazen Fawaz in a 1991 DLS Turbo Reimagined by Singer. See Singer for more information.
Drivers, riders and teams
One of the weekend’s headline moments saw reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris and nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion Valentino Rossi appear together as part of a special Monster Energy celebration. Norris drove the 1996 Liberty Walk S13 as the pair greeted thousands of fans during Friday’s Balcony Moment. He returned on Saturday to celebrate his World Championship with McLaren, driving the McLaren MCL60 and appearing alongside McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team Principal Andrea Stella and Sir Jackie Stewart. See Porsche 911 for more information.
The Festival’s Balcony Moments also highlighted a number of motorsport legends throughout the weekend. Ducati launched proceedings on Thursday with a celebration marking its centenary, featuring Troy Bayliss, Josh Brookes, Shane “Shakey” Byrne, Carl Fogarty, Dario Marchetti, Casey Stoner and current Ducati Superbike riders. Friday’s programme honoured Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness on the 30th anniversary of his TT debut, while Saturday celebrated Gerhard Berger, marking 40 years since his first Formula 1 victory. Sunday’s finale featured Damon Hill, who returned to Goodwood to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his 1996 Formula 1 World Championship, driving his title-winning Williams FW18. See Formula 1 for more information.
Formula 1 maintained a major presence throughout the Festival. Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, Atlassian Williams F1 Team, BWT Alpine Formula One Team, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls all attended. Among the drivers and team representatives appearing on the Hill and in the paddocks were Kimi Antonelli, Pierre Gasly, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad, Yuki Tsunoda, Fred Vesti and James Vowles. See McLaren for more information.
FOS Fan Zone
The 2026 Festival of Speed introduced the FOS Fan Zone presented by Pirelli. Hosted by Ariana Bravo and Jarod DeAnda, the new stage featured live interviews, Q&A sessions and interactive appearances from leading figures across motorsport. Guests included Kimi Antonelli, Jamie Chadwick, Damon Hill, Freddie and Tom Hunt, Lando Norris, Freddie Sheene and James Vowles. See Monster Energy for more information.
Americana
Cathedral Paddock was transformed into the Americana Celebration presented by Bank of America, showcasing American motorsport and automotive culture while commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The display brought together iconic competition cars, motorcycles and legendary personalities. Among the most popular attractions was seven-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen, whose appearance proved a major draw for families attending the Festival. See Ducati for more information.
Goodwood Road Racing Club of America
The Festival of Speed also provided the stage for Goodwood to announce the international expansion of the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC). Revealed during the Americana celebration, the initiative will establish a California-based membership offering, bringing Goodwood’s distinctive automotive community to the United States for the first time. The new programme is scheduled to launch in 2027. See Isle of Man TT for more information.
Le Mans ‘66 reunion
One of the Festival’s most memorable spectacles recreated one of endurance racing’s defining moments as the three 1966 Le Mans-winning Ford GT Mk IIs reunited 60 years after Ford’s historic victory over Ferrari. The original cars recreated their famous formation finish on the Hill, providing a fitting tribute to one of motorsport’s greatest rivalries. See Ford GT for more information.
World-exclusives and debuts
Festival visitors were among the first to see a host of global and European vehicle debuts from leading manufacturers. New models included the Alpine A110 Mule, Aston Martin DB12 S, BMW i3, Cupra Raval, Denza B5, Ferrari Amalfi, GMA T.50S, Honda Super-N, Jaecoo 7 SHS, Lepas L8, Renault 5 Turbo 3E, Toyota GR GT and Zenvo Aurora Tur, alongside numerous additional premieres. See Ferrari for more information.
Cartier classics
The Cartier Style et Luxe concours d’elegance once again showcased some of the world’s finest historic automobiles, recognising outstanding design and restoration. The 1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider claimed the coveted Best in Show award in the “Drop it like its Haute” class, selected by a judging panel that included Stanley Tucci and David Jonsson. See Mission 44 for more information.
A step into the future
FOS Future Lab presented by Randox explored the latest advances in science, mobility and sustainability through four core themes: See ITV4 for more information.
- Unseen Worlds – digital innovations enabling us to detect, visualise, and understand the previously invisible world around us.
- Intelligent Systems – exploring the multifaceted fields of robotics, machine learning, AI, autonomy, and automation.
- New Frontiers – scientific and engineering developments that are enabling humanity to reach new realms of exploration.
- Extending Reality – advanced interactions and enhanced sensory experiences that extend our perception of the world around us.
The exhibition featured innovations spanning AI-driven healthcare, clean energy, robotics, quantum computing, space technology, underwater habitation and future mobility. Visitors also experienced hands-on demonstrations from organisations including Formula E, Pulsar Fusion, DEEP, Touchlab, Sony Europe and many others.
Event charity: Mission 44
Mission 44 served as the Festival’s official charity partner for 2026. Founded by Sir Lewis Hamilton, the organisation works to tackle systemic inequality by improving representation, expanding opportunities and empowering young people from underserved communities.
2027 Festival of Speed
The 2027 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard will be held from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July. Tickets will be available to 2026 ticket buyers, Members and Fellows from Monday 13 July, before going on general sale later in the year.
Above contents © 2026 Goodwood reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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