Club bookings are now open for the 2026 Donington Historic Festival, one of the great showpiece events in the UK historic motorsport calendar, the Festival runs from Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May, with MX-5 Owners Club members once again able to secure an adult ticket for all three days from just £22.50 – the same great price as last year.
The early bird offer is available until the end of January and includes infield parking for your MX-5, right by the Club stand.
Following another fantastic weekend in 2025 – great racing, a strong Club turnout, and plenty of time spent around the cars and paddock – we’re looking forward to doing it all again in 2026. Last year’s mix of on-track action, relaxed atmosphere, and the chance to catch up with fellow members made it a real highlight of the season, and we’d love to hear what moments stood out for you.
Expect hundreds of classic machines on track, spanning everything from pre-war Grand Prix cars of the 1930s through to endurance legends and touring cars. Multiple grids will run throughout the weekend, delivering close racing and plenty of variety, all in the unique setting of Donington Park.
One of our favourite weekends of the year, genuinely the first event my lads writes on his calender every year. Surrounded by super friendly MX-5 owners (and plenty of other great clubs…)
Parade laps always fun. I absolutely love this photo Sandy kindly took of me and my son out on track last year
We just wanted to share a quick update regarding parade laps at this year’s Donington Historic Festival.
There will now be the addition of a free parade lap at the end of each day, which all club members are welcome to take part in. There is no need to book in advance—participants can simply wait by their cars at the timings per the leaflet and follow instructions from staff.
With regards to the paidlunchtime parade laps, we have not been approached to be able to take part.
Full details and instructions for all display participants is attached and will be included in the final event information email sent out today. We just wanted to make you aware of the arrangements in advance.
The lunchtime slots are “selected only”. So is that a names-out-of-a-hat deal? Or are our cars not interesting enough?
I’m reluctant for the EOD parade. With it being free, all the yobs etc. will be out there having a bash. I can already tell there’s a risk of it being chaos.
Are “yobs” common at historic car event. These are Parade laps not open sessions
also MSV have taken over the management of this event and it is not as it was before, so the afternoon parade laps are at whatever discretion they adopt.
Didn’t stop the TT Owners Club in 2024. Overtaking everyone at 90 and them slamming the brakes on so they could floor it on the straights.
It very well could be fine. But having to pay for it turned a lot of people away. So I just get the feeling that having a free session will attract the wrong crowd. If I’m worrying about it in a car worth just under £7,000, I can’t imagine what those who bring their £250k+ cars to the show.
I suppose it would be easy to say “don’t do the parade then”, but that’s hardly the point. Or I’m just moaning. For nothing.
There’s not been a single parade lap if done at DHF that sticks to the speed limit. Good fun and I welcome the chance to drive that James Hunt for 15 seconds. But it’s still an exercise of trust with the drivers around you since car insurance is invalidated for it.
Last year was great, bringing my dad along this time.
