What you can see first on Thursday at the 2026 Festival of Speed

The Central Feature is revealed  

Something that always stops you in your tracks at the Festival of Speed is sight of the Central Feature, the huge sculpture that rises into the skies above Goodwood House. This annual centrepiece has honoured some most famous brands in motorsport since its inception in 1997, with Ferrari being the first marque to celebrated with a Gerry Judah design. Recent years have seen the likes of MG and Gordon Murray be featured, and in 2026 the spotlight falls on Singer, the Californian brand known for its reimaginings of the Porsche 911.  

This towering tribute commemorates nearly two decades of Singer’s pursuit of automotive excellence, from its earliest restorations to some of its most ambitious creations, and it will be officially unveiled for the first time on Thursday morning. It is one of those unique moments that really kicks off the event, and a dazzling reminder that the Festival of Speed is as much about spectacle and atmosphere as it is about the machines themselves.

New cars revealed

Year on year the Goodwood Hill welcomes a host of the very latest models, and while they’ll be present as part of the First Glance batch over all four days, there can only be one debut. Thursday at the Festival of Speed is the day these new cars will be seen up close and in action for the very first time.

In 2026, that means an extraordinary mix of fresh arrivals, from Denza’s UK launch line-up of the B5, D9 and ultra-powerful Z9GT, to Renault’s crowd-pleasing electric newcomers including the retro-inspired 4 E-Tech electric ‘plein sud’, the dramatic Renault 5 Turbo 3E and the cheerful Twingo E-Tech electric, plus the European debut of the astonishing 3,042PS Yangwang U9 Xtreme. With so many headline reveals and dynamic debuts packed into day one, Thursday gives you the first and best chance to see the future of the car industry up close and before anyone else. 

Ducati celebrates its centenary

One of the most iconic names in motorsport, Ducati turns 100 in 2026 and is celebrating this milestone with a huge presence at the Festival of Speed. Motorcycling royalty will take to the balcony of Goodwood House on Thursday, legends including Casey Stoner, Carl Fogarty,  WorldSBK stars Alvaro Bautista and Nicolò Bulega and many more will greet what’s sure to be an adoring crowd in a toast to Ducati's century old legacy and more than 50 world titles.

Thursday is the focal point of the festivities, but it will be a feast of Italian engineering over all four days of the event. Ducati’s new Collezione 100 — a limited-edition collection of ten bespoke bikes adorned with liveries inspired by the brand’s most memorable machines — will be on display at the Festival of Speed, the only place they’ll be seen together outside of Italy. A truly unmissable sight, whichever day you're attending, Ducati's presence at this year's event is set to be a high-octane tribute to motorcycling’s ultimate flagship brand. 

Tickets for the Festival of Speed are limited. Only Thursday admission remains but hospitality packages for all four days are available. Missed out on a ticket for Friday or Saturday? Find out how you can access our sold-out days with one of our new packages.

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, joining the Fellowship means you can save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoy a whole host of other on-event perks.  

Photography by Pete Summers and Jordan Butters.