The Royal Bath & West Show 2026 returns to Shepton Mallet this week, bringing three days of animals, farming, food, live music, countryside displays, shopping and family activities to the Bath & West Showground.

The show takes place from Thursday, 28 May to Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the showground on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary.

Gates open at 9am each day. The show closes at 6pm, although music in the Pilton Tent will continue later than 6pm on Thursday and Friday, with bars and food stands staying open.

Tickets, maps and full visitor information are available from the official Royal Bath & West Show website.

When is the Royal Bath & West Show 2026?

The Royal Bath & West Show runs from Thursday, 28 May to Saturday, 30 May 2026.

It is held at the Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN.

The showground is on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary. It is around 25 miles from Bristol and 20 miles from Bath.

Key times:

• Gates open: 9am each day
• Trade stands close: 6pm
• Show closes: 6pm
• Pilton Tent: open later on Thursday and Friday for music, food and drinks

What is on at the Royal Bath & West Show?

The Royal Bath & West Show is billed as a celebration of rural life and a Great British day out for the family, with entertainment across the 240-acre showground.

The Main Ring programme includes:

• Shetland Pony Grand National
• Pony Club Games
• Heavy horses
• Showjumping
• Pawsability
• Vintage vehicle parade
• Livestock grand parades

The Shetland Pony Grand National is this year's Main Ring entertainment, with commentary from Alice Plunkett.

Lakeside Farm will offer a quieter, family-friendly area focused on food, farming and the countryside.

Activities include livestock, activity packs, The Sheep Show, goat displays, Great British Dogs, felting, wool-washing, milk tasting, cheese tasting and farming machinery.

Visitors will also be able to see sheep, cattle and pigs in the livestock areas, plus poultry, small animals and an egg display in the Poultry and Small Animals marquee.

There will also be sheep shearing and a Great British Dogs marquee in the Bark & West area.

Family activities at the Bath & West Showground

Families heading to the Royal Bath & West Show 2026 will find several child-friendly areas across the site.

Discover the Future will feature engineering, technology and STEM activities for children.

The Safety Zone will include a computer simulator booth, live mini-excavator activity and activities with Avon and Somerset Police.

The Woodland and Countryside section will include traditional greenwood-working, Dorset Axemen displays, terrier racing and a mini woodland walk for younger children.

Bees and Honey will feature observation hives, outdoor demonstrations and the South West Honey Show.

Who is performing at the Royal Bath & West Show?

The Wurzels will perform on Thursday, 28 May, in the Pilton Tent.

There will also be live music across the show, including on the Main Lawn and in the Pilton Tent.

The Pilton Tent will stay open later than 6pm on Thursday and Friday, with music, food and bars continuing into the evening.

Food and drink at the Royal Bath & West Show

The Great British Kitchen will host cookery demonstrations every day.

This year's line-up includes:

• Big Nath's BBQ
• Andy Clarke
• Mark Lloyd
• Eva Humphries
• Lisa Cadd
• James Strawbridge

There will also be cocktail masterclasses, food stalls and drink stands across the showground.

In other words, anyone planning to "just have a quick look round" should probably accept now that lunch may happen twice.

Royal Bath & West Show 2026 tickets

Advance tickets are available until midnight on Wednesday, 27 May.

Advance ticket prices include:

• Single adult day-specific ticket: £26.75
• One adult and one child: £28
• Family ticket for two adults and three children: £60
• Any-day adult ticket: £30
• Additional child ticket, age five to 15: £3
• Under-fives: free
• Senior advance ticket, age 65 and over: £24.75

Gate prices include:

• Single adult: £35
• Family ticket: £69
• Senior citizen: £32
• Child: £8

Afternoon tickets, for entry between 4pm and 5pm on Thursday and Friday only, cost £16 in advance or £20 on the gate.

Show membership costs £75 per person and includes entry for all three days and other benefits.

The show also offers a 10% discount for group bookings of 10 or more people. People living within five miles of the showground can use their postcode as a discount code when booking.

Accessibility and essential companions

The Royal Bath & West Show runs an Essential Companion Scheme for visitors who need someone with them to access the event.

One essential companion can attend free with a paying visitor. Supporting documentation is required on the day.

Accepted evidence includes:

• Middle or higher rate DLA for care and/or mobility
• PIP
• Evidence of being severely sight impaired
• Recognised assistance dog ID card
• Attendance Allowance

Mobility scooters can also be hired through Advanced Mobility Hire, which will be based at the Yellow Entrance Gate. Organisers advise booking in advance.

Travel and parking for the Royal Bath & West Show

Parking at the Royal Bath & West Show is free.

The Bath & West Showground is on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary.

Drivers coming from the Bristol area are advised to use the M32 and A37.

Visitors travelling from Devon or Cornwall should leave the M5 at junction 23.

Visitors coming from the east are directed via the M3, A303 and A371.

The number 1 bus, operated by South West Coaches, connects Yeovil, Castle Cary and Shepton Mallet with the showground.

Visitors arriving by train at Castle Cary can catch the number 1 bus opposite the station entrance and get off at the Prestleigh Inn, near the Purple Gate.

The nearest railway stations are Frome, Castle Cary and Templecombe.

Roads near Shepton Mallet during the show

Organisers have not published hour-by-hour traffic forecasts.

The showground sits on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary, so local drivers should allow extra time around the main arrival and departure periods.

Gates open at 9am. The show closes at 6pm.

Thursday and Friday may also see later movement around the showground because the Pilton Tent, bars and food stands continue after 6pm.

Drivers using the A371, Prestleigh, Cannard's Grave, the A37 and routes into Shepton Mallet should check conditions before travelling.

Camping at the Royal Bath & West Show

Camping pitches are available for Wednesday, 27 May, Thursday, 28 May, Friday, 29 May and Saturday, 30 May.

Grass camping pitches cost £35 per night.

They are suitable for tents, motorhomes, campervans and caravans.

Entry to the show is not included in the camping price. Pitches are non-electric.

What to check before you go

Visitors are advised to check the official Royal Bath & West Show website before travelling for the latest ticket details, show map, trade stand list, travel information and daily programme.

Tickets and visitor information are available from the official Royal Bath & West Show website.

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