Luxury stays near Chichester, West Sussex

The 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed delivered another unforgettable four days of motorsport, innovation and automotive history in the beautiful West Sussex countryside.

Held from 9th to 12th July, this year’s event brought together legendary drivers, iconic racing cars and groundbreaking new models beneath the fitting theme, “The Rivals: Epic Racing Duels”.

From the unmistakable roar of historic engines to the extraordinary performance of modern electric racing cars, the Festival once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most exciting dates in the international motoring calendar.

Racing rivalries brought back to life

The 2026 theme celebrated the competitors, manufacturers and machines that have pushed one another to greatness throughout motorsport history.

One of the weekend’s most memorable moments was the reunion of three Ford GT40s associated with Ford’s famous victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The cars took to the Goodwood Hill together, recreating the spirit of one of endurance racing’s most recognisable finishes and offering spectators a rare opportunity to see these historic machines in action.

The celebrations continued with a moving tribute to Damon Hill, marking 30 years since his 1996 Formula 1 World Championship victory. Hill was reunited with the Williams FW18 that carried him to the title, before appearing on the balcony of Goodwood House in a wonderfully nostalgic Festival of Speed moment.

Romain Dumas completes a Goodwood hat-trick

The traditional Sunday Timed Shoot-Out provided a suitably dramatic finale.

Dan Ticktum set an impressive target of 42.46 seconds in the newly launched Formula E GEN4 car, but Festival of Speed specialist Romain Dumas went faster still. Driving Ford’s formidable all-electric Super Mustang Mach-E, Dumas completed the hillclimb in 41.97 seconds to claim his third consecutive victory for Ford.

The result reflected one of the clearest themes of the weekend: the growing influence of electric performance cars. Every generation of Formula E machinery, from GEN1 to the latest GEN4 racer, was represented at Goodwood, giving visitors a fascinating look at how electric motorsport has developed over little more than a decade.

Extraordinary cars, debuts and demonstrations

Goodwood has always offered an irresistible blend of old and new, and the 2026 event was no exception.

McLaren enjoyed a particularly prominent presence, displaying the new 788HS, its forthcoming MCL-HY Le Mans hypercar and the W1, alongside historic Formula 1 winners. The manufacturer also revealed a painstaking factory recreation of Bruce McLaren’s exceptionally rare M6GT road-car project.

At the opposite end of the technological spectrum, the immense 1910 Fiat S76, better known as the “Beast of Turin”, thrilled the crowds with its 28-litre engine, thunderous sound and dramatic bursts of flame. Newer attractions included the spectacular Apollo Evo hypercar, advanced electric models and an extensive selection of new-car launches from leading global manufacturers.

Above it all stood the dramatic 2026 Central Feature, celebrating Singer Vehicle Design and its distinctive reimagining of the Porsche 911. Singer creations gathered beneath the sculpture each day, creating one of the Festival’s most striking displays.

Make your next Goodwood visit a relaxing escape

After a full day beside the hillclimb, there is nothing better than returning to the peace of the West Sussex countryside.

Nestled’s luxurious lodges provide an ideal base for future Goodwood events, combining convenient access to the Goodwood Estate with the privacy and comfort of your own countryside retreat. Instead of ending the day in a busy hotel, you can unwind in a private hot tub, relax in your sauna or settle beside the firepit beneath the stars.

Our lodges are also perfectly placed for exploring Chichester, Arundel, the South Downs and the wider Sussex coast, allowing you to turn a day at Goodwood into a memorable short break.

Goodwood’s calendar extends far beyond the Festival of Speed, with the Goodwood Revival, Qatar Goodwood Festival and other celebrated sporting occasions offering plenty of reasons to return. Accommodation near major Goodwood events is always highly sought after, so planning your stay early is strongly recommended.

For your next visit, make the excitement of Goodwood only one part of the experience. Stay at Nestled and enjoy exhilarating motorsport by day, followed by complete countryside relaxation at night.