Record-Breaking Success at Brooklands Museum’s New Year’s Day Classic Gathering 2026

The New Year’s Day Classic Gathering held at Brooklands Museum, in Surrey, has been a major feature of the Museum’s calendar for over 20 years and is now its largest event. This year, it broke its own records with over 8100 visitors and 1200 classic cars, motorcycles and modern sports and supercars, braving the crisp weather to attend the event. The whole Museum site was alive with the sound of chatter and shared interests, vintage live entertainment from vocal trio The Knightingales and saxophonist Bob Webb, a busy trade village and plenty of food outlets to cater for all appetites.

There was a fantastic display of cars and motorcycles showcasing the very best of the classic community: highlights in the main Paddock included a line-up of vintage Bentleys, three pre-war Lagondas and a pair of Cadillacs – a beautiful V16 and an unrestored V12 – from the 1930s. The range and breadth of vehicles on display from pre-war to classics up to 1996 registration, plus modern sports and supercars of today, meant that there was something for everyone to enjoy. Modern supercars on display included Lamborghinis and McLarens and a rare lime-green Ferrari SF90 XX, the Brooklands Members completely filled the Aircraft Park with their assorted classics, MGs of all ages dominated the Motoring Village, and there was a huge selection of American muscle cars and hot rods. The site was bristling with visitors – from all generations – enjoying the fine sights of some incredible motoring heritage.

Alex Patterson, Director and CEO, Brooklands Museum, said,

“We are absolutely delighted that our New Year’s Day Classic Gathering was our biggest event ever. It is always a pleasure to welcome in the New Year with those who share a passion for classic motoring and see the site bustling at every turn. Our special thanks go to the marshals, volunteers and staff team for helping make the event run smoothly, as well as the thousands of visitors and classic vehicles who created such a successful event. We look forward to welcoming visitors to events throughout the year and helping make 2026 the most memorable yet.”

Dominic Taylor-Lane, Founder, Association of Heritage Engineers, said,

“Standing at Brooklands on New Year’s Day 2026, it’s clear to me that this gathering is about far more than the cars themselves. It’s about people coming together. Owners, enthusiasts, families and newcomers, all sharing the same passion in a place that means so much to our motoring history. Events like this matter because they keep our classic car community connected, they celebrate the stories behind the machines, and they help pass that passion on. For me, our role is simple but vital: to look after our heritage, enjoy it together, and inspire the next generation so that the love of classic motoring continues long into the future.”

The Classic Gathering is an invaluable way for Brooklands Museum to engage with the classic community, providing a space where people can come together and celebrate motoring heritage. Using the site and Brooklands motoring heritage, as the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, further highlights the critical importance of such events. The connections made on these event days between owners and visitors within the historic setting of Brooklands reflects the Museum's vital role in building the next generation of enthusiast and in keeping the spirit of classic motoring alive.

As an independent charity, Brooklands Museum relies on such events to support investment in the site and preserve it for future generations. The classic community are vital in supporting this mission and the attendance of so many visitors on New Year’s Day was a testament to this. It was a brilliant way to kickstart Brooklands Museum's busy 2026 event calendar which is filled with firm favourites and a very special Grand Prix Centenary event on 8 August, since 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Britain’s 1st Grand Prix, held at the Brooklands race circuit. Explore the calendar to see the full list of events taking place including fly ins, talks, club and rally meets, as well as the fun, suitably themed Grand Prix family activities on offer during the school holidays.