2026 Gala Dates

As railways are starting to release details of their 2026 events. Please post dates for their railway enthusiast events (ideally with a link to the source of info).

January
3-4 Severn Valley Winter Steam Gala. https://svr.co.uk/news/svr-events-2026/
3-4 Swanage Winter Warm Up. https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/winter-warm-up

Febuary
21-22 East Lancs Small Engines Gala. Info from official social media page.

April
10-12 East Lancs Legends of Steam III. Info from official social media page.
16-19 Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala. https://svr.co.uk/news/svr-events-2026/

May
14-17 Severn Valley Spring Diesel Festival. https://svr.co.uk/news/svr-events-2026/

July
2-5 East Lancs Summer Diesel Gala. Info from official social media page.

September
17-20 Severn Valley Autumn Steam Gala. https://svr.co.uk/news/svr-events-2026/
18-19 East Lancs Autumn Diesel Gala. Info from official social media page.

October
1-4 Severn Valley Autumn Diesel Bash. https://svr.co.uk/news/svr-events-2026/
16-18 East Lancs Autumn Steam Gala. Info from official social media page.

November
14-15 East Lancs DMU Event. Info from official social media page.

 

March
19-22 Keighley & Wort Valley Steam Gala https://kwvr.co.uk/events/thesteamgala/

 

GCR gala dates - https://www.facebook.com/gcrofficia...m8DZXmouKynmu9ib6Y2at22k4FNkjVRx1FGrys4mnwbAl

22nd to 25th January - Winter Steam Gala
28th Feb to 1st March - Spring Steam weekend
24th to 26th April - Spring Diesel Gala
3rd to 6th September - Autumn Diesel Gala
1st to 4th October - Autumn Steam Gala
14th to 15th November - Last Hurrah gala

 

Bluebell Railway

20-22 March: Spring Steam Gala
27-28 June: Model Railway Weekend
4-6 September: Diesel Gala
16-18 October: Giants of Steam


https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15Efge7V3Tg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

Worth Valley:
1940s weekend - May 16th/17th
Diesel gala - June 18th-21st
(both from the website)

North Yorkshire Moors:
Steam gala - September 24th-27th
(taken from this year's gala brochure)

 

Dean Forest Railway 2026 Galas -

Spring Steam Gala - 28th & 29th March
Diesel Gala - 12th & 13th September
Royal Forest of Steam - 31st October & 1st November

 

Swanage event dates are on their Social Media. Galas are:
27-29 March Spring Steam Gala
8-10 May Diesel Gala
11-13 September Autumn Steam Gala

 

I see Jon Kerr made an enquiry on the above Swanage Facebook page - regarding the date of Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club's Classic and Steam Vehicle Show. This event was moved this year from Harmans Cross to Norden. It is there again next year [4-6 Sept 2026] and they're promising to try and make it even bigger because it's now on a larger flatter site than HX. Further details should appear on: https://bppclub.co.uk/classic-and-steam-vehicle-show/

 

Some West Somerset Railway dates:

50th anniversary of reopening on 28th & 29th March 2026
Spring Steam Spectacular between Friday 1st and Monday 4th May 2026
Summer Diesel Festival will be held between Thursday 4th & Saturday 6th June 2026, plus a mixed traction day on Sunday 7th June.

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/news/view/west-somerset-railway-gala-dates-2026

 

"We are also working on further events for later in the season and the dates for these will be announced in due course when plans are finalised. "

I think that is an important point to make too!

 

Two more Bluebell events for 2026:






Tom

 

Apedale:- Dec 27 (2025!!) - Winter Warmers steam Gala - 4 locos in steam. 10 Jan - Winter photo day and night shoot - HE1215 with War Department wagons, Hudswell 1238 with skips. 28 March - Cadeby event, marking 40 years since the death of the Rev Teddy Boston. September Gala 19 & 20 Sept. Other events are being developed, and will be at www.avlr.org.uk and on the Facebook page.

 

Swanage Railway Facebook page -
Our Winter Warm Up is back for 2026 and this time it is going to be bigger and better than ever before!
The Winter Warm Up will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th January and will see a total of five fantastic locomotives in use during the two day event. The locomotive line up will feature a mixture of steam and diesel locomotives from our current home fleet, including visiting Class 33 33053.
The planned line up includes...
Steam;
T3 Class Number 563
U Class Number 31806
Battle of Britain Class Number 34070 "Manston"
Diesel;
Class 33 D6515 "LT Jenny Lewis RN"
Class 33 33053
We will also be running trains "over the road" in our extension towards the mainline connection for the first time at a Winter Warm Up event, something which is normally only seen at our larger Gala events.
The event timetable will be added to our website in due course, along with locomotive allocations to help you plan your day out travelling with us. Two passenger services will be in use, alongside a 3rd service which will be formed of a mixture of coaches and other non-passenger stock, forming the "Corfe Shuttle".
So, why not start the New Year right and visit us for some fun and blast away the Winter blues at our Winter Warm Up? Visit our website to find out more https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/winter-warm-up

 

From Facebook...

Taking advantage of the dark evenings, we will run a Winter Steam Photo Day on Saturday January 10th. The event will feature the War Office Hunslet 1215 with War Department wagons and Hudswell Clarke 1238, fresh from overhaul, with a selection of skips. No passenger trains will be in operation, so we will have free-range on the railway to set-up photo shots.

The event will start at 1300, and run until around 2000 (at the latest) with lighting provided for night photos. The site gets very dark and very cold after sunset - and there are ample tripping hazards. So, you must have a torch and sensible footwear (if you're cold, that's your problem).

It will be operated on a "by donation" - card or cash - and it's really simple - if we cover costs, then we'll probably run the event again!

 

South Devon Railway winter gala
January 2nd-4th

https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/event/winter-steam-gala-2/

 

I can’t see the Spring Gala on the Swanage web site. Is it still on?

 

Presumably you are referring to: https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-gala-1

 

After a break of a few years I've returned to keeping special event listings at www.railwayevents.co.uk

2026 Event Listings: https://www.preservedrailway.co.uk/whatson (279 events currently listed)
There are a number of lists on the page with combined listings, steam events, diesel events, 1940s, Rail Ale and Vintage Vehicle Rallys.

PDF Downloadable listings to follow over the weekend.

 

Not mentioned so far for Severn Valley are:
Branchline weekend - 28th Feb/1st Mar. 7714, 1450, 7802 (Sat only), both DMUs
Summer Gala - 18th/19th July
Advertised Home fleet as 813, 1450, 4150, 7714, 13268, D9551, D8568, D821, Diesel Shunters
Four visitors hoped for (no mention of whether steam or diesel).

 

Printable Events Listings Added (pdfs for steam / diesel / combined events) added to 2026 Event Listings: https://www.preservedrailway.co.uk/whatson (286 events now listed)

Latest events added:
Midland Railway Butterley - 1980's - 13th & 14th June / Jinty 100 - 4th & 5th July / Ale On The Rail - 18th & 19th July / Vintage 2nd to 4th May & 29th-31st August