The biggest assembly of off-road and adventure bikers found anywhere within the British Isles has once again smashed its own attendance records, as the 2026 Adventure Bike Rider (ABR) Festival welcomed a bulging crowd of 20,000 attendees through the gates of Alcester’s Ragley Hall.  

That wasn't the only record to fall either, and Friday of the four-day festivities also happened to coincide with the hottest June day in UK history. Despite the sweltering conditions, the show carried on, seeing demo rides, workshops, and guest talks go on from morning to evening each day, giving way to a packed nighttime entertainment schedule.    

Held between June 25-28, this year's event eclipsed the previous attendance record by more than 2600 visitors. Now in its eighth official iteration, ABR Festival has burgeoned from a single field gathering of just 500 people back in 2018, to the premier summer event for fans of all things adventure biking. Since 2018, ABR has run every year but 2020 – the 2021 weekender only just getting the go-ahead in the face of changing government restrictions.  

The riding, unsurprisingly, remained the main attraction for many. More than 14,000 demo rides were completed across the weekend, with visitors able to sample everything from established names like KTM, Ducati, Suzuki, Royal Enfield and BMW (run through BMW Off-Road Skills) through to newer names like Kove, Voge, and Hero.   

All sorts of machines were on display, and while the majority of the test riding available meant throwing a leg over big-bore twin cylinder machines, bikes like the new Suzuki DRZ-4S, Stark Varg EX, and Triumph TF range were also available to sample.    

As well as on-tarmac test rides, the off-road element was once again a major part of the programme as attendees (who’d forked out for the much-coveted trail pass) were given access to 50km of closed course trails, suitable for all abilities, while dedicated free training was available for first-timers to the dirt.   

Away from the riding, there were plenty of names - big and small - hosting talks, many of whom will be very familiar to the Enduro21 audience. Stars like Jonny Walker, Sam Sunderland, Chris Birch and AMA Supercross champ Ken Roczen delivered tales from their racing lives, mixing with the ranks of well-travelled adventure folk and more than a few household names, including Richard Hammond, Charley Boorman, and Ted Simon.  

Live music, food vendors and many a cold drink rounded off each day, while tribute bands, a silent disco and a clubbing tent played on until near midnight. To top it all off, a couple even opted to tie the knot during Saturday’s festivities, receiving the unusual present of a toaster from none other than Charley Boorman.  

Looking beyond Ragley Hall, founder Alun Davies has expressed ambitions to take the ABR format overseas, hinting at interest coming in from multiple countries.  

Following the weekend’s close ABR Editor James Oxley said: “To the thousands of you who travelled from every corner of the UK and beyond to spend four unforgettable days with us, thank you for making the 2026 ABR Festival the greatest celebration of adventure biking we’ve ever seen.  

“For those of you who missed out, what happened at Ragley Hall last weekend was genuinely special. There couldn’t have been more sunshine, the trails buzzed from dawn until dusk, thousands of motorcycles headed out on test rides each day, and every speaker stage was packed with riders sharing stories, swapping ideas, laughing together, and planning their next adventure.  

“[While] the headline names were fantastic, they’ve never been what makes the ABR Festival so special. You do. It’s the conversations that start while you’re making a brew outside your tent. The stranger who becomes a riding mate by the end of the weekend. The rider who lends you a tool. The people cheering complete strangers through a muddy section of trail. The applause after a great story on stage. The shared understanding that, for one weekend, everyone is here for exactly the same reason.   

“We often say that the ABR Festival is more than just a motorcycle festival. It’s a community. This weekend proved it once again.”  

Earlybird tickets are already listed for the 2027 running of the event, starting from £139 for a weekend pass.  

For more information, head to abrfestival.com.