Thousands of festivalgoers, countless stories over a few beers, mile after mile of riding, more than 80 guest speakers, 20+ live bands, and enough laughs to last a lifetime.
But that’s not what anyone remembers the ABR Festival for. They remember moments, and everyone has their own.
Being a part of 1,500 festivalgoers riding through the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon as one. Richard Hammond proving he’s every bit as passionate about motorcycles as we are. Charley Boorman unexpectedly giving away a bride. A wheelie that’d still be going now if the show hadn’t ended. The opening chords of an AC/DC classic echoing across Ragley Hall.
Looking back on ABR Festival 2026, there are five moments among many that perfectly capture what the weekend was all about for us…
Early risers make the Wakey Wakey Ride Out
Not everyone wanted to start the day with yoga, or a 5km run across the TRF Trail, powered by Suzuki, with an early-morning dip in the REV’IT! Bog of Doom. For plenty of festivalgoers, there was only one place to be at 7.30am, lining up for the very first Wakey Wakey (Back in Time for Eggs and Bakey) Ride Out alongside ABR Festival founder Alun Davies.
Truth be told, we had no idea how many people would turn up. By 7am, the holding field was beginning to fill. Then it filled some more. Before we knew it, more than 1,500 riders were waiting to head out together through the Warwickshire countryside.
The route took in the chocolate box Cotswold village of Broadway, before winding through the Vale of Evesham and into Stratford-upon-Avon. As the procession of motorcycles crossed the bridge over the River Avon, with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre rising behind them, it seemed like the line of bikes would never end. It was quite a sight.
Richard Hammond’s debut
When it came to announcing Hammond’s appearance, just saying his name was enough. Everyone expected Richard Hammond. Nobody expected him to be as passionate about biking as he actually is.
Within a couple of questions from host and Adventure Bike Rider Editor James Oxley, it was clear to everyone that deep down he’s one of us. And a quick visit to the Smallest Cog stand to see a small selection of iconic bikes from his personal collection sealed the deal. There were a few festival guests who were even lucky enough to sample one of Hammond’s signature Gin and Tonics, as he got behind the bar at the Beak and Pannier to serve up a few refreshing cocktails in the Saturday sun.
Sing-along-a-DC
The first few notes of It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) were all it took. One of the most requested bands in ABR Festival history, Let There B/DC had thousands of festivalgoers singing along to every word before the first chorus had even finished. From Let There Be Rock to Thunderstruck and Highway To Hell, each song somehow topped the last as the Bikerheadz Stage witnessed one huge singalong.
Dave Peacock nailed every famous Angus Young guitar solo, complete with school uniform and the inevitable striptease. Andrew Cowley’s vocals somehow channelled both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson in the same set. Anyone who’s spent five minutes listening to AC/DC will know that’s a far tougher job than it sounds.
Every year we ask festivalgoers about the musical highlight of their weekend, and Let There B/DC are always near the top of the list. And this year is no exception.
Charley Boorman giving the bride away
Of all the things we expected to see at this year’s ABR Festival, Charley Boorman giving away a bride wasn’t one of them. He’d never met Michelle Broderick before, but after entertaining a packed Ducati Stage with stories from the Long Way… series and life on the road, he was asked to step into one of the most important roles at ABR’s first-ever wedding.
Michelle and her partner Steve Edwards tied the knot in front of a packed crowd that spilled out beyond the Ducati Stage, with festivalgoers craning their necks for a glimpse of the ceremony as word spread that ABR’s first wedding was taking place.
With vows and rings exchanged, Charley offered a few words of advice on married life before presenting the newlyweds with an ABR-themed toaster and sending them off to begin married life together. Breakfast at the Edwards household is unlikely to ever be the same again.
Ken Roczen on one wheel in the GoPro Display Arena
As the crowd gathered in the GoPro Display Arena, there was one name on everyone’s lips. Fresh from winning the 2026 AMA Supercross World Championship, Ken Roczen was about to showcase his skills in front of the gathered masses.
He launched his bike so high it hardly seemed believable. Then came a wheelie that just kept going, the front wheel hanging in the air for almost the entire length of the arena. By the time he skimmed across the log section as though it wasn’t there, everyone understood exactly why he’d just been crowned AMA Supercross champion.
And Roczen wasn’t the only rider drawing gasps from the crowd. Chris Birch, Jacopo Cerutti and Kirian Mirabet helped make it one of the strongest rider line-ups we’ve ever assembled for the GoPro Display Arena, turning an already spectacular display into something truly special. It made for one hell of a show.
Experience your own memorable moments at ABR Festival 2027
There were so many more moments we could’ve picked out from this year’s ABR Festival, ones that spur us on to keep improving the experience for every festivalgoer. We’ve got some huge plans in place for next year, and if you want to come along and experience moments like these, and make memories that’ll last a lifetime, Early Bird tickets are available now.
Priced at £169, Early Bird tickets save you £50 on a full-price weekend, unlocking three days and two nights at the UK’s biggest motorcycle festival, with camping and first-class facilities included. Come and join us for the best weekend you’ll have all summer.
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