Swanage Carnival launches its wacky Wild West programme

By Andrew Smith 15 July 2026, 6:00 am

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Swanage Carnival's 2026 programme is on sale now, all over town!

Summer’s most anticipated publication, the official Swanage Carnival programme, has arrived hot off the press in shops and businesses across Purbeck.

The biggest event in the Swanage calendar, and one of the largest carnivals in Dorset, takes place over eight days from Saturday 25th July to Saturday 1st August 2026, and this year takes the Wild West as its theme.

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Swanage Post Office is among many town centre businesses selling the Swanage Carnival programme

Full colour 60 page guide

Having arrived in shops on Saturday 11th July 2026, the full colour, 60 page guide to the Wacky Western in Carnival Canyon is already being snapped up by locals and visitors alike.

Large numbers have also been posted out to families across the UK – and some even further afield – who make Swanage Carnival week their annual pilgrimage.

Each year around 250,000 people visit Swanage during Carnival week, making it the busiest week of the year in town, and in 2025 a record breaking £41,600 was raised to benefit more than 20 local charities and good causes – but the committee hopes to do better still this year.

Swanage Carnival programme coordinator Lisa Dando, right, with Eliana at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park

Dusting off the fancy dress

Although there’s sadly no return of last year’s star turn, the Red Arrows, there is still the promise of a spectacular air display from Team Raven, one of the biggest civilian aerobatic display teams in the world.

Team Raven is made up of highly experienced pilots, many of them former RAF flyers of fast jets. In 2026 alone they have 16 displays across the UK and Europe, and are making their debut in Swanage on Saturday 25th July 2026.

Ever since the theme for this year’s carnival was announced as the Wild West, locals have been dusting off their cowboy fancy dress costumes for a week of Western wackiness.

The fun includes a bucking bronco Rodeo Bull ride, a Wild West walkabout and stunt show, and a rodeo stampede featuring inflatable steeds!

Paul Robinson at Swanage News, where the carnival programme is one of their best selling lines for two weeks every year

“Essential guide for visitors and locals”

Swanage Carnival Committee secretary Kevin Langdon said:

“The countdown is well and truly on, and your official 2026 Swanage Carnival Programme is the perfect way to start planning your week of Wacky Western fun!

“Packed with event listings, entertainment schedules, maps, competitions and everything you need to make the most of Carnival Week, it’s an essential guide for visitors and locals, too.

“The Swanage Carnival programme costs £5 to buy, and as well as giving a detailed schedule of all the events, it makes for a great souvenir of the event.

“Every programme you buy also helps support Swanage Carnival, which costs around £230,000 a year to stage, as well as the local charities and good causes we fund each year.”

Carnival photo shoot at Salt Pig The farm Putlake 2026 — SWANAGE CARNIVAL

Swanage Carnival committee get into their Wild West groove at the Salt Pig Farm, Putlake

“A spectacle like no other!”

Kevin added:

“The question we get asked most is, when is the Carnival procession, the moment that many people wait all year round for.

“Well, this year, we can promise a spectacle like no other on Sunday 26th July 2026, from 3 pm as colourful floats, walking groups, entertainers and community organisations fill the streets in a spectacular celebration.

“This year’s theme is a Wacky Western in Carnival Canyon, and we know that the whole town will burst into life, with samba bands, marching bands, World War Two Jeeps and a huge procession of dazzling floats and walking entries.

“It’s loud, joyful and wonderfully inclusive, so whether you are in the parade or watching on, you will be a key part of the atmosphere!

“We hope the new programme gives everyone a real feel for what will be happening over the eight days. We try to make it much more than just a timetable of events, it’s a real taste of the fun to come, to get everyone looking forward to it.

“We do have our Swanage Carnival app which is packed with information, but I think that nothing beats having a printed programme you can flick through – and the more we sell, the more money we can raise for well deserving local good causes!”

Getting by on a wing and a prayer, the wheelbarrow angels

The Wheelbarrow Race will return, with more of a Wild West theme this year

Favourites are returning

Plenty of the favourites are back like the mayhem of the Wheelbarrow Race through Swanage, Granny Turismo, Carnival bingo, Carnival’s Got Talent, the Dinosaur Derby, Scruff’s fun dog show, a visit from Titan the Robot, vintage and classic cars, and a 48 hour Photo Marathon to capture the perfect shot to sum up Carnival week.

There’s also stunning firework displays on three separate nights and a full music programme across the week, including Swanage Musical Theatre, the Sneaky Chancers, rock choir Castle Voices, Sway Allstars, Jazzknots, The Reptiles, Raw Samba, Love Soul Choir and the 90s Rewind, as well as many, many more.

The 2026 Carnival programme also includes details of daily beach yoga, a go kart grand prix, Swanage Bay swim, food demonstrations, gymnastics, sand sculpture, karaoke, children’s storytime – and even a flash mob led by a disco dance world record holder!