Armed Forces Weekend 2026 – All You Need to Know
Weymouth Town Council is gearing up for the return of its flagship Armed Forces Weekend event, with the final preparations well underway. Here is all you need to know to get the most out of the weekend.
Just announced! Eyes to the skies for a flypast featuring a Battle of Britain Memorial aircraft on Sunday 21st June around 11am. The flypast is subject to local weather conditions and serviceability of the aircraft on the day. Further details including the route and aircraft to be shared nearer the day.
Friday 19th June
Kicking off the celebrations, the Armour and Embarkation convoy returns to Weymouth as the group bring their military vehicles to the promenade by the Jubilee Clock from 7pm to 9pm.
Saturday 20th June
From 10am to 12.30pm, The Dorset Military Vehicle Association will showcase their historic military vehicles by the Jubilee Clock on Weymouth Promenade.
Then at 12.30pm, the vehicles will leave the promenade and travel in convoy along the Esplanade to the D-Day Centre in Castletown, Portland – be sure to give them a cheer and a wave as they go past.
A range of charity stalls will be set up along the seafront on Saturday and Sunday, so why not drop by and pay them a visit? Full details of each group can be found on the Council’s website. They will be joined by the unique Poppy of Honour memorial, a 2.6 metre structure which has been created to record the allied servicemen and women who were lost in the First World War. You can read more about this on our website.
The schedule of musical entertainment by the Jubilee Clock includes:
10.30am to 11am: The Decadettes
11.05am to 11.10am: Weymouth Razzamataz
11.15am – 11.45am: South Wales Police Band
12pm – 12.30pm: Weymouth Community Choir
12.30pm – 1pm: South Wales Police Band
1pm – 1.30pm: AsOne Theatre Company present: A String of Pearls – Memories of Weymouth and Portland’s WW2
1.45pm – 2.15pm: South Wales Police Band
To complement Weymouth Town Council’s events, Radipole Park and Gardens and Nothe Fort will also be joining in the celebrations for Armed Forces Weekend.
Radipole Park and Gardens
A 1940s-themed summer fete takes place in Radipole Park and Gardens from 12pm to 4pm to mark the occasion, organised by the Friends of Radipole Park and Gardens. There will be music, entertainment and games, promising fun for all the family with lots to see and do.
Nothe Fort
There will be guided tours running hourly from 10.30am – 12.30pm, plus a series of talks to learn more about Weymouth’s role in World War II. This will also be repeated on Sunday 21st June, and for more information, including timings, visit the website.
Sunday 21st June
Service and parade, Weymouth War Memorial, opposite The Prince Regent Hotel
An open-air service for all veterans takes place at the Weymouth War Memorial opposite the Prince Regent Hotel at 11am. The service includes a wreath laying ceremony featuring representatives of the Armed Forces and the Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr David Harris.
The parade, featuring marching bands and military vehicles, veterans, ex-service association members, standard bearers, and cadets will then take place along the Esplanade, ending at Weymouth Pavilion.
From 12pm, military vehicles will be displayed on the Pavilion Forecourt as well as the beach.
Pavilion Forecourt
To continue the celebrations, further entertainment is provided by:
1pm – South Wales Police Band
1.30pm – South West Area Sea Cadet Band
2pm – Wessex Military Band
2.30pm – The Decadettes
ROAD CLOSURES
On Sunday 21st June, between 10am and 1pm, various road closures will be in place for the parade and march. Full for details, please see the Public Notice below
Monday 22nd June
The Armed Forces Weekend celebrations conclude on Monday 22nd June at 10.30am with a flag raising ceremony. Join the Deputy Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Peter Dickenson, as the Armed Forces Day flag is raised outside Weymouth Town Council’s offices, The New Town Hall, Commercial Road, Weymouth, DT4 8NG.
Cllr David Harris, Mayor of Weymouth, said: “Armed Forces Weekend is a real highlight of Weymouth’s events calendar, which attracts thousands of residents and visitors as we join together to celebrate and recognise the valuable contributions made by our Armed Forces personnel – past, present and future. It will be an honour to lay a wreath on behalf of the town during Sunday’s service, which is always a poignant occasion.
“We hope to have a flypast featuring a Battle of Britain Memorial aircraft on the Sunday, and with military vehicle displays, a convoy, live music, marching bands and the 1940s-themed summer fete in Radipole Park and Gardens, this weekend is one not to be missed, so please do join us!”
For further details about the weekend, visit the website.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
The latest information and updates from Weymouth Town Council can be found on the website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.