Brecon County Show 2026

The Brecon County Show takes place on Saturday 1 August 2026 at The Showground on the Watton in Brecon. Established in 1755, it holds the distinction of being the oldest agricultural show in Britain — a record that puts it more than two and a half centuries deep in the farming traditions of Brecknockshire. The show is held each year on the first Saturday of August, drawing visitors from across the Brecon Beacons and beyond.

The show is a full day out for all ages. Livestock classes cover cattle, sheep, horses and poultry, with judging throughout the day and a grand parade in the main ring. There is a sizeable food and produce section, craft competitions, horticultural exhibits, and a programme of ring events including showjumping, working dog demonstrations and equestrian displays. Trade stands, local food stalls and entertainments for children fill out a packed programme that runs from early morning to late afternoon.

Brecon is the principal market town of the Brecon Beacons National Park, set at the confluence of the rivers Usk and Honddu. The town has a cathedral, good independent shops, and easy access to the mountain and moorland walking that makes the Beacons one of Wales’s most popular National Parks. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal passes nearby, offering level towpath walking for those who prefer a gentler day.

The show is a popular day out and the town gets busy — booking accommodation in advance is strongly recommended if you plan to make a weekend of it. Brecon itself has a selection of guesthouses and B&Bs, and the surrounding Beacons countryside offers a wide choice of self-catering cottages, farmhouses and country hotels. Nearby Abergavenny and Crickhowell also make convenient bases.