Nottingham City Council and the Showmen’s Guild are pleased to confirm dates for the 2026 Nottingham Goose Fair. The fair will once again be staged over ten days between Friday 25 September and Sunday 4 October at the Forest Recreation Ground.
With more than 400 rides and attractions and thrills aplenty for all ages, half a million visitors usually attend the ten-day event.
Goose Fair generates a significant economic uplift for the city and increasingly attracts visitors from across the region. An economic impact report on the 2025 event highlighted that consumer spend was estimated to be £11.8 million. This includes £1.3 million on transport, £3.5 million on food and drink, and £7 million on rides and attractions. Data from a post-event visitor survey shows that 83% of attendees were from Nottinghamshire, and 17% visited from the rest of the East Midlands and further afield.
This year, Nottingham City Council and the Showmen’s Guild are continuing to work to reduce the impact of the fair on local residents. The Goose Fair temporary resident parking permit scheme will be extended, and complimentary ride vouchers will be given to residents in the immediate vicinity of the Forest Recreation Ground. More information will be shared with residents in due course.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “Goose Fair brings a vibrant energy to the city, and I look forward to attending with my family and friends as I have done since I was a child growing up in Nottingham. The event not only supports our local economy but attracts visitors from further afield for a truly unique Nottingham experience.
“We recognise the impact of a ten-day fair on residents around the Forest and are working hard to mitigate issues that they have fed back to their local councillors. An extended temporary resident parking permit scheme for local streets will be in place, and thanks to the support of the Showmen’s Guild, we will also be offering complimentary ride vouchers to residents on selected weekday evenings.”
William Percival, Chair of the Showmen’s Guild (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire branch), said: “We’re pleased to have the dates confirmed for this year’s Goose Fair, and everything is going well with preparations. The Showmen’s Guild are looking forward to another ten-day event.”