#AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge 2026

Free to attend and running from 9am until 3:30pm, the event will start on Little Blackburn Road before racing towards a hair-raising left-hand finish on Church Street.

This year’s #AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge is sponsored by Hyndburn Borough Council, Accrington & Rossendale College, Baxenden Car Breakers, Taylors Scaffolding and Financial Affairs, and organised by Scott Dawson Advertising.

Competitors will face jumps, water blasters and plenty of twists and turns as they battle for Soapbox glory. New for 2026 is a spectacular mega ramp at the start line, specially built by Taylors Scaffolding and set to give every cart a fast and ferocious launch onto the course.

Adding to the excitement, Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Noordad Aziz, will make history as the first sitting Mayor to compete in the #AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge. He will be joined on the track by Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn & Haslingden, who returns for her second year and will be embracing the event’s film theme with a specially designed Jurassic Park cart as she sets her sights firmly on the Best Dressed Cart trophy.

The day gets underway at 9am when the pits open on Church Street, giving visitors the chance to get up close to the weird, wonderful and brilliantly creative carts before racing begins, alongside a special VIP opening.

At 10am, competitors will parade their carts up Little Blackburn Road before the first racing gets underway at 10:15am, with community groups and individual entrants taking on the course.

Businesses will then take centre stage for their first heat from 10:30am.

Following a morning of racing, there will be a 90-minute break from 12:30pm, giving spectators the perfect opportunity to explore Accrington and enjoy lunch or a drink at one of the town centre’s cafés, restaurants and bars.

The entertainment won’t stop while the carts are off the track, with live music from James G and dance from the Helen Green Academy of Dance, performances from popular roaming ska band Blowjangles and a special appearance from a dancing Chinese lion.

Soapbox action resumes at 2pm with the second heat for community groups and individuals, followed by the second business heat at 2:30pm.

The day’s winners will be revealed during the trophy presentations from 3pm.

There will also be funfair rides for younger visitors, while the Accrington Market cabins, close to the finish line, will be dressed for the occasion with racing flags and open throughout the day. From fish to fashion, the cabins are well worth exploring between the action on the track.

The event will also be supporting a fantastic local cause, with Soapbox Challenge entry fees being donated to Maundy Relief. With spectacular carts, daring drivers, live entertainment, family attractions and a town centre packed with things to see and do, the countdown is well and truly on for one of Accrington’s biggest days of the year.