The Dorset County Show fills a showground near Dorchester for a weekend every September. The 2026 edition ran on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, and the 2027 dates have not been announced yet. The organiser holds the show on the first weekend of September each year, so it is worth keeping that weekend free while you wait for the date.
The livestock lines are the backbone of the show: goats, pigs, sheep, cows, alpacas, rabbits, cavies, poultry and heavy horses. Alongside them sit a floral pavilion, horticulture classes, food and drink stalls and a countryside ring with scurry racing. The 2026 programme added Monster Trucks, the OG Stunt Horse Team and The Wurzels on the Saturday, so the ring entertainment runs well beyond the farming classes.
Visitor information
Dates: The first weekend of September. The 2027 days will be published on the organiser’s website.
Venue: The showground near Dorchester, DT2 7SD. Parking is free, a free shuttle bus ran from Dorchester, Poundbury and Dorchester South station in 2026, and the show can also be reached on foot from Dorchester by the Greys Bridge and Blue Bridge footpaths.
Tickets: Sold through the show’s own ticket site. Check it for adult and child prices once 2027 tickets go on sale.
Family friendly: Yes. Children can see the animals up close and watch the ring displays. Well-behaved dogs on non-extendable leads are welcome, but not in the food halls or animal areas.
Where to stay
Dorchester is the nearest town to the showground and has the widest choice of places to stay nearby, with Weymouth and the villages along the Frome valley within reach. Read more about Dorchester or browse places to stay near Dorchester.
