Information issued on behalf of AFMET
Armed Forces Day each June represents one of the borough’s largest annual events, requiring months of detailed preparation and planning by the Armed Forces Major Engagement Team (AFMET).
As confirmed before Christmas, work has already begun on Armed Forces Day 2026, which is set to look different this year as the event coincides with major regeneration works in the centre of Cleethorpes.
The 2026 Armed Forces Weekend will take place on 27–28 June. However, in a change to the last few years, there will be no community carnival this year.
Alex Baxter, Managing Director of AFMET, the community interest company that delivers the event on behalf of the borough, said: “Over the last few months, we have been looking at how we can deliver the best event within the constraints of the resort this year.
“We remain fully committed to making sure that the Armed Forces Weekend goes ahead, attracting large amounts of visitors and boosting the local economy, as it has done for years.
“The Council have confirmed that all of Pier Gardens will be taken out of use as the works will be underway – this is normally an area that is well used during the event, both for stands and stalls, and also for people to spread out in. For safety, we need to use the wider footprint of the resort, including Meridian Showground and the Boating Lake areas for the event this year.
“We are a small team of volunteers, and as such, we need to focus our efforts on making sure that the military parade, one of the main highlights of Armed Forces Day, goes ahead safely along a shorter, and different route for this year.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a sufficiently long parade route or resource to manage the Community Carnival safely, as well as implementing all the necessary changes for this year.”
Subject to sponsorship and funding, the 2026 event is expected to retain its key attractions, including the big wheel, flying displays, land-based exhibitions, and the traditional parade—although changes to positioning and layout will be necessary.
“The whole weekend is about celebrating our armed forces communities and families and saying thank you for their service,” Mr Baxter added. “We work throughout the year with our blue-light colleagues to ensure the event is delivered safely. With the additional challenges this year, even more preparation is needed, and we are grateful for the continued support of all partners who help bring this event to life.”
Organisations or businesses interested in sponsoring part of the 2026 event are encouraged to contact the team via email: [email protected].
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