RiverFest

RIVERFEST 2026

The UK’s premier river fishing competition – ANGLING TRUST RIVERFEST – returns for 2026 with some new venues and a few changes to the format that has seen it become a ‘must fish’ for running water match anglers!

Following a brilliant response to the survey conducted earlier this year, we’ve listened to the anglers that take part and have made some alterations to ensure that RiverFest’s popularity remains and the experience for those taking part is one to remember.

You asked for fewer qualifiers, a smaller final and some new rivers to have a crack at, all three requests being met for 2026. That means 22 qualifiers from June through until September, culminating in a 60-peg final on the River Trent at Burton Joyce. There’s also three river stretches making their RiverFest debuts – the Mersey at Warrington, the Severn at Stourport and the Great Ouse around Olney.

“Although I’ve taken a bit of a back seat in terms of organsing RiverFest, I’m still involved in this competition, one that holds a very dear place in my heart,” said event creator Dave Harrell Angling. “We only felt it right to canvas opinion from the anglers as to what they wanted from RiverFest and the feedback was brilliant. Three new river stretches being used keeps things fresh and exciting.”

Listed below are the qualifier venues and dates so that you can start planning your Summer, every 20-peg zone winner going through to the final on the weekend of September 19 and 20.

Tickets will be available in two ‘rounds’ of sales. The first round is on Wednesday March 25 at 12 noon, where you will be able to buy a maximum of two tickets per person via the Angling Trust’s website. The second round is on Wednesday April 1 at 12 noon, when all remaining tickets will be available to purchase with no limit on the number per person.
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TICKET SALES DATES
Round One (two tickets) – Wednesday March 25 at 12 noon.
Round Two (unlimited tickets) – Wednesday April 1 at 12 noon.
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ANGLING TRUST RIVERFEST 2026 QUALIFIERS AND DATES
Tuesday June 16 – Warwickshire Avon, Evesham (60 pegs)
Wednesday June 17 – River Trent, Newark (80 pegs)
Saturday June 20 – River Calder, Mirfield (40 pegs)
Wednesday June 24 – River Severn, Bewdley (60 pegs)
Saturday June 27 – River Trent, Fiskerton (60 pegs)
Sunday June 28 – River Trent, Trent Lock (40 pegs)
Wednesday July 8 – Warwickshire Avon, Twyning (40 pegs)
Saturday July 11 – River Soar, Sutton Bonington (40 pegs)
Wednesday July 15 – River Trent, Collingham (60 pegs)
Saturday July 18 – River Trent, Burton Joyce (80 pegs)
Sunday July 19 – Dorset Stour, Sturminster Newton (40 pegs)
Wednesday July 22 – River Trent, Newark (80 pegs)
Sunday July 26 – Warwickshire Avon, Barford & Stratford (60 pegs)
Saturday August 1 – River Thames, Clanfield (40 pegs)
Wednesday August 5 – River Trent, Newark (80 pegs)
Saturday August 15 – River Trent, Burton Joyce (60 pegs)
Wednesday August 26 – Bristol Avon, Swinford & Crane (40 pegs)
Saturday August 29 – River Mersey, Warrington (40 pegs)
Wednesday September 2 – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent (60 pegs)
Saturday September 5 – Warwickshire Avon, Evesham (60 pegs)
Saturday September 5 – River Great Ouse, Olney (40 pegs)
Sunday September 6 – River Severn, Stourport (40 pegs)
Final: Saturday September 19 & Sunday September 20 – River Trent, Burton Joyce