Engage are proud to announce a new partnership with Bicester Village, one of the UK’s most prestigious luxury shopping destinations, extending our commitment to giving clients access to the very best experiences beyond the events themselves.
Located in the Oxfordshire countryside and less than an hour from London, Bicester Village is home to more than 150 boutiques of world-leading fashion and lifestyle brands, all within a beautifully landscaped, open-air village. Part of The Bicester Collection, it has built a global reputation for combining designer names with exceptional service and a refined, relaxed atmosphere.
Through this partnership, Engage clients can now enjoy a special treat when they visit.
Guests of ICON by Engage will enjoy a curated suite of VIP benefits during their visit. From Personal Shopping and boutique appointments to reserved parking and Hands-free Shopping, every detail is designed to make a day at Bicester Village feel as considered and seamless as the events we deliver.
This collaboration reflects the standards our clients have come to expect from Engage. We have built our reputation on connecting people with the world’s most sought-after sporting, entertainment and lifestyle experiences, and our partnership with Bicester Village adds a new dimension to that offering.
Whether you are joining us at a Formula 1® weekend, a major football final, Wimbledon or beyond, this partnership is part of our ongoing commitment to creating memorable moments at every stage of the experience.
To find out more about the benefits available to Engage clients at Bicester Village, please get in touch with our Partnership team.
Most client entertainment strategies are built almost entirely around sport. A Premier League fixture here, a day at the cricket there, a golf day in the summer. It works, but it’s also exactly what every one of your competitors is doing. Live music is the option most companies overlook, and it’s the one guests remember longest. A stadium show at Wembley, an arena night at The O2, or an intimate evening at the Royal Albert Hall gives you something a match can’t: an experience with no losing side, no tribal loyalties and no dependence on the result. Below, we break down why concert hospitality deserves a permanent line in your entertainment budget, how to choose the right show for your guest list, and what to get right before you book.
The problem with a sport-only entertainment strategy
Sport is the default for good reason. The calendar is predictable, the audience is broad, and the format is familiar to anyone who has ever hosted a client.
But familiarity is precisely the issue. If your key account has been to four Premier League games this season on four different suppliers’ invitations, your fifth is not an event. It’s a Tuesday. Differentiation in client entertainment isn’t about spending more. It’s about offering something the guest isn’t already being offered.
There’s a second, quieter problem. Sport asks your guests to have an allegiance. Invite a mixed group to a football match and roughly half the room is either indifferent or actively supporting the other side. Music doesn’t work like that.
What concert hospitality actually includes
Concert hospitality is a broad category, and packages differ significantly by venue and by act. Broadly, though, most experiences are built from the same components:
Premium seating or a private box with a clear, elevated view of the stage
Pre-show dining or a drinks reception, often with a champagne welcome
Access to a private lounge or suite away from the main concourse
A complimentary or hosted bar across the evening
Dedicated entry and, at some venues, dedicated parking
A host on the night to manage the group so you don’t have to
The practical effect is that you spend the evening talking to your guests rather than queuing with them. At stadium scale that difference is enormous. Ninety thousand people all arriving and leaving at once is a genuinely testing experience without hospitality, and a very comfortable one with it.
(Inclusions vary by venue, act and package tier, so always check the specific package detail.)
This is the single strongest argument for concerts as a client entertainment tool, and it’s the one most often missed.
A concert has no opposition. Nobody in your box is quietly hoping the other side wins. There’s no awkward moment when your guest’s team concedes in the 89th minute and the conversation dies. Everyone in the room wants the same outcome from the evening, which is a surprisingly useful thing when you’re trying to build rapport with someone you don’t know well.
It also removes a small but real risk in relationship-building: getting the invitation wrong. Inviting a lifelong Liverpool supporter to a hospitality box at a rival ground is a misstep. Inviting them to a show they’ve mentioned wanting to see is not.
It works for a mixed guest list
Most client entertainment fails at the same point: the guest list isn’t homogeneous.
You’re often hosting a group that spans a procurement lead in their fifties, a technical manager in their thirties, and a partner or spouse who has been invited along and has no professional stake in the evening at all. Sport tends to reward the enthusiasts in that group and leave everyone else politely waiting for the interval.
Music travels better across that spread:
Multi-generational groups are straightforward. Legacy acts and heritage tours in particular tend to land across a wide age range.
Partners and spouses are far easier to include. A concert is a genuinely appealing evening out rather than an obligation, which changes the tone of the whole invitation.
International clients aren’t excluded. A visiting client may have no relationship with cricket or rugby. Global touring artists need no explanation.
It works across seniority. The same evening can suit a board-level guest and a junior member of the account team, which is useful when you’re using hospitality for internal reward as well as client entertainment.
The show always delivers
Sporting hospitality carries an inherent risk you can’t price out: the event itself might be poor. A goalless draw in the rain, a Test match washed out by lunch on day two, a title race already decided by the time your fixture arrives.
A concert is a rehearsed, professionally produced performance designed to be excellent every night. The set list, the production, the lighting and the pacing are all built to deliver a peak experience. You are not gambling on form.
That reliability matters when the evening is carrying commercial weight. If you’ve invited a prospect you’ve spent eight months trying to reach, you want an event that performs regardless of circumstance.
Scarcity does the persuading for you
Major tours sell out in minutes. That’s an inconvenience for the general public and an advantage for you.
When an invitation is to something a guest has already tried and failed to get tickets for, the value of the gesture is immediately obvious, with no explanation required. It signals effort, access and thought in a way that a general-admission fixture simply doesn’t. Hospitality availability for high-demand shows also tends to persist a little longer than the general sale, which is often the only remaining route in once a tour has sold out.
Concerts fill the gaps in the sporting calendar
There’s a straightforward practical case here too. Sporting hospitality clusters around the domestic season, the summer Tests and the autumn internationals, and leaves holes in between.
Live music is close to a year-round complement:
Stadium season runs roughly May to September, filling the summer gap when the football calendar is dormant.
Arena season runs across autumn, winter and spring, giving you options in the quieter weeks either side of Christmas.
Awards nights and festivals add a further set of fixed dates for the annual plan.
Used properly, concerts let you maintain contact with key accounts across twelve months rather than concentrating everything into a handful of crowded weeks.
Choosing the right show for your guests
The wildcard only works if you play it well. A few practical filters:
Start with the guest, not the act. The best invitation is one where the guest has mentioned the artist, the era or the genre unprompted. Small details from previous conversations are worth more here than any general recommendation.
Match the scale to the relationship. A stadium show is a spectacle: high energy, huge production, and brilliant for a group or a celebratory occasion. An arena or concert hall evening is more contained and better suited to conversation, which makes it stronger for one or two important guests where the point is the discussion rather than the scale.
Consider geography honestly. A London show is easy for London-based clients and a significant ask for a client in Manchester or Liverpool. Regional venues are frequently the better choice for regional accounts, and the gesture reads as more considerate.
Think about the room, not just the music. Where the private space actually sits, what the sightlines are, and how much of the evening is hosted matter as much as the headline name.
Book earlier than you think you need to. Hospitality allocations for the biggest tours are finite and go early. Registering interest before a tour is confirmed is genuinely the difference between securing the show you want and taking whatever is left.
Want to add live music to your entertainment plan?
Engage arranges official concert and music hospitality at the UK’s most iconic venues, from stadium tours to arena nights and awards ceremonies. Whether you’re hosting two guests or twenty, we’ll help you match the right show to the right guest list. Explore concert hospitality
Where to host: venues at a glance
Wembley Stadium
The UK’s largest venue and a stage only genuine global headliners get to fill. If the objective is spectacle and a story your guest retells for years, this is the top of the market. Wembley hosts music alongside football, boxing and NFL, and hospitality here is a considerable step up from general admission given the sheer scale of the crowd. Wembley hospitality
The O2 Arena
London’s flagship indoor arena in Greenwich, and one of the busiest entertainment venues in the world. The great strength of The O2 for client entertainment is its variety, with music, comedy, boxing, darts, tennis and basketball all under one roof, plus the reliability of an indoor, all-weather venue. The scale is intimate enough that conversation works. O2 Arena concert hospitality
Royal Albert Hall
The choice when you want understatement rather than spectacle. Extraordinary acoustics, genuine architectural occasion, and a programme spanning orchestral performances, film scores in concert and one-off shows from major artists. Ideal for senior guests and for evenings where the point is the conversation. Royal Albert Hall concerts
Final thoughts
Sport will always be the backbone of corporate hospitality, and it should be. But a strategy built exclusively on sport has predictable blind spots. It excludes the guests who don’t follow it, it depends on results you can’t control, and it puts you in a queue behind everyone else pitching the same account.
Live music covers all three gaps. It’s neutral, it’s reliable, it works for a mixed guest list, and it fills the parts of the year the sporting calendar leaves empty. That’s not a reason to replace what’s already working. It’s a reason to add the one card your competitors have left in the deck.
If you’d like to build live music into your entertainment plan for the year ahead, explore our concert hospitality packages or get in touch with the Engage team to talk through your guest list.
2026 delivered one unforgettable sporting moment after another, but 2027 is shaping up to be even bigger. It’s a year that takes in a Rugby World Cup Down Under, a full home Ashes summer, the first FIFA Women’s World Cup ever staged in South America, the Ryder Cup’s centenary edition on Irish soil, and, as always, a fortnight of grass-court drama at SW19.
Whether you’re planning a client entertainment calendar or your own once-in-a-lifetime trip, here’s everything confirmed so far for the biggest sporting events of 2027, and why you’ll want to book early.
Rugby World Cup 2027
Rugby’s showpiece heads back to Australia for the first time in 25 years, and it’s arriving bigger than ever. The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 runs from 1 October to 13 November, expanding to 24 teams and 52 matches for the first time, spread across seven host cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.
The tournament kicks off with the hosts, Australia, facing Hong Kong China at Perth Stadium on 1 October, before the action builds through pool play, a round of 16, and knockout rounds culminating in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 13 November. South Africa arrive as two-time defending champions after beating New Zealand in the 2023 final, while England, France, Ireland, Argentina and hosts Australia are among the automatic qualifiers looking to dethrone them.
It’s part of what Rugby Australia has called a “golden decade” for the sport in the country, sitting alongside the British & Irish Lions tour and building towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics. With over 750,000 tickets already snapped up in the initial sales phase, demand for the biggest edition of the tournament in history is only going one way.
Cricket’s oldest rivalry returns to English soil for a five-Test series running 18 June to 2 August 2027, and England will have a score to settle. After a heavy 4-1 defeat away in Australia over the 2025-26 winter, Joe Root’s side will be desperate to reclaim the urn on home turf.
The series opens at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on 18 June, before moving to Lord’s (30 June), Edgbaston (8 July), and then a landmark moment for the Utilita Bowl in Southampton, which stages its first-ever men’s Ashes Test from 21 July. The series concludes, as it always does, at The Oval from 29 July.
Cricket fans will have their hands full that fortnight regardless, since the Lord’s Test overlaps with the middle of Wimbledon, and a concurrent Women’s Ashes series gets underway at Headingley on 24 June, giving England Women a shot at ending Australia’s dominance in that rivalry too. Few sporting rivalries carry the weight and theatre of the Ashes, and a home series with a losing side eager to respond is exactly the kind of summer that sells out.
Brazil makes history in 2027 as the first South American nation to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup, running 24 June to 25 July. The 32-team tournament spans eight host cities, from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Salvador, Fortaleza, Recife and Porto Alegre, with the final set for the iconic Maracanã in Rio on 25 July.
Spain arrive as defending champions after their 2023 World Cup win, but the storyline UK audiences will care most about is England. The Lionesses beat Spain on penalties to retain their European crown at Euro 2025, setting up a fascinating dynamic heading into Brazil: England as reigning European champions, Spain as reigning world champions, and a rivalry that has now decided the last two major tournament finals between the sides. A first World Cup title for England would complete a remarkable run for Sarina Wiegman’s team.
With a month of world-class football, a first-time host nation, and one of the most compelling rivalries in the women’s game still unresolved, Brazil 2027 has all the makings of the tournament’s biggest edition yet.
Golf’s greatest team contest returns to Ireland for the first time since 2006 when Adare Manor in County Limerick hosts the centenary Ryder Cup, running 13 to 19 September. Four build-up days lead into three days of competition from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 September, marking the 46th edition of the match since it began in 1927.
Team Europe arrive as back-to-back champions after a dramatic 15-13 win over the USA at Bethpage Black in 2025, one of the great away performances in Ryder Cup history, and will be gunning for a third straight victory under Luke Donald. Jim Furyk’s USA side will be desperate to win on the road for the first time since 2012. Set against the backdrop of a fully renovated Tom Fazio-designed course, Adare Manor promises a level of grandeur to match the occasion, and with the first ticket window emptying in under an hour when applications opened, this is one for the diary early.
The Championships return to the All England Club for a fortnight of grass-court tennis from 28 June to 11 July 2027. Tradition never changes at SW19: the all-white dress code, strawberries and cream, and Centre Court’s retractable roof all remain, even as the tennis on court keeps evolving.
Jannik Sinner heads into 2027 chasing a third consecutive Wimbledon title after successfully defending his crown against Alexander Zverev in 2026, a run that has put him alongside an elite group of modern champions to retain the title back-to-back. On the women’s side, Linda Noskova will arrive as defending champion after her 2026 breakthrough win over Karolina Muchova, with the draw wide open behind her. Whatever unfolds on court, Wimbledon remains the most prestigious fortnight in tennis, and hospitality demand on Centre Court always outstrips supply.
From Perth to Rio, and Nottingham to Limerick, 2027 has genuinely global scale: a men’s Rugby World Cup on Australian soil, a home Ashes summer with England out for revenge, the first Women’s World Cup in South America, the Ryder Cup’s 100th birthday in Ireland, and Wimbledon’s timeless fortnight in SW19.
As fixtures, draws and ticket windows are confirmed, we’ll keep this guide updated, so check back regularly and get your hospitality plans in early, because if 2026 taught us anything, it’s that the biggest events sell out fast.
August 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most packed and exciting months in the sporting and entertainment calendar. From Test cricket at Lord’s to The Weeknd at Wembley, from the Dutch Grand Prix to the FA Community Shield, there is something happening virtually every single day.
Whether you’re planning ahead for client entertainment, looking to reward your team or simply searching for the most memorable way to spend a summer’s day, August has it all. Here’s your guide to the standout events of the month and how Engage can put you right at the heart of them.
The Hundred Finals Weekend (16 August, Lord’s)
August gets off to a brilliant start at Lord’s with The Hundred, building to a crescendo on 16 August with The Hundred Final. After weeks of high-octane cricket across the country, one team lifts the trophy at one of the world’s most famous grounds.
The Hundred has transformed the way a new generation engages with cricket, and a finals day at Lord’s is as electric an atmosphere as you’ll find anywhere this summer. If you haven’t experienced cricket hospitality before, this is a brilliant place to start. Engage offers hospitality at Lord’s across The Hundred competition, with places available for both the London Spirit fixtures and the Final itself.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (8 August, Ascot)
If you thought the flat racing season ended with Royal Ascot, think again. The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot Racecourse on 8 August offers a completely different and brilliantly entertaining take on horse racing.
A team-based format pitting jockeys from across the globe against one another, the Shergar Cup has a festival feel that makes it a superb hospitality occasion. The prestige of Ascot, the fun of a more relaxed format. It is a day that works beautifully for guests of all backgrounds, racing fans or otherwise, and Engage’s Ascot hospitality puts you right in the thick of it.
The Weeknd: After Hours ‘Til Dawn Tour, Wembley Stadium (14, 15, 16, 18 & 19 August)
One of the biggest artists on the planet takes over Wembley Stadium for five nights across the middle of August, making this one of the most sought-after live music events of the year. The Weeknd’s After Hours ‘Til Dawn Tour is a full-scale production, and Wembley provides the perfect stage.
For clients who aren’t necessarily sports fans, a live music hospitality experience can be the most memorable way to entertain. Premium hospitality at Wembley transforms an already spectacular evening into something genuinely extraordinary, and with five nights to choose from, there is plenty of flexibility to find the right date for your guests.
FA Community Shield: Arsenal v Manchester City (16 August, Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
The football season gets officially underway on 16 August as Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the FA Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, a major final and a stadium with an atmosphere like no other.
It may be the season curtain raiser, but this is no throwaway occasion. A cup final is a cup final, and with two of English football’s most glamorous clubs involved, this is a genuinely exciting hospitality proposition to put in front of your clients.
Sky Bet Ebor Festival (19 to 22 August, York Racecourse)
York Racecourse in August is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, and the Sky Bet Ebor Festival is its centrepiece. Running from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 August, this four-day festival is widely regarded as one of the finest meetings in the racing calendar outside of Royal Ascot.
York is a beautiful racecourse with a passionate crowd and a genuinely electric atmosphere. It is the kind of day that surprises guests who haven’t been before and keeps them coming back year after year.
Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix (21 to 23 August, Zandvoort)
The Formula 1 circus rolls into Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix across the 21 to 23 August weekend. One of the most passionate and atmospheric race weekends on the entire calendar, Zandvoort is a circuit that absolutely comes alive on race day.
With F1’s global popularity continuing to grow, the Dutch Grand Prix has become one of the hottest tickets of the season. For those already looking ahead to next year, the excitement around every race weekend only adds to the appeal of Engage’s broader Formula 1 hospitality portfolio.
Ariana Grande at the O2 Arena (15 August to 1 September)
Alongside everything else happening this month, Ariana Grande takes up residency at the O2 Arena from 15 August through to 1 September, making this one of the most significant live music events of the entire year.
The O2 Arena is one of the world’s great entertainment venues, and a premium hospitality experience there turns an already spectacular show into an evening your guests will talk about for months. Whether you’re entertaining clients, rewarding your team or celebrating something special, an Ariana Grande night at the O2 is a very hard act to follow.
England v Pakistan Test Series (19 August to 13 September, Headingley, Lord’s & Edgbaston)
Three venues, three very different atmospheres. Headingley brings a passionate northern crowd and a brilliant festival feel. Lord’s offers heritage, prestige and the kind of setting that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Edgbaston, meanwhile, is one of the loudest and most intimidating grounds in international cricket, with an atmosphere that has to be experienced to be believed.
All three venues are available through Engage, with the Lord’s Test being the only ICON hospitality across the three. With the third Test spilling into September, the series also provides a brilliant bridge into the autumn hospitality season.
Premier League Returns (From 21 August)
The 2026/27 Premier League season gets underway in the third week of August, and Engage’s portfolio of Premier League hospitality is as strong as ever. From Arsenal at the Emirates to Liverpool at Anfield, the opening weekends deliver some genuinely blockbuster fixtures.
Highlights from the opening run of matches include:
Whether your clients are passionate football fans or simply looking for a great day out, the Premier League opening weekend never disappoints. Engage’s Premier League hospitality portfolio covers all of the above fixtures and more.
Before the Ariana Grande residency kicks off, the O2 plays host to one of Britain’s most beloved comedians as Peter Kay performs on 7 August. A very different kind of evening, but one that works brilliantly as a hospitality occasion, particularly for clients who might not be sports fans. Sometimes the best client entertainment has nothing to do with sport at all.
Hankook London E-Prix (15 to 16 August, ExCel London)
Formula E comes to London for the Hankook London E-Prix across the 15 to 16 August weekend at ExCel London. Fast, loud and set in one of the world’s great cities, the London E-Prix is a brilliant and slightly unexpected hospitality option, especially for clients with a passion for motorsport and technology.
Make August One to Remember
There has never been a better month to experience sport and entertainment at its very best. Whether you’re drawn to the cricket, the racing, the football, the Formula 1 or the live music, August 2026 has something for every guest and every occasion.
At Engage, we take care of everything from start to finish, so you can focus entirely on your clients, your team and the moments that matter. Get in touch today to start planning your August.
New partnership gives BlckBx members direct access to premium sport, entertainment and lifestyle experiences through Engage.
Engage is pleased to announce a new partnership with BlckBx, the leading personal assistant and concierge platform built to remove the mental load and give time back to professionals.
The partnership positions Engage as BlckBx’s primary hospitality partner, giving members access to a curated selection of premium hospitality experiences across sport, entertainment and lifestyle events.
What does this mean for Engage clients?
Engage’s ICON Hospitality clients will benefit from this deal, receiving a membership courtesy of BlckBx.
Membership options give you a dedicated personal lifestyle assistant to take care of your to-do list outside of work. Offload things like your weekly meal planning, calling up Sky for a quote, chasing trades, organising a birthday party, managing the school admin and the other tasks you don’t like doing, don’t have time for or would rather an expert handle for you.
This also includes access to our luxury travel expert, gift expert and much more. Experience life with no life admin, no boring to-do list and more time to do the things you really love.
What does this mean for Blckbx clients?
Through the agreement, the BlckBx platform will have direct access to standout experiences at some of the UK’s most sought-after events. From major sporting occasions and concerts to exclusive lifestyle events, the partnership has been created to make premium hospitality easier to access and simpler to book.
At the heart of the collaboration is a shared commitment to service. Engage will provide curated event recommendations, booking support and hospitality expertise, while BlckBx will connect its members with experiences that help them celebrate milestones, reward success and spend quality time with the people who matter most.
Particular focus will be placed on Engage’s approved ICON events portfolio, giving BlckBx members carefully selected opportunities to experience some of the most exciting events on the calendar, from F1 and Royal Ascot to Henley Royal Regatta and the very best at Wembley.
Lizzie Archer, Partnerships Manager at Engage, said: “At Engage, we believe the best experiences bring people together and create lasting memories. BlckBx has built an impressive reputation for supporting busy individuals and families with every aspect of their day-to-day lives, so partnering with them felt like a natural fit.”
“We’re excited to help their clients experience sport, music and some of the world’s most sought after social events through premium hospitality, trusted expertise and a service that takes care of every detail. Together, we’re making exceptional events more accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for their members.”
The agreement also opens the door to future collaboration around networking events, golf initiatives at The Grove and exclusive hospitality experiences, further strengthening the value available to BlckBx members.
With both organisations focused on delivering outstanding service and meaningful experiences, the partnership marks the start of a new relationship designed to create memorable moments for clients across the UK.
About Engage
Engage creates premium hospitality, travel and event experiences across sport, entertainment and lifestyle. From major sporting occasions and concerts to bespoke corporate events, Engage helps clients build stronger relationships through shared experiences that last. Experience better.
BlckBx is a personal assistant and lifestyle platform for employers and private members. It has created a new category of workforce support – giving every employee, not just the C-suite, access to a named personal assistant matched to their household across family, home, health, and lifestyle. Each member works with a real human personal assistant, supported by the BlckBx app and powered by proprietary BlckBx technology. The platform removes the cognitive load that a professional career, family and a complex life creates, returning time that cannot be earned back any other way.
BlckBx is available as a corporate employee benefit or directly via monthly membership. Based in London but accessed globally.
Race Report: Formula 1 AWS Hungarian Grand Prix 2026
Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first grand prix victory of 2026 in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli after mid-race drama and a late retirement for teammate Oscar Piastri. It was a race that swung on strategy, a communications failure, and a coming together that will be talked about long after the summer break.
Qualifying at the Hungaroring
Norris claimed his first pole of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, beating Lewis Hamilton, as Mercedes suffered its first qualifying loss of the year. Norris found more time on his final lap while his rivals struggled to improve, edging Hamilton by just twelve thousandths of a second. The margin looked wafer thin, but it turned out to be academic.
Hamilton was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Piastri’s McLaren, dropping him to fifth on the grid, promoting Leclerc to second. Antonelli also lost ground, demoted three places for a yellow flag infringement. Verstappen rounded out the front-runners after a late spin in Q3.
Race Day: Blue Flags, Contact and a Comeback
Norris spent the first half of the race in Piastri’s mirrors, having been jumped at Turn 2 on the opening lap, with the Australian doing just enough to hold onto the lead and McLaren resisting Norris’ calls to be let through.
The race turned on Lap 39. A fault with the circuit’s automated blue flag system meant lapped drivers were relying on marshals waving flags manually rather than the usual light panels. Piastri, who had pitted from the lead and run into traffic, lost the position to Sainz’s Williams as he attempted to lap the Spaniard, with contact between the two cars costing him crucial time. That moment, combined with Norris’ pace in clear air, swung the race in the reigning champion’s favour before Piastri’s day ended entirely when a gearbox problem forced his retirement.
Verstappen finished second, a result Red Bull will take gladly given the season so far, while Antonelli’s third place extended his championship lead. Hamilton finished fifth after a pit lane speeding penalty dropped him behind teammate Leclerc, who took fourth. Russell endured a miserable start after an anti-stall problem dropped him as low as 21st, but recovered to seventh.
Further back, Racing Bulls scored another double points finish through Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, sandwiching Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, while Hulkenberg’s teammate Gabriel Bortoleto narrowly missed out in 11th. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso also impressed with their updated cars.
Stewards ruled Sainz was entirely to blame for the collision and handed him a five-second time penalty, though Sainz maintained the blue flag malfunction gave him what he felt was a decent excuse. Piastri was in no mood to accept it, telling media in Budapest that “that’s got to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen on a racetrack.” Given Piastri went on to retire from what looked a likely win, the frustration was understandable.
Hamilton’s Penalty Pain
It has been a rough few weekends for Hamilton on the stewarding front. The pit lane speeding penalty in Hungary was his fourth punishment in three race weekends, a pattern that will concern Ferrari as the title picture tightens. Even so, he leaves Hungary having closed to within nine points of Russell for second in the standings.
The move comes after the Malaysian government agreed to host the race on behalf of Bahrain, given the ongoing instability in the region, and the event will still be titled the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the Gulf state funding the race in a show of support for the sport. The relocation creates a triple-header alongside Azerbaijan and Singapore, running from late September into mid-October.
It is a rare and slightly surreal solution for the sport, but a welcome one for fans who feared the race would disappear from the calendar entirely for another year.
Upcoming Races
F1 now heads into its summer break before returning for a decisive stretch of the season. Here’s what’s coming up.
After the summer break, F1 resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, 21 to 23 August. The banked, high-speed circuit on the Dutch coast is one of the most atmospheric venues of the season, with Verstappen’s home crowd always creating an extraordinary atmosphere. Whether he will still be a Red Bull driver by then is, of course, the question on everyone’s lips.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza follows on 4 to 6 September. The Temple of Speed is the fastest circuit on the calendar and a venue where the championship picture often comes sharply into focus. With the title fight heading towards its decisive phase, Monza could be pivotal.
The Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid takes place 11 to 13 September, offering another high-speed test in southern Europe as the season heads towards its conclusion.
The Bahrain Grand Prix™ rounds out this stretch, though not in Bahrain. For 2026 only, the race heads to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, marking the venue’s first Formula 1® race since 2017. It’s a rare mid-season relocation, and one that gives fans a first look at how the sport’s newest old venue holds up against the current generation of cars.
The ECB has confirmed England’s 2027 home international summer, and it’s stacked. Three England teams face Australia in Ashes cricket, Lord’s hosts a rare home Test against Bangladesh, and the Kia Oval stages the World Test Championship Final for a second time. If you’re planning hospitality for next summer, this is where to start.
Men’s Ashes: five Tests, five grounds
England Men open their Ashes series at Trent Bridge on 18 June, then move to Lord’s, Edgbaston, the Utilita Bowl and the Kia Oval. The Utilita Bowl stop is a first. Southampton has never staged a men’s Ashes Test before, so this one carries genuine novelty alongside the rivalry.
The series wraps up at the Kia Oval from 29 July, a ground that’s hosted plenty of Ashes deciders over the years.
You can see current Ashes hospitality options across all five grounds on our Ashes 2027 page.
Women’s Ashes: Headingley’s first since 2001
England Women launch their multi-format Ashes campaign with a one-off Test at Headingley from 24 June, the first women’s Ashes Test at the ground since 2001. Given how last year’s meeting between the two sides ended, in a T20 World Cup final that Australia won, this rivalry needs no introduction.
The white ball leg follows: three T20Is at Trent Bridge, the Kia Oval and Emirates Old Trafford, then three ODIs at the Utilita Bowl, Lord’s and Edgbaston.
ICC World Test Championship Final returns to the Kia Oval
The Kia Oval hosts the WTC Final for the second time, from 9 to 13 June, bringing the two best Test sides of the past two years to south London before the Ashes even gets underway there. The 2023 final at the same ground sold out, so early planning matters here more than most.
There’s plenty either side of the headline series. England Men open their home summer with five ODIs against Pakistan, starting at the Utilita Bowl on 15 May. Bangladesh Men visit Lord’s for a one-off Test from 28 May, their first Test on English soil since 2010. England’s Mixed Disability team will also play Australia in 2027, a first-ever Ashes fixture for the format and a genuinely new addition to the cricketing calendar. New Zealand tour in September for white ball cricket as England fine-tune for the 2027 World Cup, and England Women close their summer against Bangladesh.
Full fixture list
England Men vs Pakistan
1st ODI – 15 May, Utilita Bowl, Southampton
2nd ODI – 19 May, Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
3rd ODI – 21 May, Headingley, Leeds
4th ODI – 23 May, Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street
3rd ODI – 19 September, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
4th ODI – 22 September, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
5th ODI – 25 September, Headingley, Leeds
England Women vs Bangladesh
1st T20I – 8 September, cinch County Ground, Northampton
2nd T20I – 10 September, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
3rd T20I – 12 September, New Road, Worcester
1st ODI – 17 September, County Ground, Hove
2nd ODI – 21 September, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
3rd ODI – 24 September, Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
Why book hospitality now
Ashes summers move fast. Packages at Lord’s and the Kia Oval are always in demand well before dates are confirmed, and this year’s calendar gives you a WTC Final, a rare Bangladesh Test and two Ashes series to plan around. Whether you’re hosting clients for a single day or building a summer’s worth of entertaining, the earlier you register interest, the more choice you’ll have.
Explore all cricket hospitality here, and enquire now to start planning your 2027 summer.
Last weekend’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale produced one of the finishes of the year. Ryan Fox rallied down the stretch with four birdies in his last six holes, including a 12-foot putt on the last hole, to beat Cameron Young by one shot. Sam Burns claimed third place ahead of Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood, who tied for fourth, in a final round that kept the outcome in doubt until the very last putt.
Watching that unfold from inside the ropes is a different experience entirely to catching it on television. If you’ve never sat in a hospitality suite with a drink in hand as a leaderboard tightens like that, weekends like this are exactly why it’s worth putting on next year’s calendar. This guide covers what golf hospitality actually is, what to expect, and how to book the right package, whether that’s watching the Open next year at St Andrews or getting out on the course yourself.
What Is Golf Hospitality?
Golf hospitality is a premium way to experience a tournament or a course, built around comfort and access rather than just a ticket. Instead of queuing at the ropes, you get a dedicated space to watch from, food and drink taken care of, and often extras you wouldn’t get with a standard admission ticket.
It works for a wide range of people. Corporates use it to entertain clients or reward staff. Groups of friends use it for a big birthday or a celebration. Plenty of people book it simply because they love golf and want to watch a major championship properly, without spending the day standing in a field.
Two Different Ways to Experience Golf Hospitality
It’s worth knowing there are two distinct types of golf hospitality, because they suit different occasions.
The first is spectator hospitality at a tournament, where you watch the professionals play from an elevated suite or terrace, usually with food, drink and viewing access built in. The Open Championship is the obvious example.
The second is a playing day, where you and your group actually get out on the course yourselves, often at a well-known venue, with food and drink served as you go. We’ll come back to this second type later, since it’s exactly what our ICON Golf Day is built around.
What’s Usually Included
Packages vary by venue and event, but most golf hospitality includes some combination of the following:
Course admission with priority or fast-track access
A dedicated viewing area, terrace or suite overlooking the course
Food throughout the day, from breakfast through to lunch and afternoon snacks
Drinks included, often a full bar rather than a cash bar
Big screens or additional viewing platforms around the course
Extras such as player Q&As, simulators, or fast-tracked access to the official shop
A Few Tips If You’re Booking for the First Time
Major championship hospitality sells out well in advance, particularly for a venue like St Andrews, so it’s worth booking as early as you can rather than waiting until closer to the date.
Check exactly what’s included before you book. Some packages cover food and drink in full, others charge extra once you’re there, and the difference matters if you’re budgeting for a client day or a group.
Think about logistics too. Smaller towns hosting the Open, such as St Andrews, have limited hotel capacity, so accommodation and travel are worth sorting out at the same time as your hospitality package.
The Open Comes to St Andrews in 2027
The Open Championship is golf’s oldest major, dating back to 1860, and no course has hosted it more often than the Old Course at St Andrews. The Old Course first staged The Open in 1873, when it was won by Tom Kidd, and St Andrews has hosted the Championship 30 times since. In 2027, it does so again, with the 155th Open scheduled for St Andrews from 15 to 18 July 2027.
The Old Course carries a weight of history few sporting venues can match. Recent champions there include Cameron Smith in 2022, Zach Johnson in 2015, Louis Oosthuizen in 2010, Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2005, John Daly in 1995, and Nick Faldo in 1990. Cameron Smith’s win came after a closing 64 that saw off Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, one of the great final rounds anywhere in golf.
2027 carries extra significance too. It will mark 100 years since Bobby Jones won The Open at St Andrews, defending the title he’d won at Royal Lytham & St Annes the year before. A century on, the Old Course remains the venue every golf fan wants to see the Claret Jug lifted at.
St Andrews 2027 Premium Hospitality Package
For anyone planning ahead for 2027, our premium hospitality package puts you right in the middle of it, overlooking the 14th fairway and the Links, close to the 9th hole. It includes:
Course admission with priority access
Access to Dunes House itself, plus multiple viewing platforms across the course
A variety of breakfast options within Dunes House
Multiple dining experiences within Dunes House for lunch and afternoon snacks
A full complimentary bar, including champagne, fine wines, beer, spirits and soft drinks
Something Different: Our ICON Golf Day at The Grove
Earlier we mentioned the second type of golf hospitality, the playing day, and that’s exactly what our ICON Golf Day at The Grove delivers. Rather than watching from a suite, you and your group play the course itself, with food and drink served on every hole along the way.
It’s a different kind of day out entirely, built for anyone who wants to combine a proper round of golf with the same level of food, drink and service you’d expect from a major championship suite. The next ICON Golf Day at The Grove takes place on 16 September 2026.
Whether you’re planning ahead for St Andrews in 2027 or want to get out on the course sooner with the ICON Golf Day at The Grove, get in touch with the team and we’ll help you find the right package for your group.
The inaugural Nations Championship has delivered on its promise. Twelve of the world’s best teams, two hemispheres, and a brand new competition that has already produced some of the most dramatic international rugby in years. With the southern hemisphere leg now complete, attention turns to November, when the action comes home to Twickenham.
Here is how England got on this summer, and why the autumn fixtures are not to be missed.
What is the Nations Championship?
Before the recap, a quick primer for those still getting to grips with the new competition. The Nations Championship brings together the six Six Nations sides and the six SANZAAR nations (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, plus Fiji and Japan) in a genuine cross-hemisphere competition. Each team plays six matches in total, three away in July and three at home in November, with all results feeding into a table that determines the pairings for the Finals Weekend at Twickenham on 27–29 November.
It replaces the traditional summer tour format and, if England’s three matches this July are anything to go by, it is a significant upgrade.
England’s Southern Hemisphere Campaign: Match by Match
Round 1: South Africa 45–21 England
Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 4 July 2026
England opened their Nations Championship campaign in the most unforgiving of environments: Ellis Park in Johannesburg, 1,750 metres above sea level, against a Springbok side that had lost just once in 11 Tests. After days of hype leading into the match, England barely turned up in the opening 10 minutes, falling off tackles and dropping balls as the hosts raced to an early 17-0 lead.
To their credit, England regrouped. The visitors clawed their way back into the match and were only trailing by three points before the break, at 17–14. Tries from Ellis Genge, Ollie Martin and Alex Coles showed real character. But England were reduced to 13 men for the final 10 minutes when Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper were sin-binned in quick succession, and South Africa took full advantage, with Malcolm Marx and Ben-Jason Dixon powering over to seal a convincing victory.
Result: Loss. A harsh lesson, but not without encouragement.
Round 2: Fiji 8–73 England
Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, 11 July 2026
England produced a response of the most emphatic kind. The victory was England’s biggest since beating Chile 71–0 in Lille at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Henry Pollock, coming off the bench, completed a hat-trick in the closing seconds and England’s 19-year-old debutant wing Noah Caluori touched down in the second half in a display that announced several young talents to an international audience. Ten tries in total, a perfect afternoon.
Result: Win. Confidence restored in the most convincing fashion.
Round 3: Argentina 24–31 England
Estadio Unico, Santiago del Estero, 18 July 2026
England saved their most dramatic performance for last. England survived a chaotic second half featuring seven yellow cards, a penalty try and a dramatic last-minute TMO decision to beat Argentina 31–24 and complete the summer tour with two wins from three. It was not pretty, but it was resilient, and in international rugby, resilience counts for everything.
Relieved of the burden of a losing run, England head into the November phase with renewed purpose.
Result: Win. Two from three, and a great deal learned.
The final round of the 2026 Six Nations broke the record for the most tries scored in a single day of the Championship. Here are the primary talking points from the weekend:
Where Does England Stand Going Into November?
England finished their July campaign with two wins and a defeat, collecting points that will shape their position heading into the Twickenham finals weekend. The competition table rewards wins, bonus points for four or more tries, and losing bonus points, meaning every November fixture carries genuine significance. England know what they need to do. Three home games, Twickenham, and a finals weekend with a first-ever Nations Championship trophy at stake.
The November Fixtures: England at Twickenham
This is where it matters. Three home matches at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) across November, each carrying weight in the overall table, and a Finals Weekend to close out the inaugural competition. Here is what is coming up.
England v Australia
Sunday 8 November 2026 | Allianz Stadium Australia arrive at Twickenham having shown they are no pushover in the southern hemisphere leg. England will be looking to start their home campaign strongly, and this is a fixture that has a habit of producing fireworks.
Saturday 14 November 2026 | Allianz Stadium Japan are no longer the surprise package they once were in international rugby. Their Nations Championship performances this summer have underlined their quality, and a Saturday fixture at Twickenham will draw a full house. A brilliant occasion.
The headline fixture. New Zealand at Twickenham is always an event, and in a year when the All Blacks are among the leading contenders for the inaugural Nations Championship title, the stakes do not get much higher. England have shown in the Six Nations they can compete with the very best. This is the match that could define their autumn.
The Nations Championship concludes with a three-day finals weekend at Twickenham from 27–29 November, with each northern and southern hemisphere position playing off against its equivalent. The top-ranked northern and southern hemisphere teams meet in the final. Whoever finishes where will be determined by November’s results, meaning every game leading up to it carries weight.
Three separate events are available for the Finals Weekend through Engage:
This is a once-in-a-generation occasion: the first ever Nations Championship Finals Weekend, hosted at Twickenham. Availability for all three days will move quickly.
Book Nations Championship Hospitality at Twickenham
England’s three home fixtures and the Finals Weekend represent some of the most compelling rugby hospitality of the year. All fixtures are at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, through Engage’s ICON facility.
Whether you are bringing clients, celebrating with friends, or simply want to be at Twickenham for the moments that define the inaugural Nations Championship, now is the time to secure your place.
Royal Ascot is the name everyone knows. Five days of royal pageantry, Group 1 racing and extraordinary fashion in Berkshire each June that dominates the sporting calendar like no other fixture in British racing. But here is the thing: the flat racing season does not end in June, and arguably its finest moments come after it.
From Ascot’s own midsummer showpiece to the season finale on the same hallowed turf, via the Sussex Downs and the ancient streets of York, the summer and autumn racing calendar is packed with events that can hold their own against anything the sport has to offer. If you love horse racing, or if you are looking to entertain clients in an unforgettable setting, here are the four fixtures that deserve to be on your radar.
King George Weekend, Ascot – 24 & 25 July 2026
The race that defines a generation
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is Britain’s most prestigious open-age flat race, and its roll of honour features some of the most highly acclaimed horses in the sport’s recent history. If Royal Ascot is the festival that defines a season, the King George is the race that defines a generation. Frankel won it. Enable won it three times. Shergar, Nijinsky, Harbinger. The list reads like a who’s who of the very best middle-distance thoroughbreds ever to set foot on a British racecourse.
The race is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and is scheduled each year in July, bringing together horses aged three and older for a truly international contest. In 2026, the race carries even more weight than usual. From 2026, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be Britain’s joint richest horse race, with a prize fund of £2 million, level with The Derby.
The 76th running is shaping into one of the most compelling renewals in recent memory, with a cast featuring Derby and Oaks winners, Arc heroes, Japanese stars and established Group 1 performers from across Europe.
King George Weekend is also simply a brilliant day at the races. Often regarded as one of Europe’s midsummer middle-distance showpieces, it attracts the finest horses from across the continent. The atmosphere at Ascot in July is markedly different from Royal Ascot, looser, less formal, and with the racing very firmly at the centre of the conversation.
Qatar Goodwood Festival, Goodwood Racecourse – 28 July to 1 August 2026
Glorious Goodwood
The world-famous five-day festival, affectionately known as Glorious Goodwood, is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season. It is a social and sporting occasion like no other, where some of the greatest stars in horse racing are crowned.
Set high on the undulating Sussex Downs, with stunning vistas of gently rolling countryside to the north and towards the sea and the Isle of Wight to the south, Goodwood Racecourse is considered by many to be the most beautiful racecourse in the world. That setting alone would make it worth visiting. The racing makes it essential.
The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup over two miles, the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes over a mile, and the Qatar Nassau Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. With no fewer than 13 Group contests across five days, it is clear to see why Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the undisputed highlights of the flat racing season.
What sets Goodwood apart from any other fixture is the atmosphere. There is a garden party quality to the week that you do not find anywhere else in racing, with the combination of the scenery, the fashion, the social element and the sheer quality of the sport making it genuinely unlike anything else. From exquisite dining in the Secret Garden to the curated street food collection and complimentary strawberries and cream, the experience at Glorious Goodwood extends well beyond the racing itself.
Ladies Day on Thursday 30 July is the social centrepiece of the week, with the Markel Magnolia Cup, horse racing’s most prestigious charity race, taking place on the same afternoon.
Sky Bet Ebor Festival, York Racecourse – 19 to 22 August 2026
The Royal Ascot of the North
The Ebor Festival is one of the highlights of the British flat racing calendar, bringing four days of top-class action to York Racecourse in late August. Widely regarded as the best mid-summer meeting in British horse racing, the festival features a series of prestigious Group races, culminating in the historic Ebor Handicap.
Often called the Royal Ascot of the North, the four-day fixture draws some of the best horses in training and consistently produces Group race action of the highest quality. The festival takes its name from the Ebor Handicap, run on the final day. Europe’s richest handicap flat race.
Each day of the festival features at least one Group 1 or Group 2 race. The Juddmonte International Stakes is the feature race on the opening day, the Yorkshire Oaks headlines Thursday, the Nunthorpe Stakes takes centre stage on Friday, and the Ebor Handicap closes the festival on Saturday. The Juddmonte International is the richest race of York’s season and is highly ranked among thoroughbred horse races in the world.
Past winners on the Knavesmire include Frankel, who took the International Stakes in 2012, and Enable, who won the Yorkshire Oaks in both 2017 and 2019. York has a habit of attracting the very best.
York Racecourse is located on the Knavesmire, a large area of common land just south of York city centre. The course has a reputation for excellent viewing, first-class facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere, while the city of York itself offers a wealth of historical attractions, restaurants, and accommodation within walking distance. It is one of the great raceday experiences in Britain, full stop.
QIPCO British Champions Day, Ascot – 17 October 2026
The grand finale of the flat season
Ascot Racecourse plays host to Britain’s richest raceday on Saturday 17th October 2026, with £4.35 million in prize money up for grabs as the very best horses and jockeys step out for one final, thrilling showdown.
QIPCO British Champions Day was created in 2011 to give the flat season a proper finale, a day that could rival the Cheltenham Festival in its ambition and prestige. It has delivered on that promise every year since. Six races take centre stage: the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, and the Balmoral Handicap.
The inaugural Champions Day in 2011 featured a spectacular display by Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Frankel returned the following year for the final start of his illustrious career in the Champion Stakes. That moment set the tone for what Champions Day aspires to be every single October.
Whether you are a racing enthusiast, a horse lover, or simply after the ultimate day out, QIPCO British Champions Day is guaranteed to deliver. You can watch from the running rail as five Group 1 races unfold, featuring some of the season’s top horses battling for supremacy within their respective categories. It is the final chapter of the flat racing story, and it is always worth reading.
Already Thinking About Next Year? Royal Ascot 2027 is Now on Sale
Royal Ascot 2027 takes place from Tuesday 15th June to Saturday 19th June 2027. If you have been to the Royal Meeting before, you already know why planning ahead is essential. If you have not, there is no better time to start.
For five extraordinary days each summer, the gates of Ascot Racecourse open to a spectacle unlike any other. The finest racehorses in the world thunder down the famous straight, royalty arrives in a tradition dating back more than 300 years, and thousands gather to be part of an occasion where sport, style and celebration come together in perfect harmony.
Engage Hospitality is now on sale for Royal Ascot 2027. Demand for premium packages is always high and the best options go early, so if you are planning to attend next June, now is the time to secure your place.
Experience Premium Horse Racing Hospitality with Engage
At Engage Hospitality, we offer premium hospitality packages at all four of these exceptional race meetings, giving you and your guests an experience that goes far beyond a day at the races.
Whether you are looking to reward top clients, treat your team to something special, or simply enjoy the finest hospitality British racing has to offer, we have packages to suit every occasion. Our horse racing hospitality combines the best seats in the house with exceptional dining, dedicated service, and the kind of access that turns a great day into an unforgettable one.
To find out more or to discuss availability, get in touch with the Engage team today. Places are limited and these events fill up quickly.
