Every year, the same thing happens. A client calls in April asking about the Ashes Test at Lord’s, and the answer is no. Not because prices have gone up, but because the inventory went months earlier to people who picked up the phone in October.
If you are planning 2027 hospitality packages for your business, the next few weeks matter more than the next few months. Here is what tends to go first, and roughly when.
Two things make this series different from a normal home summer.
The first is that Southampton hosts a men’s Ashes Test for the first time. Demand for a new venue is always harder to predict, and hospitality allocations there are smaller than at Lord’s or The Oval.
The second is that no Test is being played north of Nottingham. Old Trafford and Headingley both missed out, which pushes a large northern audience towards Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. Those two grounds will feel tighter than usual.
Days two and three of each Test are what corporate buyers want, because a Friday or Saturday works for guests and the cricket has usually settled into a story by then. Those days sell out well ahead of days one, four and five.
If the Ashes is on your list at all, treat it as a decision to make before Christmas rather than in the new year.
Six Nations moves quickly because the window is short
The 2027 Championship runs from 5 February to 13 March, opening with Ireland against England in Dublin on a Friday night.
England’s home fixtures are the ones to watch. France come to Twickenham on 14 February, Italy visit in round three, and Scotland arrive on Super Saturday on 13 March.
England against France is the fixture that clears first, every time. It is a short campaign with only three home dates, so there is no second chance later in the tournament. Hospitality for the 2027 Championship has already been on sale for several months at some unions.
Availability here behaves differently to football or cricket. Thursday, which is Gold Cup day and Ladies’ Day, and Saturday are the days that close first. Tuesday and Wednesday hold on longer and often represent better value for a client group, because the racing is strong and the enclosures are less crowded.
If you have a fixed budget and flexibility on the day, booking early gives you the choice. Booking late means the day picks you.
Sunday hospitality is the first to go, and the Paddock Club allocation is finite in a way that grandstand tickets are not. Friday and Saturday are quieter, cheaper and genuinely worth considering if you are hosting a group that wants access and conversation more than the race itself.
Silverstone also has a travel and accommodation problem attached to it. Hotels within a sensible radius book up long before the hospitality does, so a package secured in October is a very different proposition to one secured in May.
The real issue is June and July 2027
Look at the dates together and the picture changes.
Royal Ascot finishes on 19 June. The first Ashes Test starts on 18 June. The Lord’s Test runs from 30 June to 4 July. The British Grand Prix runs from 2 to 4 July. Wimbledon sits across the same fortnight.
That is a five week window holding most of what the UK market wants, with suppliers, caterers, staff and hotel stock all being drawn on at once. Late availability in that period is thinner than it looks on a fixture list, and pricing reflects it.
If your entertaining plan for 2027 sits anywhere in that window, the case for booking early is not just about getting a seat. It is about getting the right day, the right suite and a room within half an hour of the venue.
What to do in the next month
Start with your guest list rather than the fixture list. Work out who you need to entertain next year and what they actually enjoy, then map that against the dates above.
Decide which one or two events you are not willing to miss, and register interest or confirm those now. For everything else, note when hospitality typically goes on sale and diarise it.
We wrote in August about why the second half of the year is the better time to book corporate hospitality. That applies more to 2027 than most years, because an Ashes summer compresses everything around it.
If you want a view on availability for a specific fixture, or a plan built around a budget and a number of guests, get in touch and we will talk it through.
Autumn is the most underrated quarter in the British sporting year. Between September and December 2026 the calendar delivers a new global rugby tournament with six fixtures at Allianz Stadium, three NFL games in London, the richest raceday in British racing, three England football internationals at Wembley, a white-ball cricket series across six grounds, and a Formula 1 title race that runs all the way to Abu Dhabi in December. This is a month by month guide to what is on, where it is, and which dates are worth locking in before they go.
Why autumn deserves more of your entertaining budget
Ask most people to name the peak of the British hospitality calendar and they will point at June: Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, the Derby, Henley. That is fair enough, but it means autumn gets treated as the quiet run-in to Christmas, and it is nothing of the sort.
Consider what the final four months of 2026 actually contain. International rugby returns in an entirely new format. The NFL plays three regular season games in London across three consecutive Sundays. The Flat racing season is settled at Ascot in October and the jumps season properly begins at Cheltenham in November. England play three home football matches at Wembley. Formula 1 runs a punishing eight-race sprint to the finish. Every major arena in the country moves into its busiest touring season of the year.
There is a practical advantage too. Autumn fixtures land squarely in the window when most businesses are entertaining clients ahead of year end, closing deals before Christmas, and rewarding teams after a long year. The events are there. The budget cycle lines up. It is mostly a question of knowing what is on.
September 2026: two seasons overlapping
September is the month where the summer sports refuse to finish and the winter sports have already started. It makes for an unusually crowded few weeks.
Cricket: Sri Lanka tour England across six grounds
The home summer signs off with a full white-ball series. Sri Lanka play three T20 internationals and three One Day Internationals, and the tour is spread deliberately wide across the country.
The T20s open at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday 15 September, move to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday 17 September, and finish at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday 19 September. The ODI leg then runs at the Riverside on Tuesday 22 September, Headingley on Thursday 24 September, and the Kia Oval on Sunday 27 September.
Two of those are especially relevant if you want the strongest facilities. Emirates Old Trafford on the Saturday is the pick of the T20s for atmosphere, and the Kia Oval closes the entire English international summer, which tends to give the day a sense of occasion that a mid-series fixture does not have.
Formula 1: the European leg ends and the title fight tightens
Three races fall in September, and the championship picture going into them is genuinely open at the top of Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings on 242 points, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton level on 183 behind him and Russell ahead only on countback. Reigning champion Lando Norris sits fourth after back to back wins either side of the summer break, and Mercedes lead the constructors’ championship by 87 points from Ferrari.
Monza hosts the Italian Grand Prix from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September. Madrid then makes its debut on the calendar from 11 to 13 September as the final European race of the season, run on a new street circuit. Baku follows from 24 to 26 September, with the race itself moved to the Saturday.
Our Formula 1 hospitality covers every round, and as authorised distributors we can place you inside the F1 Paddock Club at any race on the calendar.
Golf: Wentworth, then the ICON golf days
The BMW PGA Championship returns to Wentworth Club from 15 to 20 September, with the celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday 16 September and the four tournament rounds running Thursday to Sunday. Alex Noren defends the title he won in a play-off in front of a record crowd, and Wentworth’s proximity to London makes it one of the easiest premium golf days in the country to build a client group around.
Our own ICON Golf Days at The Grove run on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, offering premium food and drink on every hole, competitions throughout, and the chance to play alongside a major sporting name.
Football: England v Spain opens a new international window
UEFA has restructured the autumn international calendar. Instead of two separate two-game windows, there is now a single extended four-game window running from 24 September to 6 October. England open their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign at home to Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 26 September, with Thomas Tuchel’s side drawn in League A alongside Spain, Croatia and Czechia.
Alongside that, the Premier League season is in full swing after an unusual start, with Arsenal defending a title for the first time in more than two decades.
October belongs to visiting sports and to the two days that settle a British season.
American football: three NFL games in London
London hosts three NFL regular season games on three consecutive Sundays, which is as concentrated a run of American football as the city has ever had.
The Indianapolis Colts face the Washington Commanders at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 4 October. Reigning champions the Philadelphia Eagles then meet the Jacksonville Jaguars at the same venue on Sunday 11 October. The run finishes at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 18 October, where the Houston Texans play the Jaguars. All three kick off at 2.30pm.
If you have guests who have never been to an NFL game, this is the year to fix that. Explore American football hospitality.
Horse racing: the richest day in British racing
QIPCO British Champions Day takes place at Ascot on Saturday 17 October. Six races decide the honours at the end of the Flat season, four of them at Group 1 level, with total prize money of £4.35 million making it officially the richest raceday in Britain.
The card builds through the Long Distance Cup, the Champions Sprint Stakes and the Fillies and Mares Stakes before the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Champion Stakes settle the season, with the Balmoral Handicap closing the day. There are jockey signings, masterclasses and a Fan Zone through the afternoon, and an after party once the racing finishes.
England close out the extended international window at home to Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday 6 October, having travelled to Czechia and Croatia in between.
Formula 1 heads to Singapore from 9 to 11 October for the sport’s most demanding night race, then returns to the Americas with Austin from 23 to 25 October and Mexico City from 30 October to 1 November.
Golf’s autumn swing takes in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from 1 to 4 October, played across the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, followed by the Open de España and the DP World India Championship.
Concerts move indoors
October is when the UK arena touring season properly begins. The O2 Arena, Co-op Live in Manchester and the Royal Albert Hall all move into their busiest stretch of the year, and indoor shows suit corporate entertaining better than summer stadium gigs: predictable weather, shorter evenings, and a much easier journey home for guests.
If you only pay attention to one month in this guide, make it this one. November 2026 is the busiest month in the autumn calendar by a wide margin, and the reason is a tournament that has never been played before.
Rugby: the Nations Championship arrives
The Nations Championship represents the biggest structural change to international rugby in decades. It brings the Six Nations sides together with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Japan and Fiji in a single global competition, played across July and November.
England’s November programme at Allianz Stadium is as strong as any autumn in memory:
Date
Fixture
Venue
Sunday 8 November
England v Australia
Allianz Stadium
Saturday 14 November
England v Japan
Allianz Stadium
Saturday 21 November
England v New Zealand
Allianz Stadium
Friday 27 November
Finals Weekend doubleheader
Allianz Stadium
Saturday 28 November
Finals Weekend doubleheader
Allianz Stadium
Sunday 29 November
Finals Weekend doubleheader
Allianz Stadium
The format matters. After the pool fixtures, England meet the southern hemisphere side that finished in the same position as them, and that Finals Weekend is staged across three days at Allianz Stadium with doubleheaders on each. In other words, the inaugural climax of a new world tournament happens at the home of English rugby, and nobody knows yet which sides will be in which match.
Cheltenham’s November Meeting runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November, three days where Festival-bound talent makes its first serious statement of the season. The Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday 14 November is the centrepiece, off at 2.20pm.
Worth flagging the clash: Cheltenham’s Saturday and England v Japan at Allianz Stadium fall on the same day. If you are hosting two separate client groups, that is a decision to make early rather than in October.
Ascot then holds its November Racing Weekend on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November.
England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November before travelling to Spain on Sunday 15 November to finish the Nations League league phase.
Formula 1 runs a brutal end to the season. São Paulo comes first from 6 to 8 November, then a week’s break before the Las Vegas Grand Prix from 19 to 21 November, run as a Saturday night spectacle on the Strip, followed immediately by Qatar from 27 to 29 November. If the championship is still live at that point, and on current margins it should be, these are the races people will be talking about.
Golf and concerts
The DP World Tour’s season finale stretch begins with the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links from 5 to 8 November, before the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai settles the Race to Dubai later in the month.
November is also the single busiest month of the year for UK arena touring, which makes it the most competitive month for premium boxes and suites. If a specific show matters to your guests, this is not a month to leave it late..
December 2026: finales and festive fixtures
December is shorter on sport than November, but what remains carries real weight.
Formula 1: the title settled at Yas Marina
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December at Yas Marina, closing the season. Abu Dhabi has decided more championships in the last decade than any other venue on the calendar, and given how tight the Mercedes intra-team fight has been, there is a fair chance it does so again. The Paddock Club at Yas Marina remains one of the most requested hospitality experiences in world sport, and it is combined easily with accommodation for guests travelling out.
Ascot’s Christmas Racing Weekend takes place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December, one of the more festive fixtures in the jumps calendar and a natural alternative to a conventional Christmas party.
The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day then delivers the biggest jumps race of the winter outside the Festival itself, and a genuinely different way to spend the day after Christmas.
Concerts, comedy and the festive programme
December is when the Royal Albert Hall comes into its own, and when arena comedy fills the diary in the weeks before Christmas. For teams looking for something that is not another dinner, a show with hospitality attached does the job better than most.
The Premier League festive programme also compresses fixtures into a tight run between Boxing Day and New Year, which is often the easiest time of year to get a group into a match they could not access in October.
Most organisations book autumn hospitality one event at a time, usually reactively, when somebody remembers a client likes rugby. Treating the whole quarter as a single programme works considerably better, for three reasons.
You can match the event to the guest. A prospective client you are still getting to know is better served by a long afternoon at Ascot with time to talk than by a loud stadium concert. A team reward works the other way round. Having the full quarter in front of you means you can allocate properly rather than sending everybody to the same fixture.
You avoid the clashes. Autumn 2026 has several genuine collisions, most obviously Cheltenham’s Saturday against England v Japan on 14 November, and the Nations Championship Finals Weekend running across three consecutive days at the end of November. Spotting those in September is easy. Spotting them in November is not.
You get better options. Booking three or four events together, across different sports and price points, opens up flexibility that single bookings do not. It also means one conversation rather than four.
Our full event diary lists everything currently available with dates and venues, filterable by sport and venue.
Which autumn dates are already tight
Some of these will be gone before others. Based on how autumn demand usually behaves, the pressure points are:
Nations Championship fixtures at Allianz Stadium, particularly England v New Zealand on 21 November and the Finals Weekend. A first-ever tournament climax at Twickenham is not a normal November.
NFL London, all three games. NFL hospitality in London sells early and sells out, and the Wembley fixture on 18 October adds a venue that only hosts one game.
QIPCO British Champions Day, where the premium facilities at Ascot are finite and the day is fixed.
England v Spain at Wembley on 26 September, which is the highest-profile of the three home internationals.
Arena boxes in late November and December, where the constraint is not the event but the calendar itself.
Formula 1 flyaway races behave differently. Paddock Club access at Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas and Singapore is generally available later than a UK stadium fixture, but the accommodation around those weekends is not, so book the travel alongside the hospitality rather than after it.
Secure your autumn 2026 programme
Autumn 2026 has more to offer than any recent final quarter: a brand new global rugby tournament finishing at Allianz Stadium, the NFL in London three Sundays running, the richest raceday in Britain, and a Formula 1 championship that should go the distance to Abu Dhabi in December.
As an official corporate hospitality agency and authorised distributor, Engage holds direct contracts with venues and governing bodies including the RFU, Lord’s, the Kia Oval, Silverstone and Wembley. Every package is official, and every guest experience is delivered by our own team.
The August bank holiday weekend delivers one of the busiest four day stretches in the British sporting calendar. Test cricket at Lord’s runs right through to Monday, Premier League football is spread across all four days, the US Open main draw gets underway in New York and racecourses up and down the country open their gates for bank holiday Monday. Here is everything worth watching between Friday 28 and Monday 31 August, and how to be there in style next time around.
England v Pakistan, Second Test at Lord’s
The centrepiece of the weekend is unquestionably the second Rothesay Test between England and Pakistan, which began at Lord’s on Thursday 27 August and runs through to Monday 31 August. Play starts at 11am each day.
England arrive at the Home of Cricket with a 1-0 series lead after a thumping victory at Headingley, where they won by an innings and 103 runs. Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in their first innings and never recovered, and their middle order will need a substantial rethink if the tourists are going to level the series in St John’s Wood.
For anyone at a loose end this weekend, a Test match that could run all the way to bank holiday Monday is about as good as it gets. Days four and five at Lord’s often produce the most compelling cricket of the match, particularly with a series on the line.
Cricket hospitality at Lord’s with Engage means a full day in our ICON facility at the Nursery Pavilion, with cricket legends in attendance, premium dining and complimentary drinks throughout. Explore our cricket hospitality packages for the remainder of the summer and beyond.
Premier League: football across all four days
The 2026/27 season’s second weekend of league action is stretched across Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which means there is Premier League football on every single day of the bank holiday.
Friday night sets things up nicely, with Crystal Palace hosting Manchester City at Selhurst Park at 8pm. Saturday opens with Liverpool against Nottingham Forest at Anfield in the 12.30pm slot, followed by Bournemouth v Everton and Coventry City v Hull City at 3pm, before Tottenham Hotspur welcome Newcastle United at 5.30pm. Spurs will be keen to respond after a chastening 3-0 defeat at Brentford on the opening weekend.
Sunday brings a triple header at 2pm, with Chelsea v Brighton, Leeds United v Brentford and Sunderland v Fulham, before Manchester United host Ipswich Town at 4.30pm. Ruben Amorim’s side lost 2-0 at newly promoted Hull City in their opening fixture, so the pressure at Old Trafford is already building.
The weekend then closes with the pick of the fixtures. Aston Villa against Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday evening pits the reigning champions against a Villa side who were beaten 4-0 at Brighton in their opener. It is also the final day of the summer transfer window, so expect the football news cycle to be running at full tilt.
The final Grand Slam of the tennis season gets properly underway on Sunday 30 August, when the men’s and women’s singles first round begins at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. The opening round is spread across three days, running through to Tuesday 1 September, with day sessions from 11am local time and evening sessions from 7pm.
There is plenty to follow. Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka go in as the top seeds, with Sabalenka defending the title she won last year. Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to competitive action for the first time since a wrist injury in Barcelona in mid-April, which makes his campaign one of the great unknowns of the fortnight. Jannik Sinner misses the tournament through a knee injury, and Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit of another major. The women’s final takes place on Saturday 12 September, with the men’s final the following day.
If the tennis has you planning ahead, our Wimbledon 2027 debenture seats offer some of the very best views on Centre Court and No.1 Court, with access to the exclusive debenture restaurants and bars. Engage is an authorised reseller for The Championships.
Bank holiday Monday at the races
British racing traditionally makes the most of the late August bank holiday, and Monday 31 August is no exception. Meetings are scheduled at Epsom Downs, Ripon, Cartmel, Chepstow and Southwell, giving racegoers across the country something within reach.
Epsom Downs hosts a family raceday built around live racing and a full programme of entertainment, while Cartmel brings the curtain down on its jump season in the Lake District. Ripon, Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse, pairs its card with family activities that make it an easy day out.
Engage’s horse racing portfolio centres on our partnership with Ascot Racecourse, including a purpose built ICON experience at Royal Ascot and private boxes throughout the season. Take a look at our official partnerships to see the venues we work with.
Also worth watching
Snooker’s British Open begins at the Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday 31 August, running through to 6 September, with Shaun Murphy defending the title he won last year. Elsewhere, the domestic football calendar continues well beyond the Premier League, with EFL and non-league fixtures giving plenty of options closer to home.
Coming up next
The weekend after the bank holiday is every bit as strong. Formula 1 returns from the Dutch Grand Prix with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, the most historic venue on the calendar and a weekend where the Ferrari grandstands are worth the trip on their own. The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men also begins on Wednesday 2 September, opening in Lincoln with five ascents of Michaelgate before five days of racing across the country. Then it is back to the cricket, with the third and deciding Test between England and Pakistan starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday 9 September.
Engage is an Official F1 Paddock Club Authorised Distributor, with access to suites positioned directly above the team garages, gourmet dining and pit lane walks. Explore our F1 Paddock Club packages for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The second half of the year is when the corporate hospitality market quietly resets. Budgets need committing before year end, next season’s marquee events go on sale, and the best packages are still unallocated. If you are planning client entertaining for 2027, whether that is the Ashes, Wimbledon debenture seats or the British Grand Prix, the window between September and December is the most valuable stretch in the calendar to make decisions. Here is why, and what to look at now.
The corporate calendar runs on a different clock
Most people think about hospitality in season. Cricket in the summer, rugby in the spring, football from August. That is how the sport works, but it is not how the buying works.
Hospitality inventory for the biggest events in British sport is released, allocated and sold long before the season it belongs to. By the time a fixture is being talked about in the press, the best tables have usually been gone for months. The organisations that entertain clients well are the ones working roughly nine to twelve months ahead of the event, which puts the serious decision-making squarely in the autumn.
That timing happens to line up with something else: the point in the financial year when budgets are being tidied up and next year’s plans are being written.
Reason one: budget cycles work in your favour
For most UK businesses the financial year ends either in December or in March. Either way, the final months of the calendar year are when two useful things happen at once.
First, unspent budget becomes visible. Marketing and client entertainment lines that have not been fully committed tend to surface in Q3 and Q4 reviews, and in a lot of organisations that budget does not roll over. Committing it to hospitality gives you a tangible asset with a clear commercial purpose rather than losing it back to the business.
Second, next year’s budgets are being drafted. Getting a hospitality programme into a plan while that plan is still being written is considerably easier than trying to find money for it in May. If you know you want a day at the Ashes or a weekend at a Grand Prix, autumn is when you argue for it.
Worth asking your account manager: how deposits and payment schedules can be structured across a financial year boundary. There is often more flexibility than people assume, which matters if you want to commit spend in one year for an event taking place in the next.
Reason two: the 2027 calendar opens up while everyone else waits
Most companies do not start thinking about any of this until the new year. Booking in the autumn means you are choosing from a full calendar rather than what is left of one.
Reason three: you get the choice, not the leftovers
This is the practical argument, and for anyone who has tried to book a marquee event late it is the persuasive one.
Early in the sales cycle you are choosing between facilities, not accepting one. That means picking the hospitality style that actually suits the occasion, whether that is a formal seated lunch, a relaxed lounge or a private box, rather than taking whatever has not sold. Our own ranges, from ICON at the premium end through to VIBE, ROAM and ELEVATE, exist because different occasions need different atmospheres.
Booking early also gives you control over the details that guests remember: table position, group size, whether you are sitting together or split across two tables, and which day of a multi-day event you attend. Finals weekends and Saturday play at a Test go first. Those choices disappear quietly, and by the time you notice, the decision has been made for you.
Reason four: there is still a full autumn of sport to enjoy
Booking ahead for next year does not mean waiting until next year to entertain anyone. The autumn is one of the busiest stretches of the hospitality calendar in its own right, and it is a genuinely good time to host.
For client relationships, the timing is useful. Autumn and early winter are when people take stock of the year, renew contracts and decide who they want to work with in the next one. A well-judged day out in October lands rather differently to the same invitation in February.
Reason five: proper planning time
Late bookings turn hospitality into logistics. Early bookings turn it into strategy.
Give yourself a few months and you can do the things that make corporate entertaining actually work. Build the guest list around genuine commercial priorities rather than whoever happens to be free. Match the event to the guest, because a Test match and a Grand Prix suit very different personalities. Sort travel and accommodation properly, particularly for events outside London. Brief your own team on who they are hosting and what the day is meant to achieve.
There is also a follow-up argument. Knowing in September that you are hosting a group at Silverstone in July gives you nine months of legitimate reasons to stay in touch with those guests. The invitation itself becomes a relationship-building tool long before the event happens.
What to look at booking now
If you are working through a shortlist this autumn, these are the ones that tend to go first:
Six Nations 2027: England against France at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 14 February.
Royal Ascot 2027: five days in June, with Ladies Day the perennial sell-out.
Frequently asked questions
Between nine and twelve months before the event for major fixtures, which for the British summer season means booking between September and December. Blue-riband events such as the Ashes, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix can sell their best facilities considerably earlier than that.
Is corporate hospitality cheaper if you book early?
Not always, but early booking usually gives you better value. You get first choice of facility, table position and date, and you avoid the demand-led pricing that applies to whatever remains close to the event. Availability tends to be the bigger issue rather than price.
Can I use this year’s budget for next year’s event?
Often yes, depending on how your finance team treats committed spend. Deposit structures and staged payment schedules can allow you to commit budget in one financial year for an event taking place in the next. It is worth raising with both your finance team and your hospitality provider before year end.
How far in advance do Ashes hospitality packages sell out?
Home Ashes series are among the fastest-selling cricket hospitality in the UK. Popular days, particularly weekend play at Lord’s and the Kia Oval, can be fully allocated a year or more ahead of the series.
What if I do not know my guest list yet?
That is normal, and it does not need to stop you. Securing the event and the right number of places first, then confirming names closer to the date, is standard practice for most corporate bookings.
Plan your 2027 hospitality with Engage
Engage are one of the UK’s leading official hospitality agencies in sport and entertainment, with official contracts and partnerships across the events that matter most to British business. Whether you are committing this year’s budget or building next year’s programme, we can help you get the right event, the right facility and the right day.
We all know the feeling. You’ve sent the emails, had the calls, maybe even met for coffee a couple of times, but something’s missing. That deeper connection, the kind that turns a professional contact into a long-term partner, rarely happens across a boardroom table.
It happens in the moments in between. That’s the real power of sports hospitality. And it’s why more and more businesses are making it a central part of their client entertainment strategy.
The Experience Economy is Here
Today’s professionals aren’t just looking for a product or a service, they’re looking for partners they trust, people they genuinely like. Shared experiences are one of the fastest ways to build that kind of relationship, and few experiences match the energy, excitement and exclusivity of a world-class sporting event.
Whether it’s the roar of a packed Twickenham as England charge towards the line, the elegance of a summer’s day at Lord’s, or the electric atmosphere of a Premier League fixture, these are the moments people talk about for years. And being the person who made that moment happen? That puts you in a very different category.
It’s Not Just About the Sport
One of the most common misconceptions about sports hospitality is that guests need to be die-hard fans to enjoy it. They don’t. In fact, some of the most meaningful conversations happen between people who barely watch the sport at all.
That’s because great hospitality creates the conditions for great connection. When you take away the pressures of a formal business setting, when you’re surrounded by incredible food and drink, world-class facilities and a shared sense of occasion, people open up. Conversations flow naturally. Barriers come down.
At Engage, our events are specifically designed with this in mind. We don’t just put you in a seat and wish you luck, we curate an entire experience around you and your guests, so that the relationship-building happens effortlessly.
The ROI You Might Not Be Measuring
Sports hospitality is often dismissed as a luxury spend. But the businesses that do it well will tell you it’s one of the highest-return investments in their calendar.
Think about it this way: closing a deal, retaining a key client or securing a renewal is worth far more than the cost of a hospitality package. When you factor in the goodwill generated, the face-time with decision-makers you’d otherwise struggle to get in a room, and the lasting impression of a genuinely exceptional day, the numbers start to look very different.
And it’s not only about existing clients. Sports hospitality is equally powerful for rewarding your team, attracting new business, or simply showing your network that you value them.
Why Engage?
With over 20 years of experience and Key Partner status at some of the UK’s most iconic venues, including Twickenham, Lord’s and The Kia Oval, Engage has built its reputation on one thing: delivering experiences that exceed expectations.
Whether you’re looking for something for a handful of key clients or planning a larger-scale corporate event, our team works as your partner, understanding exactly what you need from the experience and making it happen.
ICON: The Ultimate Hospitality Experience
For the ultimate experience in sporting hospitality, look no further than ICON, our flagship package that sets the standard. Watch the biggest sporting events in the country from the comfort of private boxes, luxury marquees or the very best seats in the stadium.
Alongside world-class views, you’ll enjoy flowing drinks packages, gourmet dining and exclusive opportunities to meet sporting legends, all delivered with the highest level of service.
If you’re entertaining clients, ICON provides the perfect stage to impress. The sporting event creates the perfect backdrop for building stronger relationships, networking with like-minded professionals and discussing business in an inspiring environment.
Whatever your clients are passionate about, our ICON range has it covered. From rugby and football at the Allianz Stadium and Wembley, to cricket at the Kia Oval and Lord’s, to the thrill of horse racing at Ascot and Cheltenham, we bring you closer to the action.
Add to that the drama of Silverstone, the tradition of the Henley Royal Regatta and much more, ICON truly offers something for everyone. And for those who’d rather play than watch, our renowned ICON Golf Days at The Grove provide the perfect mix of competition, camaraderie and premium hospitality.
Ready to Experience Better?
The best client relationships aren’t built in offices. They’re built in moments.
If you’d like to explore what’s possible for your business this season, from the Guinness Men’s Six Nations to Wimbledon, Royal Ascot to the F1 British Grand Prix, get in touch with the Engage team today. We’d love to help you find the right event and the right experience for you and your guests.
Next year is shaping up to be an incredible year for sport, so where better to take your clients than to some of the greatest venues the world has to offer? Here at Engage, we provide luxury hospitality facilities at incredible events across the country.
If you’re looking to treat clients or business partners, why not offer them an evening of sport or entertainment they’ll never forget? With so much to look forward to in 2026, here are some of the top venues that we’d love you to join us at.
Arguably the fanciest sporting event we have to offer, Royal Ascot is always one of the highlights of the year at Engage. The historic horse racing event gives you the opportunity to dress to impress as the world’s best horses and jockeys, as well as the royal family, flock to Berkshire for an incredible week of racing.
Next year’s event runs from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th June and our ICON facility is in prime real estate, located near the winning post. Grab the perfect spot on our private balcony and enjoy the racing action, with incredible races including the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the Queen Anne Stake and, of course, the Gold Cup.
As the home of football, Wembley hosts some of the biggest matches in the calendar. Domestically, it’s the scene of the showpiece events in the English game. 2025 was the year of the underdog as Newcastle won the Carabao Cup, before Crystal Palace triumphed in both the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
Wembley will be the host of those headline matches once again in 2026, as well as several of England’s home games as they prepare for next summer’s World Cup. And it’s not just football that you can enjoy at Wembley.
The iconic venue also hosts concerts, as well as boxing and NFL events and you can enjoy everything it has to offer from the comfort of our ICON facility in the East Stand, overlooking the pitch. Our pitch-view restaurant provides the perfect setting to enjoy food and drinks before you take in the action from the best seats in the house.
While football lovers can enjoy the atmosphere at Wembley, we also cater for rugby fans at the Allianz Stadium. Here at Engage, we provide hospitality packages for the biggest matches around, including the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the Aviva Premiership final and the Quilter Nations Series.
After coming so close to claiming the Guinness Men’s Six Nations title this year, England will look to make amends in 2026. Steve Borthwick’s side will start the competition with a home clash against Wales on 7th February before hosting Ireland two weeks later.
Similarly to Wembley, the Allianz Stadium is also a multi-purpose venue, with concerts and NFL matches also part of the agenda. Our ICON facility is located in the heart of the stadium and gets you closer to the action, whatever event you’re at. Enquire today to reserve your place.
The British sporting institutions continue and they don’t get much more traditional than Lord’s, the home of cricket. Treat your clients to a day at a quintessential British landmark, where you can enjoy both domestic and international cricket in 2026.
As well as The Hundred and T20 Vitality Blast, you can also watch England matches. Next summer, we’ll host two Test Matches – New Zealand in June and Pakistan in August – as well as a One Day International clash with India on Sunday 19th July.
There’s no better place to enjoy a day of cricket than in our ICON facility. Relax in the comfortable seats in the Grand Stand for VIP viewing, mingle with cricketing legends and experience a day of luxury with flowing drinks and delicious food.
Start your engines and strap in for a full-throttle hospitality experience at Silverstone. The British Grand Prix returns to the iconic racetrack for three spectacular days of racing from 3rd to 5th July next year.
Lewis Hamilton has often graced the event, winning it a record nine times, and fellow Brit Lando Norris continued the tradition as he won it on home soil this year. The McLaren sensation will be looking to repeat the feat in 2026 and you could be there to watch it with your clients from the best seats in the house.
Join us in our exclusive suite inside the track, with premium grandstand seating to enjoy the action, as well as a hostess service, food throughout the day, a full complimentary bar and incredible guest speakers from the motorsport world.
As well as Royal Ascot, we also provide hospitality packages for Cheltenham Festival, which is arguably the biggest week in the horse racing calendar. The 2026 event runs from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th March next year and you can be there to witness some of the most famous races on the planet.
Treat your clients to an experience they’ll never forget, with a balcony overlooking the home straight that offers unrivalled views of the course. As ever, you’ll receive a premium experience, with plenty of beverages and the chance to get expert advice from our tipsters, who might just win you some money.
For those in business environments, the most valuable connections are often made outside of the office. Sport has long been the ultimate networking platform, bringing people together through the excitement and buzz of a live event or through a shared team experience.
That’s why premium hospitality at sports and entertainment events offers a powerful platform to connect with clients and create bonds that wouldn’t be possible at a traditional meeting or a business lunch.
Here at Engage, we offer countless opportunities to step outside the business world and enjoy the luxury of sporting hospitality. With our ICON, VIBE and ROAM packages, you can impress clients and make the most of unforgettable experiences, with something on offer for everyone.
ICON
For the ultimate experience in sporting hospitality, look no further than ICON, our flagship package that sets the standard. Watch the biggest sporting events in the country from the comfort of private boxes, luxury marquees or the very best seats in the stadium.
Alongside world-class views, you’ll enjoy flowing drinks packages, gourmet dining and exclusive opportunities to meet sporting legends, all delivered with the highest level of service.
If you’re entertaining clients, ICON provides the perfect stage to impress. The sporting event creates the perfect backdrop for building stronger relationships, networking with like-minded professionals and discussing business in an inspiring environment.
Whatever your clients are passionate about, our ICON range has it covered. From rugby and football at the Allianz Stadium and Wembley, to cricket at the Kia Oval and Lord’s, to the thrill of horse racing at Ascot and Cheltenham, we bring you closer to the action.
Add to that the drama of Silverstone, the tradition of the Henley Royal Regatta and much more, ICON truly offers something for everyone. And for those who’d rather play than watch, our renowned ICON Golf Days at The Grove provide the perfect mix of competition, camaraderie and premium hospitality.
VIBE
If you’re looking for a more relaxed yet unforgettable experience to network, our VIBE packages are the perfect fit. You’ll be right in the heart of the action, soaking up the energy of live sport or music, while still enjoying all the luxuries of hospitality.
Next year, VIBE takes you to the Kia Oval, where you can witness England take on New Zealand in their upcoming Test series, before facing Sri Lanka in the final ODI. It’s the ultimate way to enjoy world-class cricket in a vibrant, social setting.
And VIBE isn’t just about sport. With our Wembley packages, you can bring colleagues, clients, friends or family to see Coldplay live as part of their Moon Music world tour. Alongside all the usual hospitality perks, you’ll enjoy access to our pitch-view lounge, offering an incredible pre-show experience before the lights go down and the music begins.
ROAM
While an evening of hospitality in the UK is always an incredible way to impress clients and build connections, sometimes the most powerful statement is made when you take networking further afield.
That’s exactly what our ROAM packages deliver. You can enjoy luxury travel experiences that combine world-class sport, breathtaking destinations and unforgettable hospitality.
For fans of Formula One, our ROAM package to the Italian Grand Prix is a true bucket-list experience. Spend a weekend on the beautiful Lake Como, staying in a four-star hotel, and enjoy full access to both Saturday and Sunday racing at the legendary Monza circuit. It’s the perfect blend of high-octane action and serene lakeside luxury.
And the F1 thrills continue with another extraordinary ROAM experience. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime drive across the Pyrenees alongside legendary driver Damon Hill. Over five unforgettable nights, you’ll take in the stunning, picturesque mountains of France and Spain, enjoy wine-paired dinners, a round of golf, a karting experience and the chance to get behind the wheel of a supercar.
With ROAM, hospitality becomes more than an event – it’s a journey your clients will never forget.
Since its founding in 2001 by Liz and Greg Panter, Cavendish Events has established itself as a premier catering company, delivering exceptional culinary experiences at some of the UK’s most prestigious events. With a foundation rooted in a family ethos, Cavendish has grown into a team of skilled professionals dedicated to excellence in food and service. We’re delighted to have worked with Cavendish for many years, matching our company values and one of our trusted suppliers that we can always rely on.
Seamless Integration with Event Partners
While Cavendish excels in delivering top-tier catering services, they also understand the importance of collaboration. Their team works closely with event organizers and hospitality providers to ensure that the culinary aspect complements the overall event experience. This collaborative approach allows for a cohesive and memorable experience for guests.
Consistency and Attention to Detail
Cavendish’s reputation is built on their consistent delivery of high-quality catering services. From intimate gatherings to large-scale events, their attention to detail ensures that each event runs smoothly. Their experienced team meticulously plans every aspect of the catering service, from menu design to execution, ensuring that guests receive impeccable service every time.
A Family-Driven Approach to Catering
Cavendish’s commitment to quality is evident in their approach to event catering. Their classically trained chefs craft menus that are both innovative and reflective of seasonal British produce. By focusing on sustainability and local sourcing, they ensure that each dish not only delights guests but also aligns with environmentally conscious practices.
A Trusted Name in Event Catering
Over the years, Cavendish has become synonymous with excellence in event catering. Their passion for food, combined with their commitment to sustainability and collaboration, makes them a preferred choice for event organizers seeking to provide guests with exceptional culinary experiences.
If you’re interested in using Cavendish’s services, then you can enquire directly on their website or call 01844 202299 today.
As 2024 comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on a whirlwind 12 months in both sport and music. We’ve enjoyed yet another thrilling year, with countless unforgettable moments.
While there are plenty that we could have included, we’ve whittled it down to our five favourites.
Late Euros drama for England
England fans have become used to reaching the latter stages of international tournaments of late, so expectations were high heading into Euro 2024 earlier this year. While Gareth Southgate’s side reached yet another final, they sadly fell at the final hurdle, losing to Spain in the final.
Despite that heartbreak, there were still some huge moments for the Three Lions, with some unforgettable late goals along the way. England bored their way through the group stage to set up a round of 16 tie with Slovakia and they looked to be on their way out as the game reached its dying embers.
But Jude Bellingham had other ideas and after a phenomenal debut season at Real Madrid, he continued his dream season by scoring a dramatic 95th minute bicycle kick equaliser to take the game to extra-time. Harry Kane headed in a winner and England were into the quarter-finals.
Another late goal from Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka led to England ultimately beating Switzerland on penalties and then, in their semi-final clash with the Netherlands, another period of extra-time loomed. However, in yet another late moment of magic, Ollie Watkins smashed in a winner and England reached the final.
The return of Oasis
After splitting up in 2009, music fans have been begging for Oasis to get back together for the best part of 15 years. As time went on, those calls became more and more desperate, with many giving up hope that the feuding Gallagher brothers would ever reunite.
However, in an announcement that shocked the world, Oasis confirmed that they’d be returning for a long-awaited tour next year. The Britpop band are set to play five dates in their hometown Manchester and seven at Wembley, as well as gigs in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin and plenty of other places across the globe.
More than 10 million people logged on to buy tickets, with many fans being left disappointed. Their first return gig at the Principality Stadium is next July and it’s arguably the most anticipated concert in the history of music. If you missed out or fancy watching Oasis in style, you can join us in the UK or Ireland in Engage’s exclusive hospitality areas.
Keely Hodgkinson strikes gold in Paris
20 years after Dame Kelly Holmes did the double in the 800m and 1500m in Athens, Team GB crowned another queen of the track in Paris this summer. Keely Hodgkinson was targeting gold after claiming silver in Tokyo last time out and she didn’t disappoint.
The 22-year-old raced to glory in an emphatic performance, leaving reigning world champion Mary Moraa in her wake. Hodgkinson’s incredible feat saw her crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year earlier this week.
And the runner wasn’t Team GB’s only star at this year’s games. Alex Yee mounted a remarkable comeback to claim gold in the triathlon, while paralympian Dame Sarah Storey picked up another two cycling gold medals to take her career tally to 19.
The 20-month tour became the highest-grossing in history and the first to gross more than $1 billion, with more than 10 million people attending around the world. And Swift wasn’t the only female pop superstar to taste success this year.
Sabrina Carpenter, who was a support act in some of the earlier The Eras Tour shows, enjoyed a breakthrough year. Her album ‘Short n’ Sweet’, which featured the hit single ‘Espresso’, became the first to ever debut at the top of the Billboard 200.
Elsewhere, the likes of Chappell Roan and Charlie XCX became musical icons this year, while Dua Lipa stole the show at Glastonbury as she headlined the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night.
Luke Littler bounces back from World Championship defeat
We’re currently in the midst of the PDC World Darts Championship but if we rewind 12 months, Luke Littler was taking his debut tournament by storm. Aged just 16, the 66/1 shot went on a remarkable run to reach the final.
He suffered heartbreak as he eventually lost to fellow Brit Luke Humphries but the youngster, who was the SPOTY runner-up, has bounced back and enjoyed a standout year.
Littler is the reigning Premier League Darts, Grand Slam and World Series Finals champion. He’s still hoping to add the World Championship title to his collection and, with his 18th birthday still a few weeks away, we’ve got no doubt that he’ll have plenty to his name when he eventually calls it a day.
London has always been renowned for its range of world class facilities, hosting sporting events, theatrical performances, musical shows and much more. Some of London’s state of the art facilities have witnessed some of the greatest events in history including the London 2012 Olympics, the Ashes, the Brit Awards and much more. Here at Engage we offer hospitality in a whole host of London venues so you too can experience history and events like no other, from the best seats in the house.
With an incredible range of options on offer, Engage Hospitality provide packages across London with something for everyone. Catering for music, comedy, football, rugby and cricket fans, you will not be disappointed. Venues on offer include The Oval, Lord’s, Twickenham and The O2 Arena.
The Oval
With summer well underway, what better way to spend it than watching the cricket at The Kia Oval. Choose from a range of different formats including The Hundred, T20, Test Matches and more. Experience an atmosphere like no other as the ground plays host to the Oval Invincibles, Surrey and England. With some of the world’s best cricketers expected to play here this summer including the finale of an England vs Sri Lanka Test Series! What better way to witness it than with Engage Hospitality and our ICON facilities?
Lord’s
Perhaps you would prefer to watch England at the Home of Cricket? Or maybe you’re a Middlesex fan? Don’t worry, Engage have got you covered. We also offer brilliant hospitality packages at Lord’s Cricket Ground so you can watch London Spirit, Middlesex and England at the most iconic cricket ground in the world. After the controversial Ashes series last summer, Australia will be back on English soil for the first time in 2024 and you can watch it live from Lord’s with Engage Hospitality!
Twickenham
More of a Rugby fan? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of rugby games as England compete in both the Autumn Nations Series and the Six Nations at Twickenham. Watch England from our ICON facilities as they face Japan, Australia, New Zealand and, World Cup Winners, South Africa amongst others. Experience an England side challenge for their first Six Nations title since 2020!
The O2 Arena
If you’re not a sporting fan, check out Engage Hospitality’s range of events taking place this summer at The O2 Arena including The Killers, Peter Kay and The Girls Aloud Show. The O2 is one of the most famous venues in the capital and is a great opportunity to see your favourite performers with some of the best hospitality on offer. The venue has seen some of the greatest entertainers ever including Elton John, Madonna, Prince and more. So why not see it for yourself?
Other Venues in London
These venues are not all Engage have to offer in London. Engage provide hospitality for Wembley Stadium, one of the UK’s most iconic sporting venues hosting international and domestic football. Not to mention presenting annual NFL games as well as a range of performing artists including Green Day, AC/DC and Bruce Springsteen. Engage Hospitality also provide packages at The Royal Albert Concert Hall, The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and more!
Here at Engage we offer something for everyone in London and beyond. Don’t hesitate to enquire about our hospitality options on show. Be quick though, the packages will sell fast! Check out Engage Hospitality for all the latest offers and decide which event you would like to watch from the best seats in the house across London!
