Deputy Lieutenant Opens the 95th National Honey Show

23rd October 2026 | News in your area

Deputy Lieutenant Opens the 95th National Honey Show

Deputy Lieutenant Caroline Breckell was delighted to open the 95th National Honey Show on 22 October at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, one of Surrey’s most celebrated and long-established events.

Recognised as the world’s largest honey show and beekeeping convention, this remarkable event brings together beekeepers, exhibitors and enthusiasts from across the globe. This year, the show welcomed a record-breaking 2,918 entries from more than 400 exhibitors representing 23 countries.

The National Honey Show is celebrating a significant achievement, having received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025. Now in its 103rd year, the show continues to be run entirely by dedicated volunteers, many of whom are based in Surrey.

Visitors can enjoy more than 200 competition classes featuring honey, beeswax candles, mead, cakes, biscuits and a wide range of creative exhibits. Alongside the displays, the event offers an extensive programme of talks from internationally renowned speakers, helping to promote education and best practice in beekeeping.

Speaking after the opening, Caroline praised the commitment of the volunteers and organisers whose enthusiasm has helped the National Honey Show grow into an internationally respected event while inspiring greater awareness of the vital role bees play in supporting biodiversity and the natural environment.

The Surrey Lieutenancy congratulates everyone involved in the continued success of the National Honey Show and on the well-deserved recognition received through The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.