Brompton, the London-based maker of the original folding bike has today announced that the Brompton World Championship (BWC) 2026 will take place on Saturday 5th September at Lee Valley VeloPark, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with tickets on sale from today.
To mark the announcement, Brompton teamed up with renowned Strava artist Nico Georgiou to create a larger-than-life cycling artwork across London’s streets, to create a unique piece of GPS artwork celebrating London, cycling and the Brompton community.
One of Britain’s most iconic cycling venues, Lee Valley VeloPark provides the perfect setting for Brompton’s biggest and most ambitious World Championship to date. This year’s Brompton World Championship promises to be huge, with 650 riders taking to the start line, up from 500 in previous years.
The famous Le Mans-style start will once again see competitors sprint to their folded Brompton bikes before unfolding them and racing onto the circuit, with riders competing across ten qualifying heats before the fastest men and women progress to the championship finals.
Known as much for its personality as its competition, BWC continues to celebrate individuality, with riders encouraged to swap Lycra for creative outfits inspired by their city, country, culture or imagination.
Set against the backdrop of Lee Valley VeloPark, competitors will battle across a fast-paced circuit, racing for a place in the finals. This year’s championship will see 650 riders, competing across 10 qualifying heats of 75 riders each. The fastest 75 men and 75 women will earn their place in the respective finals, where two riders will ultimately be crowned Brompton World Champions 2026.
As much a celebration of personality as performance, the Brompton World Championship has become one of cycling’s most distinctive events.
This year’s event introduces two exciting new additions to the championship.
Making its debut is the BWC Relay Race, bringing a fun, team-based format to the event. Teams of four Brompton riders will take turns tackling the course in a fast-paced relay, with dramatic changeovers adding another layer of excitement for competitors and spectators alike.
Also new for 2026 is the Hydro Scrap Lap, presented by event partner Hydro. Rather than rewarding outright speed, the award celebrates the rider who delivers the most memorable lap of the day. Whether through creativity, style or pure entertainment, it’s designed to recognise the personality and originality that have always been at the heart of the Brompton World Championship.
Beyond the racing, visitors can enjoy a full day celebrating Brompton and city cycling, including:
Brompton demos and test rides
Folding competitions
Sponsor village including Aera, Hydro, Shokz, Teya, and Newlane
Workshops and community talks
Exclusive merchandise
Food and drink
Entertainment throughout the day
The Brompton World Championship brings together riders from across Europe, Asia, North America and beyond, transforming London into the global home of folding bike culture for one unforgettable day.
“There’s no better way to explore a city than by bike, and London has been inspiring Brompton riders for more than 50 years. It feels fitting to celebrate the return of the BWC with a piece of artwork drawn by bike across the city’s streets,” said Chris Willingham, chief marketing officer at Brompton.
The championship captures everything we love about our community: people coming together, expressing themselves and sharing the joy of riding. It’s a day that showcases cycling at its most welcoming, creative and fun, and we’re excited to see riders from across the globe come together once again.” said Chris Willingham, chief marketing officer at Brompton.
Tickets for the Brompton World Championship 2026 are available now.
Spectating at the event is free, with riders, supporters and cycling fans all welcome to join the celebrations at Lee Valley VeloPark on Saturday 5th September.
