Summer Solstice 2026 – Estimating Attendance Numbers

With the 2026 Summer Solstice now only days away (evening of Saturday 20 June to morning of Sunday 21 June), here is an updated estimate based on historical data and the current weather outlook.

This post draws on the full historical dataset published in Summer Solstice Numbers at Stonehenge.

Key factors for 2026

• Day of the week: Sunday 21 June – a weekend day, which historically produces significantly higher attendance.
• Recent performance: 2025 (Saturday) set a record of ~25,000. 2024 (Friday) reached ~15,000.
• Weather outlook: Current forecasts are looking predominantly sunny and dry for the weekend. Good weather has historically been one of the strongest drivers of higher attendance.
• Parking: £25 with pre-booking required – this may have a modest moderating effect.
• Longer-term trend: Strong post-COVID recovery on weekend dates.

Updated estimated attendance range for 2026

Scenario	Estimated Attendance	Conditions
Low	17,000 – 19,000	Poor weather (unlikely based on current forecast)
Most likely	21,000 – 24,000	Good/sunny weather (current outlook)
High	24,000 – 27,000+	Excellent weather + strong social media interest

Central forecast: approximately 22,000 – 23,000

A sunny weekend on a Sunday should deliver one of the stronger attendances on record, though it may still fall short of the exceptional 2025 Saturday figure.

I will update this post after the event with the actual numbers once they are released by English Heritage or Wiltshire Police.

Reference
Full historical data and day-of-the-week analysis: Summer Solstice Numbers at Stonehenge