Warwick Mop 2026: Dates, Times, Road Closures & Parking

The Warwick Mop is the town’s historic October funfair, filling the Market Place and the streets around it for two weekends: the Mop itself, then the Runaway Mop a week later. Here are the 2026 dates, times, road closures and parking, from Warwick District Council and the fair’s own website.

Warwick Mop 2026: dates and times

The fair runs until 10.30pm, according to the council; the fair’s own website says 10pm. Rides are paid for one at a time. It’s in the Market Place and the streets around it.

Road closures

These roads are closed from 4.45pm on Thursday 15 October to 11.59am on Sunday 18 October, and again from 4.45pm on Thursday 22 October to 11.59am on Sunday 25 October:

• Market Place, Market Street (except for leaving the bus station and car park) and Puckering’s Lane (except for access to the bus station and car park)
• Brook Street, New Street, Old Square, Swan Street, The Holloway and New Bridge

Parking during the Mop

• New Street car park is closed at the same times as the roads. The council suggests West Rock car park instead.
• Hampton Road car park is closed to all vehicles, including camper vans, from 7am on Sunday 11 October to 12pm on Sunday 25 October. Permit holders can use Bread and Meat Close and Vittle Drive.

Prices and the rest of the town’s car parks are in our Warwick parking guide. The Warwick Live map shows buses and roadworks right now.

Nearly 700 years of the Mop

The Mop began as a hiring fair, where local labourers and employers met each autumn. The council and town council describe the Mop and Runaway Mop as held on consecutive Fridays and Saturdays in October for around 700 years. A Mop Charter is signed between the council and the fair’s organisers every ten years, and the Mayor of Warwick reads it aloud, with the Town Crier, to open the fair.

For more to do in town, see what’s on this weekend.

Alex Harrington