Richard Hammond is heading back to Blenheim Palace this September, adding a familiar motoring face to one of Britain’s most polished automotive weekends.
The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter will appear across Salon Privé’s Supercar Saturday and Supercar Sunday on 5 and 6 September, meeting visitors, judging cars and bringing his spirits venture into the mix.
At a glance
- Richard Hammond will return to Salon Privé for its 21st edition at Blenheim Palace.
- He will appear across Supercar Saturday and Supercar Sunday, including judging duties for the Concours de Vente.
- Guests will be able to meet Hammond, attend bottle signings and sample his spirits range during the weekend.
Hammond’s role across the Salon Privé weekend
Hammond has been confirmed as one of the headline names for the weekend programme, following his appearance at the event in 2025.
His schedule will include visitor meet-and-greets, bottle signing sessions and a return to judging at the Salon Privé Concours de Vente.
On Sunday 6 September, Hammond will join Top Gear editor-at-large Jason Barlow and British racing driver and broadcaster Amanda Stretton on the Concours de Vente judging panel.
The judges will select a standout car from a field presented by leading UK dealers, restorers and specialists, with the winner receiving the Prix d’Honneur trophy during the afternoon awards parade.
A spirits launch alongside the cars
Salon Privé guests will also be able to sample and purchase Hammond’s full spirits range during the event.
The line-up includes Ratio Gin, Iron Ridge Whisky and Hammond’s Bearing Caribbean Spiced Rum, which will be offered to the public for the first time at Blenheim Palace.
The new rum blends spirit from Trinidad, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, with each component aged for five years in oak barrels.
It’s a fitting addition to a weekend that has increasingly blended collectors’ cars, hospitality, retail and lifestyle programming rather than treating the machinery as the only attraction.
Inside the Boodles Club Lounge appearance
Hammond will also take part in an exclusive question-and-answer session in the Boodles Club Lounge.
The appearance is aimed at Club Members and will cover his television career, his long-running interest in motoring and his more recent business projects.
For many visitors, the appeal won’t simply be celebrity proximity but the chance to hear from someone whose career has helped shape popular car culture for more than two decades.
Salon Privé’s 21st year at Blenheim
Hammond’s return comes as Salon Privé prepares several updates for 2026.
The event will add two new Concours classes focused on modern supercars and hypercars, while a revised Best of Show format will recognise achievement across three collector-car categories.
That expansion feels aligned with the event’s broader position in the British motoring calendar, where pre-war elegance, concours restorations, contemporary exotica and dealer-presented cars for sale all sit within the same palace grounds.
Hammond described Salon Privé as one of his favourite events to attend, pointing to the quality of the cars, the Blenheim Palace setting and the enthusiasm of the people who gather there.
Salon Privé co-founder David Bagley also welcomed Hammond’s return, noting that visitors responded strongly to his 2025 appearance and that his presence across the weekend will give guests several ways to engage with him.
For collectors, supercar owners and casual enthusiasts alike, Hammond’s return gives Salon Privé 2026 a recognisable public figure without pulling focus from the cars themselves.
Tickets for Salon Privé 2026 are available through the event’s official booking channels.
