Windsor Castle Blog

Day: September 29, 2026

  • Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle: October 2026 Visitor Guide

    Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle: October 2026 Visitor Guide

    Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle: October 2026 Visitor Guide

    The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle remains one of the town’s most recognisable ceremonial traditions. For visitors planning an autumn trip, the official Household Division schedule currently lists ceremonies at 11:00am on selected Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the exact dates, military unit and musical support published in advance.

    What is the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle?

    The Windsor Castle Guard is responsible for guarding the Sovereign’s official residence at Windsor. The ceremony, also known as Guard Mounting, is a formal handover between the outgoing and incoming guards.

    The Household Division says the Windsor ceremony normally begins at 11:00am inside the Castle Precincts and lasts about 45 minutes. The new Guard arrives led by a regimental band, corps of drums or, on some occasions, a pipe band. During the ceremony, duties are formally handed over and sentries change before the old Guard returns towards Victoria Barracks.

    “Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle encompasses colourful spectacle and British pageantry.” — The Household Division

    The current October 2026 schedule

    The official Household Division calendar currently lists the following Windsor Castle ceremonies for October 2026:

    Date Unit Event Music
    Thu 1 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Welsh Guards
    Sat 3 Oct No. 7 Company Coldstream Guards Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Grenadier Guards
    Tue 6 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Grenadier Guards
    Thu 8 Oct No. 9 Company Irish Guards Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Irish Guards
    Sat 10 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Household Cavalry
    Thu 15 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Household Cavalry
    Sat 17 Oct No. 12 Company Irish Guards Guard Change, 11:00am Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Scots Guards
    Thu 22 Oct No. 7 Company Coldstream Guards Guard Change, 11:00am Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Scots Guards
    Sat 24 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Scots Guards
    Thu 29 Oct 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Guard Change, 11:00am Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Scots Guards
    Sat 31 Oct 26 Engineer Regiment Guard Change, 11:00am Band of the Irish Guards

    Important: the Household Division describes the schedule as weather permitting. Ceremonial duties can also change for operational or other reasons, so visitors should check the official calendar before travelling.

    Why the ceremony is significant

    The Guard is part of a long military tradition associated with protecting the Sovereign. The Household Division notes that the privilege of guarding the Sovereign traditionally belongs to the Household Troops, commonly known as the Guards, who have carried out this duty since 1660. Other British Army regiments can also undertake the responsibility for operational and other reasons.

    At Windsor, the ceremony combines the practical handover of guard duties with military music, marching and ceremonial drill. It is therefore both a working military duty and a public spectacle.

    Where does it happen?

    The Windsor ceremony takes place inside the Castle Precincts. Unlike some royal ceremonial events that can be watched from public streets, visitors need a valid Windsor Castle ticket to watch the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle.

    When The King is in official residence, the parade takes place on the Castle Forecourt. The Household Division recommends checking the current information because the exact arrangements can vary.

    Planning your visit

    • Check the date: the ceremony is not held every day. The current regular pattern is Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
    • Check the official calendar: military units and musical support can vary from one ceremony to another.
    • Allow plenty of time: arrive early enough to enter the Castle and reach the relevant viewing area without rushing.
    • Check for changes on the day: weather and operational requirements can affect ceremonial activity.
    • Plan the rest of your Windsor visit: Windsor Castle, St George’s Chapel, the Long Walk and Windsor town centre can all form part of the same day.

    Changing of the Guard at Windsor compared with Buckingham Palace

    Although the ceremonies share the same broad tradition, the schedules are different. The current Household Division calendar lists Windsor Castle Guard changes separately from the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. Windsor’s ceremony takes place inside the Castle Precincts, meaning that a Castle admission ticket is required.

    Official information and visitor resources

    Household Division — Changing the Guard calendar
    Household Division — Guard at Windsor Castle
    Royal Collection Trust — Windsor Castle visitor information
    Visit Windsor — official tourism information

    A Windsor tradition worth seeing

    For anyone interested in British royal history, military tradition or the daily life of Windsor, the Changing of the Guard provides a fascinating connection between the Castle’s long history and its continuing role as a royal residence. The ceremony is also a reminder that Windsor Castle is not simply a historic monument: it remains an active royal site with ceremonial duties continuing around it.

    Visitor reminder: schedules can change. Always check the official Household Division calendar before setting out, particularly if your visit depends on seeing the ceremony.

    Featured image credit: Toa Heftiba / Unsplash. The featured image is an illustrative ceremonial Guards photograph, used under the Unsplash licence; it is not presented as a photograph of a specific October 2026 ceremony.
    Image alt text: British guardsmen and ceremonial guard at Windsor Castle.

    Information checked against the official Household Division Changing the Guard calendar and Windsor Castle Guard information on 29 September 2026.

  • 12 Young Musicians Arrive in Windsor for International String Competition Semi-Finals

    12 Young Musicians Arrive in Windsor for International String Competition Semi-Finals

    12 Young Musicians Arrive in Windsor for International String Competition Semi-Finals

    Windsor welcomes twelve outstanding young violinists, violists and cellists for the landmark 10th Windsor Festival International String Competition.

    Classical string musicians performing at a concert
    Representative image of a classical string performance. Photo: Larisa Birta / Unsplash.

    Windsor is at the centre of the international classical music world this week as twelve young musicians arrive for the live semi-finals of the 2026 Windsor Festival International String Competition (WFISC).

    The semi-finals take place on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September 2026, forming a major part of the competition’s 10th anniversary edition. According to the Windsor Festival, the twelve performers were selected after a three-round preliminary adjudication from applications representing 35 countries. Windsor Festival – 2026 Competition.

    “WFISC seeks out exceptional young string soloists” and aims to encourage, nurture and support exceptional talent.

    Twelve musicians, three instruments and one Windsor opportunity

    The 2026 semi-finalists represent a genuinely international field. They include performers from the United States, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Sweden/Austria, Austria, South Korea, Canada, Japan and Australia/United Kingdom.

    • Roric Cunningham – Cello, 26, American
    • Sofia Demetriades – Violin, 18, British
    • Rokas Diržys – Violin, 18, Lithuanian
    • Lorenz Karls – Violin, 25, Swedish/Austrian
    • Eva Lucia – Violin, 26, Austrian
    • Mabelle Young-Eun Park – Violin, 26, South Korean
    • Michael Song – Cello, 25, Canadian
    • Coco Tomita – Violin, 24, Japanese
    • Edward Walton – Violin, 20, Australian/British
    • Sophia Werner – Violin, 23, American
    • Yebin Yoo – Violin, 26, South Korean
    • Emad Zolfaghari – Viola, 21, Canadian

    The official competition information says each semi-final programme is built around a recital of up to 45 minutes, including two contrasting movements from a Bach solo work, at least one movement from a major sonata or concerto with piano accompaniment, and a work written in or after 1975.

    Why this year’s competition is special

    The 2026 edition marks the 10th anniversary of the Windsor Festival International String Competition and introduces a new concerto grand finale. Three musicians will progress from the semi-finals to the final on 2 October 2026, where they will perform concertos with orchestra at Eton College’s School Hall.

    The final offers a choice of major works for violin, viola or cello, including concertos by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Walton, Haydn, Schumann and Elgar.

    Windsor Castle in England
    Windsor Castle, where the 2027 first-prize concerto is scheduled to take place. Photo: E Mens / Unsplash.

    A future performance inside Windsor Castle

    For Windsor, perhaps the most exciting part of the competition comes after the 2026 final. The first-prize winner is due to return to Windsor in September 2027 to perform a concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra during Windsor Festival, in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle, by permission of His Majesty The King.

    That gives this week’s competition a direct connection with Windsor Castle’s continuing role as a venue for major cultural and royal occasions.

    The competition’s prize package also includes a solo recording opportunity with Champs Hill Records, further concerto performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a concerto commission from composer Sally Beamish and further recital opportunities.

    From international stages to Windsor

    Competitions such as WFISC give young musicians an opportunity to perform before an international jury while building professional connections. The 2026 jury includes violinist Joji Hattori, violist Hsin-Yun Huang, cellist Raphael Wallfish, composer Sally Beamish, Windsor Festival director Martin Denny, Champs Hill Records executive producer Alexander Van Ingen and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra programming director Tom Philpott.

    Two official competition pianists, Simon Lane and Nigel Hutchison, are also supporting the semi-finalists throughout the competition.

    What happens next?

    The finalists will be announced at 22:00 GMT on Wednesday 30 September. The grand final follows on Friday 2 October at 7:30pm at Eton College’s School Hall.

    For Windsor residents and visitors, the competition is another reminder that the town’s cultural calendar extends well beyond the castle itself. Music, heritage, education and international performance all meet here during the autumn festival season.

    Image credits: Classical string performance – Larisa Birta / Unsplash. Windsor Castle – E Mens / Unsplash. Images used as representative editorial illustrations; they are not photographs of the 2026 competitors.

    Sources: Windsor Festival International String Competition official 2026 competition information; Windsor Festival ticketing information; Visit Windsor.