New Years Day Parade 2026
The London Parade 2026 (renamed from the London New Year’s Day Parade), 1st January 2026. Central London.
This was the 40th Anniversary of the Parade, and the DBS were there! It was the biggest Parade ever….. approx 8000-9000 people taking part, over 700,000 spectators on the streets, 27 million watching live in the US alone, with 1,100 other TV channels also broadcasting it. After last year’s deluge, and some gritted teeth to get thru it, this year the sun shone and, whilst it was very cold, everyone was full of smiles and there was an amazing happy atmosphere.
As ever, our donkeys did us proud. Vast quantities of tinsel (and DBS uniforms) were worn, we waved and the crowd waved back! Our 2 stalwart ‘pooper stewards’ (in tastefully decorated wheelbarrows) dutiful collected any deposits left on the road, and with each ‘final’ shovel, gave a bow which drew cheers of delight from the crowds! The route it 2.2 miles and our donkeys strode, or stopped to meet crowds over the barriers, amidst marching bands, London Borough floats, stunt motorbikes, American Police cars, huge balloons, minis, remote control dinosaurs and assorted pop artists. We only get to see a few directly in front or behind, but it was massive!
At each grandstand we are interviewed and a PR piece read out, explaining who we are and what we stand for. It is the most amazing opportunity to show donkeys as something other than creatures just standing in a field. They all behaved impeccably and opened some eyes as to what they are capable of, with understanding, trust and training.
The whole day is very social – we arrive early, park up in our designated area, chat, drink coffee (and other stuff to celebrate the New Year) and munch on sausage rolls, home made cake and all sorts of other shared goodies, then the actual Parade, a short walk back past Buckingham Palace and back to our trailers for more coffee and chat. This year we had new donkeys and also new handlers join us – it is fair to say they all loved it!
Would you like to join in? There is no need to bring a donkey, no need to drive in to London – public transport is running and we are literally right opposite Green Park tube station in Piccadilly. We always need more people to carry out Society banners, wave at the crowds, lead a donkey or – the ultimate rewarding job – wheel a barrow!
Look out for more details in Bray Talk and The Donkey.
