Changing of the Guard Dates & Times 2026

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in 2026 takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11am, with a Sunday Parade at 10am. The confirmed London Changing of the Guard schedule is typically released around 4 weeks in advance, with exact dates, participating regiments, and musical support on the official Household Division website. Always check the confirmed schedule on the Household Division website before you visit, as the Changing of the Guard in London can be cancelled or rescheduled — sometimes at short notice — due to operational duties, state events, or road closures. At Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall, the Household Cavalry guard change daily at 11am, and at 10am on Sundays.

Changing of the Guard in London at Buckingham Palace schedule

Changing of the Guard Schedule May 2026

Date Time Ceremony Type New Guard Regimental Bands
Fri 01 May11:00Full Guard ChangeF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Welsh Guards
Sat 02 May15:00Captain's InspectionF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Scots Guards
Sun 03 May10:00Sunday ParadeF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Irish Guards
Mon 04 May11:00Full Guard ChangeNo. 12 Company Irish GuardsBand of the Grenadier Guards
Tue 05 May-No Ceremony--
Wed 06 May-No Ceremony--
Thu 07 May15:00Captain's InspectionF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Grenadier Guards
Fri 08 May11:00Full Guard Change1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Scots Guards
Sat 09 May15:00Captain's Inspection1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Welsh Guards
Sun 10 May10:00Sunday Parade1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Grenadier Guards
Mon 11 May11:00Full Guard ChangeNo. 12 Company Irish GuardsBand of the Grenadier Guards
Tue 12 May-No Ceremony--
Wed 13 May14:00Admin Mount (No Music)1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery-
Thu 14 May-No Ceremony--
Fri 15 May11:00Full Guard ChangeF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Coldstream Guards
Sat 16 May15:00Captain's InspectionF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Scots Guards
Sun 17 May10:00Sunday ParadeF Company Scots GuardsBand of the Irish Guards
Mon 18 May11:00Full Guard Change (HGM)1st Battalion Grenadier GuardsMassed Bands
Tue 19 May-No Ceremony--
Wed 20 May11:00Full Guard Change (HGM)1st Battalion Grenadier GuardsMassed Bands
Thu 21 May15:00Captain's InspectionNo. 12 Company Irish GuardsBand of the Scots Guards
Fri 22 May11:00Full Guard Change (HGM)1st Battalion Grenadier GuardsMassed Bands
Sat 23 May15:00Captain's Inspection1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Welsh Guards
Sun 24 May10:00Sunday Parade1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Welsh Guards
Mon 25 May11:00Full Guard ChangeNo. 12 Company Irish GuardsBands of the Scots & Irish Guards
Tue 26 May15:00Captain's InspectionNo. 12 Company Irish GuardsBand of the Grenadier Guards
Wed 27 May11:00Full Guard Change1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBands of the Welsh & Scots Guards
Thu 28 May15:00Brigade Major's Review1st Battalion Grenadier GuardsMassed Bands
Fri 29 May11:00Full Guard Change1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBands of the Scots & Irish Guards
Sat 30 May11:00Major General's Review1st Battalion Grenadier GuardsMassed Bands (Trooping Rehearsal)
Sun 31 May10:00Sunday Parade1st Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryBand of the Grenadier Guards

Please note that this schedule is subject to change and is accurate at the time of writing. Where changes to the schedule are made, particularly at short notice, we may not have time to update this website. This schedule should be taken as a guide only.

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