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The site opens at 8:30 for you to browse The Tank Museum, trade stalls and living history encampments. The site closes at 18:00.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see the main action in the arena, with unique displays of historic and modern armour from The Tank Museum’s collection, British Army, and very special guests.
There will also be living history encampments, lectures from tank experts and demonstrations, traders and caterers throughout the site, and of course The Tank Museum to explore.
Official opening of TANKFEST 2025
Modern vehicles show their paces to mark the opening of TANKFEST.
World War One: Breaking the Stalemate
Why fast tanks were developed, illustrated in battle re-enactment scenarios.
From Defeat to Victory
From the Matilda I to the Comet, watch the transformation of British Second World War tanks, from Dunkirk to Normandy.
World War 2: Developing Tactics
An unrivalled display of Second World War tanks used by British, US, Soviet and German forces.
Lunch Break
An opportunity to refuel and explore the site!
NW Europe 1945: WW2 Re-Enactment Battle
An explosive illustration of the battlefield tactics.
We’re Going to Need a Bigger Gun
The tanks developed after the Second World War, to challenge new threats.
The Arrival of the Main Battle Tank
Armour from both sides of the Iron Curtain tell a story of a Cold War arms race that accelerated tank development.
Meeting Post War Threats
How British armour has developed in the last 40 years.
The British Army Display
A display of in-service vehicles used by The British Army’s Royal Armoured Corps and a demonstration of their battle tactics.
Display Ends
But the site is open until 18:00 – so there is still time to explore.
Bovington Academy Dandelion Kids
Makaton Signing Choir and poetry performances
– We’ll Meet Again
– Fight Song
– Proud
– Poems written and read by the children”
Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story
There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.
Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy
On D-Day, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars spearheaded the assault on Sword Beach in their amphibious DD Sherman tanks. Andrew May’s book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, recounts the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, and their fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland. Part two of the presentation will consider the armour supporting the 24th Guards Brigade in Tunisia and Italy, in particular elements of the Royal Armoured Corps and the 6th South African Armoured Division.
Top Trumps: Battle Tanks
We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.
Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?
In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question
Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question
Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.
Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story
There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.
Top Trumps: Battle Tanks
We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.
Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy
On D-Day, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars spearheaded the assault on Sword Beach in their amphibious DD Sherman tanks. Andrew May’s book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, recounts the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, and their fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland. Part two of the presentation will consider the armour supporting the 24th Guards Brigade in Tunisia and Italy, in particular elements of the Royal Armoured Corps and the 6th South African Armoured Division.
Sgt Anthony “Chez” Cherrett – Operation Mother, Lets find the Mother of all Tanks
Brief History of Mother, Project highlights and our future plans to search for her.
Mark Urban – The Greatest Ever Tanks
Join best-selling historian and former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment Mark Urban as he discusses how you can distinguish between so many different designs and what they represent.
His new book TANK: The 10 War Machines That Changed the World and the Remarkable Men Behind Them draws on wide-ranging accounts from soldiers, designers, and politicians, from Winston Churchill to Volodymyr Zelensky, to tell the remarkable story of one of the most important developments in military history including the Mark IV, the T-34, Tiger and M1 Abrams.
Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?
In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.
Sgt Anthony “Chez” Cherrett – Operation Mother, Lets find the Mother of all Tanks
Brief History of Mother, Project highlights and our future plans to search for her.
Mark Urban – The Greatest Ever Tanks
Join best-selling historian and former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment Mark Urban as he discusses how you can distinguish between so many different designs and what they represent.
His new book TANK: The 10 War Machines That Changed the World and the Remarkable Men Behind Them draws on wide-ranging accounts from soldiers, designers, and politicians, from Winston Churchill to Volodymyr Zelensky, to tell the remarkable story of one of the most important developments in military history including the Mark IV, the T-34, Tiger and M1 Abrams.
Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story
There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.
Top Trumps: Battle Tanks
We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.
Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?
In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.
Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy
Matthew ‘Sticky’ Whitchurch will share his 37 years experience of leading armoured vehicles on the battlefield for the Army and NATO, and discuss his compelling study of battlefields in the Baltics and Ukraine. This talk will signpost good to knows on Tanks in Normandy, Italy and the Eastern Front as seen 80 years ago.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question
Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.
