Over the next few weeks the focus will be on Guernsey’s three traditional summer shows as the South, West, and North Shows return for 2026.
Traditionally held during August, as that was peak harvest time, the three shows still include displays of competition-level crops, alongside baked goods and arts and crafts.
The South Show always comes first – with entries welcomed from people living in the Forest, St Martin’s, St Andrew’s, and St Peter Port.
Entry day for the South Show is this Saturday 8 August – with the show itself taking place on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August at the Professor Shaw Community Centre in St Martin’s.
To enter an exhibit at any of the summer shows you have to be a member of the show itself.
Anyone living in the Forest, St Martin’s, St Andrew’s, or St Peter Port can register as a member of the South Show between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday 8 August at the community centre. You will register your exhibit entries at the same time.
The exhibits will then need to be taken to the community centre on Thursday 13 August between 15:30 and 21:00 so they are ready for judging the following morning, before the show opens to the public at lunchtime.
The 2025 South Show attracted more than 1,000 exhibits across the multiple categories, with the Show President saying it “had gone really well”.
John Ogier told Express that the South Show continues to evolve but keeps its agriculture and horticultural roots at the forefront.
“(I) still remember when it was a big show and it was all about cows and people with hundreds of feet of glass houses and big trays of tomatoes and things like that, and that was great, and we want to keep that connection with plants and that, but we’ve got to change it as well,” he said.
As a result of that effort to evolve, the South Show has introduced different features over the years with activities in the field behind the community centre, live music, a raffle, and the annual Dog Show run by the GSPCA.
This year’s South Show will feature exhibits including locally grown fruits, vegetables and cut flowers, alongside baked goods and arts and crafts.
This year’s classes included ‘An item of handmade jewellery’ and ‘A Lego creation’ giving children a chance to get creative with items they have at home.
You can get a copy of the entry classes by emailing thesouthshow@gmail.com.
Follow ‘The South Show Guernsey’ on Facebook for more information.
The West Show follows the South Show, on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 August at the L’Eree Showground.
The North Show closes out August on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 at Saumarez Park.
