Mexar 
Mexar 
The National Airsoft Festival returned to Ground Zero Airsoft near Ringwood in Dorset from 28 to 30 August 2026. This year's festival was the 20th anniversary of an event that has run since 2006, and it was expected to draw more than 2,000 players to 150 acres of forest.
When the first festival was held in 2006, it was the largest airsoft event in the UK at the time. It has kept its place as one of the fixed dates in the British calendar, and for many players the August bank holiday weekend is simply NAF weekend.
The game is split between three factions: Bravo, Delta and The Others. The organisers make a point of saying the sides differ only in their starting location and the colour of the band players wear, so the choice comes down to friends and preference rather than any advantage.
The weekend
Friday opened with a pistols and shotguns game and a live band in the evening. On Saturday the briefing was at 09:30 and the main game started at 10:30, with a raffle at 18:00. Sunday ended with a pub quiz.
Tickets were priced at £130 for early bird bookings made before 1 May, £140 at the normal rate and £150 for late bookings from 1 August. Campers could choose between loud, normal and quiet zones, which is a sensible answer to the age old problem of a festival field at two in the morning.
The rules were clear. The minimum age was 14. Dogs, drones and glass were banned, and no open flames were allowed except for gas cooking.
What it means for players
A game of this size gives UK players a taste of the scale usually found at European events, without the travel. With three factions and 150 acres, there is room for very different kinds of play across the weekend, from large pushes to small team work in the trees.
For newer players, NAF is often their first multi day event. The camping, the long days and the sheer number of people take some planning. Water, spare batteries or gas, and dry clothes matter as much as the replica.
What happens next
The organisers have said bookings for next year open on Saturday 1 November. Given the early bird saving of £20 over the late price, and the fact that the event often sells strongly, we would advise anyone planning to go to book early. We will report the dates and prices for next year once they are published.
