RAF OPEN 2026

RAF Open 2026

The Royal Air Force Fencing Union invites you and your Fencing Club to the RAF Open 2026 Fencing Tournament held at the Royal Air Force Home for Sport on 10th and 11th of October 2026. 

We want to keep our competition friendly and at good value, so we have not raised our entry fee this year which remains at £35 per entry for a 3rd consecutive year. 

***Security***

·  As per MOD Regulations, our host venue, RAF Cosford, requires a list of all members attending the RAF Open, including competitors and any guests (this includes parents, guardians etc). Please complete the form below. All visitors must bring a valid form of photographic ID with them. If your name is not on the list, you may be denied entry to the site. All visitors must be escorted by members of staff to the Sports Hall and then remain within the Sports Hall confines unless escorted out again. This must be completed by the 27th September 2026 to allow sufficient time for checks to take place. We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone in line with current security protocols. 

RAF Open 2026 Guest List – Fill out form

Getting here: The location of the competition is RAF Cosford. The best way to navigate to our location is to use 'Cosford Station'. It is located just off the A41, approximately 1 mile south of Junction 3 of the M54. Cosford Station is directly outside the main entry gate for the site (turn left when leaving the platform). There is parking located opposite the train station, which is a 5/10 minute walk to the venue. A parking area will be designated and clearly signposted for all participants. Do not follow signposts under the bridge to RAF Cosford Museum, the main entry point is the opposite side of the bridge from the museum. Please note, Cosford station does not have disabled access. Alternatively, you can use What3words: ///nags.spooked.factor

Changing Facilities: There are male and female changing facilities with limited access to showers. There are no lockers available in the changing rooms.

Competition Format: Each event will be fenced over 2 rounds of poules followed by a Direct Elimination. The first round of poules will be seeded from your Senior National Ranking. DE's will be seeded from both rounds of poule results. All weapons will be subject to weight and gauge checks during the DE Stages. All fencers will go through to the Direct Elimination. Results will be posted throughout the day on FencingTimeLive.

The event will follow the below format:

Saturday the 10th of October 2026

Check in closes:

              MEN'S/MIXED EPEE = 0900

              WOMEN'S EPEE = 1000

              WOMEN'S SABRE = 1200   

Sunday the 11th of October 2026

Check in closes:

              MEN'S/MIXED FOIL = 0900

              WOMEN'S FOIL = 1000

              MEN'S/MIXED SABRE = 1100

Check-in will open 60 mins before each event. Please report to the check-in desk in a timely fashion. The check-in desk will be in the Stone Gym immediately as you enter.

Equipment Standards: Please ensure all of your equipment is safe and legal and conforms to the current British Fencing rules. For further details please see the British Fencing website.

Discounts: New for this year, those wishing to fence 2 weapons on opposing days are eligible to a 25% total discount! Please use discount code: OPENDBL26

As you support us fund grassroots fencing throughout the RAF, we want to give back to those who paved the way! New for this year, former serving personnel are eligible to a 25% total discount! Please contact us at AIR-RAFFencingUnion@mod.gov.uk with relevant evidence of prior service. 

Those who wish to referee and fence on opposing days maybe eligible for a 50% entry discount. Please contact us at AIR-RAFFencingUnion@mod.gov.uk for further details.

Refunds: Refunds and withdrawals can be requested up to Friday 18th September 2026, where the entry fee minus admin fees will be given. After this date, no refunds will be given unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the competition organiser. 

Smoking: Smoking and vaping is only permitted off site. 

First Aid: During the previous years events, a number of participants required ice packs to support injuries sustained during bouts. If you are susceptible to injury we encourage participants to bring their own ice packs as well as a small first aid kit for minor injuries. 

Social Media: Please do follow us for updates about the event via our social media channels by searching @raffencing across Facebook & Instagram.