Illuminated Boat Parade 2026 - Henley on Thames
Capturing the magic of Henley-on-Thames after dark - Henley-on-Thames, River Thames
The River Thames came alive on Saturday evening, 19 September 2026, as Henley-on-Thames hosted its spectacular Illuminated Boat Parade.
With boats gathering from 7:00pm and the main parade getting underway at 7:30pm, the river became a moving display of colour, creativity and imagination as illuminated boats travelled upriver from Fawley Meadows, passing Phyllis Court and Boathouse Row before reaching the Leander Club.
Beaumont Studio was there to capture the event from both the air and the ground, creating a collection of cinematic drone footage, photography and interviews that showcase the atmosphere and spectacle of one of Henley-on-Thames' most visually impressive evenings.
THE EVENT
A river transformed by light
The Illuminated Boat Parade is a unique celebration on the River Thames, bringing together boats of all shapes and sizes for an evening of creativity and entertainment.
From small unpowered craft to larger vessels, participants decorated their boats with imaginative illuminated designs, creating everything from James Bond and Mamma Mia-inspired displays to Popeye-themed creations.
The parade completed two glowing circuits of the river, giving spectators along the public towpaths plenty of opportunities to enjoy the spectacle.
For spectators, the event was completely free to watch, while the Leander Club opened its doors from 6:30pm, providing food, drinks and an excellent vantage point overlooking the river.
The evening concluded with the official prize-giving on the Leander Club deck at 9:30pm.
FILMING THE PARADE
Capturing the event from above and below - For Beaumont Studio, filming an event like the Illuminated Boat Parade starts well before the first boat enters the water.
Our team was on location from 2:00pm, carrying out detailed safety checks and identifying and establishing suitable take-off and landing areas ahead of the evening's drone operations.
With large numbers of spectators expected along the river, public safety was a key consideration throughout the planning and filming process.
As the light began to fade and the boats prepared for the parade, we moved between aerial and handheld filming, capturing the event from multiple perspectives.
The drone provided sweeping views of the illuminated boats moving along the Thames, while our handheld cameras allowed us to capture the people, atmosphere, details and reactions from the riverbank.
The combination of aerial and ground-based footage gives the finished film a much stronger sense of scale, showing not only the illuminated boats themselves but the atmosphere created around them.
Meet the Judges
Dame Mary Berry, Jerry Hall and Edd China
One of the highlights of the evening for Beaumont Studio was being given the opportunity to interview the three celebrity judges.
The judging panel brought together three very different personalities and backgrounds:
Dame Mary Berry
Renowned television presenter, author and cook, Dame Mary Berry brought her own perspective to an evening centred around creativity and presentation.
Jerry Hall
International model and actress Jerry Hall joined the judging panel, adding another high-profile name to the evening's celebrations.
Edd China
Television presenter, inventor and motor specialist Edd China completed the judging panel, bringing his enthusiasm and distinctive personality to the event.
Being able to interview all three judges gave Beaumont Studio the opportunity to capture something beyond the parade itself, adding personality and insight to the event coverage.
A different perspective on the Thames
The illuminated boats looked spectacular from the riverbank, but the aerial perspective revealed the true scale of the parade.
Our drone footage captures the boats moving together along the Thames, their illuminated designs reflected in the water as they travelled between the various landmarks along the route.
These aerial sequences will form part of the event gallery, alongside photographs captured throughout the evening.
Moments from an unforgettable evening
Alongside the drone filming, Beaumont Studio captured a collection of still images throughout the event.
From individual boats and their illuminated designs to the crowds watching from the riverbank, the judges, the Leander Club and the wider atmosphere of Henley-on-Thames, the photography provides a visual record of the evening.
As the event developed, the changing light created a constantly evolving backdrop, from the final daylight of the afternoon through to the fully illuminated parade after dark.
A few words from Beaumont Studio
"It was a pleasure to be asked back again to film the Illuminated Boat Parade in Henley-on-Thames. We'd been keeping a close eye on the weather in the run-up to the event, so it was fantastic to see the conditions finally come good for the evening.
Being on site from the afternoon gave us plenty of time to complete our safety checks, establish our take-off and landing areas and make sure everything was ready before the crowds arrived.
The parade itself was absolutely fantastic to film. Seeing all those illuminated boats travelling along the Thames after dark created some amazing opportunities from the air, while the atmosphere on the riverbank was equally impressive.
For me, one of the real highlights was being given access to interview Dame Mary Berry, Jerry Hall and Edd China. Having the opportunity to speak with all three judges added another dimension to the coverage and gave us some great material to include in the final production.
It was a fantastic evening, and we're delighted to have been involved once again."
Watch the Illuminated Boat Parade 2026
We've brought together the aerial footage, handheld filming and interviews to create a film capturing the atmosphere, creativity and spectacle of the 2026 Illuminated Boat Parade.
From the first illuminated boats setting off to the glowing procession along the Thames, the film offers a different perspective on an event that really needs to be seen after dark.
From the ground to the sky
Beaumont Studio provides professional aerial and ground-based video production for events across the UK.
Whether you're organising a sporting event, festival, charity event, corporate occasion or something completely unique, we can create cinematic content that captures the atmosphere and gives your event a life beyond the day itself.
Drone cinematography, aerial photography, handheld filming, interviews and social media content can all be combined to create a complete visual record of your event.
Beaumont Studio are incredibly talented and professional, their drone footage is absolutely breath-taking. They captured every detail perfectly, and the final product exceeded all expectations. Communication was smooth, scheduling was easy, and the turnaround time was super quick. Highly recommend Beaumont Studio for anyone looking for top-quality drone work! Thanks from all of us at back2back!
Josh Sallon - Back2Back Productions
