Without a doubt, June is one of the craziest and most exciting months in our calendar. Why? Because every other year we take to the hill at Alexandra Palace, ready to risk our lives, put our creativity to the test and attempt to choreograph a performance all in the name of recycling!
It can only mean one thing… The Red Bull Soapbox Race is back!
Watch Our Race!
Click here to learn how you can watch a replay of the full 2026 event.
It’s a Race for Recycling at Alexandra Palace!
For the third time, our team headed to London’s iconic Alexandra Palace on Saturday 20th June to take on the famous downhill course, competing against 51 other creative teams in front of thousands of spectators.
The Soapbx Race challenges teams to design the craziest of contraptions, which rely solely on gravity to navigate the 420-metre downhill course. Participants are then judged on creativity, speed, and showmanship.
Our four-person crew designed and built a recycling-themed soapbox to take on the course in front of thousands of spectators at London’s Alexandra Palace.
Meet Our Can-tastic Driver
“I love every can I see… From Can A, to Can-zee!”
Inspired by a classic VW Beetle and incorporating recycled cans into the engine detail, our Soapbox aimed to wow the judges and the crowds before taking on the thrilling down-hill course.
But, since officially entering our lives in 2025, no Soapbox Race would be complete without the charm of our larger-than-life mascot, Canzee! Made from approximately 400 recycled drink cans, Canzee is always happy to help create a buzz (and a lot of noise) to remind people about the benefits of recycling their empty cans.
However, this year Canzee made a very special appearance as the driver of our soapbox! Well… that’s what we wanted the crowds to believe! Our performance created the illusion that Canzee had bravely taken the wheel and and was ready to hurtle down the track. The reality? Hidden inside was our very own Programme Manager, Chris Latham-Warde, who has now successfully taken all three of our Soapboxes straight to the hay bales at the end of the course.
Canzee might have taken a backseat this time, but he still managed to win over the judges (scoring 31/40 for our performance) and the crowds before we’d even taken to the course!
Click here to learn how you can watch the full replay of the 2026 Soapbox Race.
Our Fastest Soapbox Yet!
So to answer the burning question… did we beat our epic 3rd place podium finish in 2024?
Things started to take a dramatic turn during our race, with Canzee dramatically flopping over Chris and obscuring his vision shortly after one of the jumps. Our fake engine dropped out of the bottom and started dragging along the floor during another jump, and for a moment, we thought it might all be over for our canny mascot…
But we are very happy to report that, after recording 26mph in the speed trap, we successfully crossed the finish line in just over 40 seconds, making this soapbox our fastest yet.
Canzee might not have taken to the podium, but he helped us secure 5th place for team Every Can Counts.
More than just a Soapbox Race
There’s no doubt about it… the Red Bull Soapbox Race has to be one of the most iconic events in our calendar and one we look forward to every time it comes around. And because we race in the name of recycling, our presence at Alexandra Palace is about much more than aiming for that elusive 1st place spot on the podium.
Throughout the day, our wonderful team of recycling ambassadors were on hand to spark conversations with attendees about the benefits of recycling their empty drink cans. And to make recycling as easy and accessible as possible, our ambassadors roamed Alexandra Palace with their iconic can-shaped backpacks, bringing the recycling bin directly to attendees. Canzee also roamed the site to create excitement for the race and show everyone why every can really does count.
We also brought two sets of our “I HEART RECYCLING” can cages to race day and, thanks to the support of all the attendees at the Soapbox Race, both sets of cages were full to the brim by the end of the day.
Every Can Really Does Count
Whether you stopped to take a photo with Canzee, watched our race run, or chatted with one of our ambassadors about drink can recycling, every interaction helped spread an important message:
Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “This is our third year at the Red Bull Soapbox Race, and it’s one of the highlights of our calendar. The atmosphere is brilliant, the crowds are huge and so engaged, and it’s a fantastic chance to show off our soapbox design while reminding people why recycling matters – especially on the go.
“An aluminium can you recycle today could be back on the shop shelf as a new can in just 60 days – and that cycle can continue forever. That’s what makes aluminium so valuable, and why every can really does count, including at events like the Soapbox race.”
Until Next Time…
A top-five finish, a speedy 26mph run, two sets of overflowing can cages and plenty of support from the crowd made this one of our most memorable Red Bull Soapbox Races yet.
Thank you to everyone who came to cheer us on! And who knows what wacky idea we’ll be bringing to Alexandra Palace in 2028…
