2026 Gold Panning Championships
We’re excited to announce that our new and exciting gold panning championships will be taking place over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th May, at the Museum of Lead Mining , Wanlockhead, Scotland.
This year, we have streamlined the event format and the championships will now be one single competition held across two days, named, the British Gold Panning Championships. This means more head-to-head excitement, more suspense, and one ultimate showdown to crown our 2026 champions!
We’re also introducing brand-new competition categories, giving even more panners the chance to showcase their skills and compete for gold.
The new categories are: British Open (New format), British Proficient Men’s, British Proficient Women’s and Lucky Loser.
In terms of the lucky loser competition, everyone that gets knocked out of the British Open in the first round will go through to the lucky loser competition that will take place on the Sunday. This guarantees that everyone that enters the open category will pan at least twice. The rules will be identical to the British Open category. There will be a first, second and third for this category with the winner being crowned the best panner that got knocked out of the first round of the British Open or the luckiest loser!
The heats we will be running this year are: British Open (Anyone), British Proficient Men, British Proficient Women, British Veterans, British Tri-pan, British 3 person Team, Wanlock Challenge (Sat), Leadhills Challenge (Sun), British Juniors, Wanlock Beginners, British beginners, Wanlockhead Children’s (Sat) & British Children’s (Sun).
The Museum will be open from 0900 for late registration on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast butties will be available at the café too.
A new registration system is currently being design and we will release more information once it’s completed
The Wanlockhead Inn will kindly be putting on entertainment over the weekend, with a quiz on Friday evening, music on Saturday and on Sunday, providing us a buffet after the clean up, so please feel free to join everyone for a good get together after a hectic day of competition panning.
Frenk Hink from the Netherlands has kindly donated some prizes for the children’s categories and which is greatly appreciated by us all here at the BGA.
Over the weekend, we will be hosting a raffle to support fundraising efforts for the BGA, with a selection of prizes available to be won. These prizes have been generously donated by individuals, and we would warmly welcome any further contributions. If you are able to donate a prize, it would be greatly appreciated by the BGA.
There will be an AGM on the Saturday, straight after the competition has ended. This is held up in the community centre. This is open to all paid members of the association and gives you the opportunity to voice your thoughts, suggest ideas and to be updated by the committee.
New Panners are always welcome, so don’t worry if you have never tried Gold Panning or Competition Panning, as there will always be people there to help you out and show you the techniques. We now run a Beginners category, allowing anyone who has not tried competition Panning before, to take part against other beginners and not have the added pressure of being stood next to a Pro. (Normally beginners would just enter the Open Category)
The rules for the beginners category are:
- Never to have competed in any Gold Panning competitions before.
- Must use a recognised gold pan I.e. Speed Pan, Bateau or Klondike Flat bottomed style pan (Traditional Round Pan).
- Time allowed is 10 Minutes
- Gold the same as Open, 4-12 pieces
If you don’t have the required pans, then don’t worry, as we can help you out and lend you one for your heat.
If you have been to the champs before, then you know you have the option of handing back your gold if you want to, after it’s been checked, in exchange for a raffle ticket. The prize this year is still to be decided.
VOLUNTEERS
The weekend will not be a success without the helping hands of others and if you can join us to help set up on the Friday 24th, then I can assure you that it will be greatly appreciated.
Over the competition weekend, we will require assistance with Time keeping, adjudicating, bucket filling Etc. We will announce what help is required and if we can all pull together like we have done in previous years, the competition will run smoothly and continue to be a success.
Any help is greatly appreciated, and I say thank you in advance.
This page is being updated, so please come back and keep checking.
We look forward to seeing you all at the weekend for an enjoyable competition in one of the most unique hobbies available.
Regards,
James Linnett
President BGA
PRICES: –
British Open- £13 BGA Member & £15 Non-BGA Member (Pan twice)
British Proficient Men- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
British Proficient Women- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
British Veterans- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
British Tri-Pan- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
Wanlock Beginners- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
British Beginners- £8 BGA Member & £10 Non-BGA Member
British 3 Person Team- £9 per team (£3 per person)
British Juniors- £5
Wanlock Challenge- £7.50 (Held on the Saturday and with a cash prize for the winner and runner up)
Leadhills Challenge- £7.50 (Held on the Sunday and with a cash prize for the winner and runner up)
Wanlockhead Children’s (Sat)- Free
British Children’s (Sun)- Free
Membership cost: £12 individual & £15 Family. Valid for 1 year from time of purchase.ear from time of purchase.
British Gold Panning Association 