Nottingham prepares for Notts County homecoming: what residents need to know
By DemoDuck Newsroom
Nottingham will mark Notts County’s promotion to Sky Bet League One with a city centre homecoming at Old Market Square on Tuesday 26 May 2026.
The celebration follows County’s Play Off Final victory over Salford City at Wembley, with players and club officials due to appear on the Council House balcony with the trophy. The event is aimed at families and supporters, and will take place during the school half-term break.
Supporters are being asked to arrive no earlier than 2pm, with the event itself scheduled to begin at 3pm. Nottingham City Council said preparations need to be completed before crowds enter the square.
Old Market Square event details for supporters
The celebration will be centred on Old Market Square, one of Nottingham’s main civic gathering places and a familiar setting for large public events.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Notts County promotion homecoming |
| Date | Tuesday 26 May 2026 |
| Location | Old Market Square, Nottingham |
| Arrival advice | No earlier than 2pm |
| Start time | 3pm |
| Main moment | Players and officials on the Council House balcony with the trophy |
| Audience | Supporters, families and city residents |
The council has framed the afternoon as a family event rather than a late-night celebration. That means the crowd is likely to include children and families using the half-term break to see the team after its Wembley win.
Alcohol, flares and pyrotechnics banned from the square
People heading into the city centre are being told to leave alcohol, flares, pyrotechnics and smoke bombs at home. Nottingham City Council said those items are strictly not permitted at the event.
With hot weather expected to continue on Tuesday, attendees are also being advised to dress for the conditions. Hats, sunscreen and water bottles are recommended, and a free drinking water point will be available at the event.
The practical message is simple: arrive after 2pm, plan for heat, and expect the square to be busy. Families with younger children may want to allow extra time for walking through the city centre, particularly if public transport routes are diverted for a short period.
Promotion brings County back to the third tier
Notts County’s win over Salford City means the club will return to English football’s third tier for the first time since 2015.
The promotion comes after a season in which County missed out on automatic promotion on the final day before securing their place through the play-offs. For many supporters, the Old Market Square event will be the first chance to welcome the squad home in a formal city celebration.
Cllr Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, congratulated head coach Martin Paterson, the players, staff, owners, board and supporters after the Wembley result.
“It’s fantastic that Notts County have secured promotion and re-entered English football’s third tier for the first time since 2015,” she said.
She added that she was looking forward to attending Tuesday’s celebration and hoped Notts County supporters, families and residents would be able to join the event.
Short disruption expected for buses and trams
Large crowds are expected in the city centre, so some road closures and diversions will be put in place around the event.
Bus and tram services are expected to be disrupted for a short time between 2pm and 4.30pm. Services may also face short-notice changes, so anyone travelling through the city centre during that window should allow extra time and check their route before setting off.
The council’s notice does not list ticketing requirements or any additional staged entertainment. The confirmed focus is the public homecoming in Old Market Square, with the team and club officials appearing on the Council House balcony.
Source: Nottingham City Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on Nottingham City Council’s event notice for the Notts County homecoming.
- Confirmed the event date, location and advised arrival time from the council notice.
- Checked the listed restrictions on alcohol, flares, pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
- Matched the transport disruption window to the council’s stated 2pm to 4.30pm period.
- Kept promotion context to the details stated in the source material.
- Source
- Nottingham City Council
- Scope
- Nottingham
- Updated
- 2026-05-25 18:51
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