There was an initial printing issue but the store replaced this very quickly.
Bought some for my 20th birthday. Friends really liked them
Butlins Big Weekender Outfits 2026 — Master Guide
2026 Master Guide
Butlins Big Weekender Outfits
Every Butlins Big Weekender in 2026 — the master guide. 9 events, 3 resorts, every confirmed date, fancy dress for every theme, and personalised squad tees built for the dancefloor. Pick your weekender, get the look, sort the squad.
See all 9 weekenders Shop personalised
Quick answer: A Butlins Big Weekender is a 3-night themed party weekend at Butlins resorts (Bognor Regis, Minehead, or Skegness) built around a music era or genre. Themes for 2026 include Ultimate 80s, 90s Reloaded, Back to 2000s, We Love the 70s, Replay, Shiiine On, Don't Tell Mama Pride, DJ Spoony Garage and Bugged Out. Fancy dress is the norm — typical outfits are themed costumes (shell suits, neon, tracksuits, sequins) plus personalised squad t-shirts with everyone's name. Order costumes 2–3 weeks before, personalised tees 7–10 working days before.
What is a Butlins Big Weekender?
A Butlins Big Weekender is a 3-night, themed adults-only party weekend at one of Butlins' three UK resorts. Each event runs Friday to Monday around a specific music era (70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s) or genre (Britpop / Replay, indie / Shiiine On, UK garage / DJ Spoony, dance / Bugged Out, Pride / Don't Tell Mama). Headline acts, themed bars and a full programme of activities turn the resort into a 3-day festival you sleep at.
Fancy dress isn't required, but it is overwhelmingly the norm — Saturday night especially. The decade themes (80s and 90s) have the highest costume participation. Music genre weekenders (Garage, Bugged Out, Replay) lean more on themed t-shirts and accessories than full costumes. Pride is sequins, glitter, drag and rainbow energy.
9
Themed weekenders in 2026
3
UK resorts (Bognor / Minehead / Skegness)
3
Nights per weekender
~80%
Of attendees wear fancy dress
The 9 Big Weekenders 2026
Each event has its own theme, vibe and dress code. Click through for the full event guide (dates, fancy dress ideas, venue tips) or jump straight to the personalised tees built for that weekender.
Ultimate 80s
Butlins' most frequent and most-booked Big Weekender. Shell suits, neon, Top Gun, Madonna, Miami Vice. Runs across all 3 resorts February through October. Highest fancy dress participation of any event.
90s Reloaded
Spice Girls, Britpop bucket hats, Adidas, rave neon, Pamela Anderson. Lowest costume effort of any era weekender because most 90s items are already in your wardrobe. Runs at multiple resorts.
Back to 2000s
Juicy Couture tracksuits, low-rise jeans, butterfly clips, Paris Hilton, JLS-era boyband, Beckham. The trendiest decade weekender right now — easy on the wallet because most stuff is back in fashion anyway.
We Love the 70s
Flares, afros, sequinned jumpsuits, platform boots, ABBA, Studio 54, Saturday Night Fever. The strongest weekender for sing-along disco floors and glamour-heavy fancy dress.
Replay
Britpop, indie-rock, festival energy. Bucket hats, Adidas tracksuits, parkas, denim jackets, indie band tees. Lower costume participation than decade themes — squad tees do most of the work.
Shiiine On
Madchester, Oasis, Stone Roses, baggy jeans, parkas, bucket hats. The grown-up indie weekender. Strong squad-tee scene — old indie band tees and personalised squad shirts dominate over costume.
Don't Tell Mama Pride
Sequins, rainbows, drag, glitter, mesh, the most photographically vibrant weekender on the calendar. Costume participation is sky-high — Pride is for going all in. Headline drag acts and dance music.
DJ Spoony Garage
UK Garage weekender — So Solid Crew, Wiley, Heartless Crew, Artful Dodger. Tracksuits, bucket hats, gold chains. The squad-tee weekender by default — full costume is rare; matched group outfits dominate.
Bugged Out
House and techno weekender — long-running club brand brought to Butlins. Lower fancy dress participation; high focus on music. Matching club-style squad tees and statement accessories beat full costume.
Pick a resort — Bognor, Minehead, Skegness
Each Big Weekender runs at one of three Butlins resorts. The resort affects venue layout, journey, food options and chalet setup — not the music programme itself.
Butlins Bognor Regis
Easiest London access. Modern resort with the Skyline Pavilion at its centre. Hosts a high proportion of dance music and Pride weekenders. Sea-adjacent.
Read Bognor guide →Butlins Minehead
Iconic Skyline Pavilion. Strong heritage as a Big Weekender host. Best for Ultimate 80s, We Love the 70s and Shiiine On. Picturesque coastal setting.
Read Minehead guide →Butlins Skegness
Largest resort capacity. Hosts most weekender events of the three, including 90s Reloaded, Replay and Back to 2000s. Strong Northern fanbase.
Read Skegness guide →Shop by weekender
Personalised t-shirts, hoodies and accessories built for each individual weekender. Each item personalised differently in one order — names, nicknames, alter egos, in-jokes. One payment, one delivery.
Ultimate 80s
Shell suits, neon, Top Gun tees
90s Reloaded
Britpop, rave, Spice Girls tees
Replay
Indie, Britpop revival squad tees
DJ Spoony Garage
UK garage squad outfits
Bugged Out
Club night squad apparel
Don't Tell Mama Pride
Sequins, rainbows, drag tees
Stag at a Weekender
Groom + squad personalised
Hen at a Weekender
Bride tribe themed apparel
Plan & pack for your weekender
The Big Weekenders are intense. Three nights in costume, in a packed venue, walking 15,000+ steps a day. Order early, pack the right basics, build the right squad uniform. These guides cover everything that isn't the music programme.
- What to wear to a Butlins Big Weekender — the complete master outfit guide
- Butlins Big Weekender packing checklist — printable list, the things you'll forget
- Best group outfits for Butlins — group format ideas for stags, hens, friend squads
- Personalised tees vs full fancy dress — when to pick which
- Comfortable fancy dress for Butlins — what survives a full dancefloor night
- What NOT to wear — the common mistakes
- Cheap Butlins fancy dress (under £20 / £30 / £40) — budget-friendly options
- Last-minute outfit ideas — for when the weekend is in 5 days
FAQs — Butlins Big Weekenders
What is a Butlins Big Weekender?
A 3-night, themed adults-only party weekender at a Butlins UK resort (Bognor Regis, Minehead, or Skegness). Each event is built around a music era (70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s) or genre (Britpop, indie, garage, dance, Pride) with headline acts, themed bars and a full programme. Most attendees wear fancy dress, especially on Saturday night.
When are the 2026 Big Weekenders?
Big Weekenders run year-round, with most weekenders happening between February and November. Ultimate 80s runs the most dates (multiple per resort). Specialist weekenders (Garage, Bugged Out, Replay, Shiiine On, Pride) tend to have 1–2 dates per year. See each guide for the specific 2026 dates at butlins.com/bigweekenders.
Is fancy dress required?
Not technically required, but ~80% of attendees do it on at least Saturday night. The decade weekenders (80s, 90s, 70s) have the highest fancy dress participation. Music genre weekenders (Garage, Bugged Out, Replay, Shiiine On) lean more towards themed t-shirts and accessories than full costumes.
Where do I buy Butlins Big Weekender fancy dress?
DRESS LOUD stocks the full Smiffys fancy dress range plus event-specific personalised t-shirts and squad outfits. Browse all personalised apparel, Smiffys fancy dress, or jump to your event's dedicated collection from the Shop By Weekender section above.
Can I get personalised squad t-shirts for our group?
Yes — one order, every item personalised differently. Names, nicknames, 80s alter egos, in-jokes. Direct-to-garment printed on Gildan 64000 cotton. Group orders ship to one address. Order 7–10 working days before the weekender. Group discounts on orders of 5+, 10+ and 15+.
Which resort should we go to?
Pick by location and event programme. Bognor Regis = south coast, closest to London. Minehead = west country, best for decade and indie weekenders. Skegness = east coast, largest resort, hosts the most weekenders overall. See each resort guide for venue specifics.
What's the best Big Weekender for a stag or hen?
The 80s is the most popular stag/hen weekender because the costumes are easy and recognisable. The 90s and 2000s are growing fast. For hen-led groups looking for full glam, Pride and the 70s are unbeatable for sequins and photo energy. See the Butlins Stag Do guide or Butlins Hen Do guide.
How early should I book my costume?
2–3 weeks for off-the-shelf Smiffys fancy dress (popular sizes sell out closer to peak weekenders). 7–10 working days for personalised squad tees. For events 4+ weeks out, you have full size availability. Last-minute? Express delivery available up to 5 working days before.
Pick your weekender. Pick your look.
Every Butlins Big Weekender 2026 — outfit guides, themed costumes, personalised squad tees. Fast UK delivery. Group discounts.
Browse all 9 weekenders