UK trade shows at venues such as the NEC in Birmingham and ExCeL London bring together British importers, distributors, retailers and corporate buyers. Their exhibitor lists show who supplies what in your own market, whether you are looking for customers, suppliers or partners, and make it easier to book meetings before the show opens.
Our directory currently holds 13 upcoming shows with confirmed dates in United Kingdom, 1 of them with a ready exhibitor list. The table below is generated from live data and shows those with a ready list first.
Where are the UK's main exhibition venues?
| Venue | Location and typical shows |
|---|---|
| ExCeL London | The exhibition centre in east London's Royal Docks, the capital's largest venue. Travel, education technology, food and drink, information security and defence. |
| Olympia London | West London. Publishing, construction and consumer-facing trade shows. |
| NEC Birmingham | National Exhibition Centre, the largest exhibition venue in the UK. Gifts and home, automotive aftermarket and industrial shows. |
| Manchester Central and SEC Glasgow | Regional and sector shows for the North of England and Scotland. |
| P&J Live (Aberdeen) | Oil, gas and energy transition shows for the North Sea energy sector. |
Most large trade shows are in London and Birmingham. Birmingham's central position means buyers from most of Britain can attend and return the same day; London shows tend to draw a higher share of overseas visitors.
Which UK trade shows stand out?
| Show | Sector and visitor profile |
|---|---|
| WTM - World Travel Market (ExCeL London) | Travel. Tour operators, travel agents and hotel groups; relevant to travel and hospitality suppliers. |
| BETT (ExCeL London) | Education technology. School and university buyers, education resellers. |
| IFE (ExCeL London) | Food and drink. UK retail chains, wholesalers, importers and foodservice buyers. |
| Infosecurity Europe (ExCeL London) | Information security. Corporate IT leaders, system integrators and resellers. |
| Spring Fair (NEC Birmingham) | Gifts, home and lifestyle. Independent shops, chains and online retailers. |
| Automechanika Birmingham (NEC) | Automotive aftermarket. Parts distributors, service chains and workshop equipment buyers. |
Show pages in our directory: WTM, BETT, IFE, Infosecurity Europe, Spring Fair and Automechanika Birmingham. Names without a link have no upcoming edition in the directory yet.
Upcoming UK trade shows and ready exhibitor lists
| Trade show | Dates | Location | Exhibitor list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar & Storage Live London 2027 | 13–14 April 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Ready, 121 companies |
| London Build - Construction Expo | 25–26 November 2026 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| BETT | 20–22 January 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| Spring Fair International - Gift& Home Trade Event | 7–10 February 2027 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| LBF - The London Book Fair | 16–18 March 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| IFE - International Food & Drink Event | 5–7 April 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| UDT Europe | 6–8 April 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| Foodex Manufacturing Solutions - Trade event for the food and drink processing, packaging and logistics industries | 12–14 April 2027 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| INFOSECURITY EUROPE - Information Security Event | 8–10 June 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| Automechanika Birmingham | 8–10 June 2027 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| DSEi - Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition and Conference | 7–10 September 2027 | London, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| SPE Offshore Europe | 7–9 September 2027 | Aberdeen, United Kingdom | Not yet |
| BBSA Showcase | 17–19 October 2027 | Coventry, United Kingdom | Not yet |
All fairs with a ready list are on the exhibitor lists page, and every country is in the international trade fair calendar.
What can a UK exhibitor list be used for?
- Finding customers
- Exhibitors at a show for your buyers' sector are often your customers: retailers at a gift show, contractors at a building show, fleet operators at an automotive show.
- Finding suppliers
- Overseas pavilions at London and Birmingham shows bring manufacturers looking for UK distributors; the list helps you shortlist them before the show.
- Finding partners
- Complementary exhibitors, such as installers next to equipment makers, are natural partners for joint offers or referrals.
What are the rules for emailing UK companies?
In the UK, email marketing falls under PECR (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). PECR distinguishes individual subscribers from corporate subscribers:
- Corporate subscribers: for marketing emails to limited companies, LLPs and public bodies, PECR does not require prior consent. You must still identify yourself clearly and give a valid address for opting out.
- Individual subscribers: sole traders and some partnerships count as individuals; marketing emails to them generally need prior consent or the soft opt-in.
- Personal data: an address with an employee's name is personal data under UK GDPR, so you need a lawful basis, must tell people how you use their data, and must respect objections. Writing to a company's general address is the simpler case.
The detail, including the EU position, is in Is It Legal to Email Trade Fair Exhibitors? This section is general information, not legal advice.
What changed for EU suppliers after Brexit?
Many exhibitors at UK shows come from the EU. Since 2021 the UK has been outside the EU single market and customs union, which matters for anyone bringing goods or samples to a British show:
- Customs and VAT
- Goods from the EU need customs declarations, and import VAT applies. Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement most goods are tariff-free if they meet the rules of origin.
- Importer of record
- Someone has to act as importer. Many overseas suppliers leave this to a UK distributor, which is why the question comes up early in conversations with British buyers.
- UKCA and CE
- Great Britain continues to recognise CE marking for many product areas, and UKCA marking can also be used. Some sectors have their own rules and timelines; Northern Ireland follows a separate arrangement closer to EU rules.
Rules depend on the product, so check the current position on GOV.UK before contracts and shipments. For UK companies selling the other way, see European trade fairs.
How do you use the list around the show calendar?
- Six to eight weeks before: open the list in your account and sort companies into importers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers.
- Three to four weeks before: send a short introduction and meeting request with a specific day and time at the show.
- Show week: confirm meetings; if two relevant shows fall in the same week in London and Birmingham, allow for the train journey.
- After the show: follow up within a week with a quotation in sterling; see our follow-up guide.
These time frames are rough practical guidance, not measured figures.
For wording, see our meeting request templates; if you cannot attend, read reaching exhibitors without attending. In Expomatik the list is opened in your account, campaigns go to each company's general address and opens are not tracked. The price of a list is shown before you open it; see Pricing. To look inside the lists, create a free account.
Looking by sector or another market?
Sector guides: food, automotive and energy. Other markets: trade fairs in Germany, Asian trade fairs and US trade shows. For scale, see the largest trade fairs by exhibitors.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I email UK companies without prior consent?
- Under PECR, marketing emails to corporate subscribers such as limited companies, LLPs and public bodies do not need prior consent, but you must say who you are and give a valid address for opting out. Sole traders and some partnerships count as individual subscribers, so the consent rule applies to them. UK GDPR still applies to named employees' addresses.
- Should I choose a show in Birmingham or in London?
- Both cities have some of the largest exhibition venues in the UK. ExCeL London in the capital's Royal Docks hosts many international shows, while the NEC in Birmingham is central and easy to reach from most of Britain in a day. Which suits you depends on the show for your sector, not the venue.
- What should EU suppliers prepare before exhibiting in Britain?
- Goods and samples crossing from the EU need customs declarations, and import VAT applies. Many product areas still accept CE marking in Great Britain alongside UKCA, but some sectors have their own rules. Decide early who acts as importer and check the rules for your product with official sources.