Highways UK 2026

Highways UK brings together the people who plan, build, manage and maintain the UK's road networks, from National Highways and local authorities to contractors, consultants, technology providers and policymakers. Run by Terrapinn, the 2026 edition fills Hall 5 at the NEC with a free exhibition, a multi-theatre conference and the Highways UK Excellence Awards, and is co-located for the first time with Asphalt World UK.

Conference theatres

The free conference runs across eight theatres covering policy, delivery and technology for the road network.

• Keynote: ministers, mayors and CEOs on road investment and growth
• Strategic Roads: National Highways on collaboration and the strategic road network
• Local Authority: potholes, local road safety, devolution and flood resilience
• Digital Roads: data, BIM, AI, connected and autonomous vehicles, ITS
• Connected Communities: planning, kerbside, bus franchising and integration
• Surfacing and Materials: low-carbon asphalt and circular materials
• Sustainability: net zero, clean air, biodiversity and road runoff
• Big Thinking: funding, talent, leadership and governance

Exhibition and features

More than 360 exhibitors show products and services across the highways supply chain. Features include a Local Authority Hub, roundtables, a Vehicle Display Zone, a Professional Development Hub, a Start-Up Zone and a new Procurement Zone, alongside networking through the Terrapinn event app.

Highways UK Excellence Awards

The awards return on the evening of 14 October 2026 with a published shortlist of organisations, teams, projects and individuals; tables are booked separately.

Tickets & passes

• Free visitor pass — Free: Exhibition, conference and networking areas; 18+