Industry guides
Manufacturing and industrial events in the UK 2026–27: which shows to attend
The UK's 2026–27 manufacturing and industrial trade shows by month and sector, mostly at the NEC Birmingham, with entry rules, costs and how to choose.
By the atndr teamPublished 6 min read
The short answer
The UK's main manufacturing events in 2026–27 are Advanced Engineering and UK Metals Expo (4–5 November 2026), Southern Manufacturing & Electronics (2–4 February 2027), Packaging Innovations & Empack (24–25 February), CHEMUK (19–20 May) and Smart Manufacturing Week with Subcon (9–10 June 2027). Almost all run at the NEC Birmingham and are free for trade visitors who register in advance. Most are two-day shows with free seminar programmes.
Key takeaways
- The NEC Birmingham hosts most UK manufacturing shows; Farnborough, ExCeL London and Liverpool host the rest.
- Entry is free for registered trade visitors at nearly every show. Agricultural shows are the exception: LAMMA and CropTec charge after an early-registration deadline, and Cereals sells tickets.
- The year has two peaks: November, and February to June. Smart Manufacturing Week and Subcon share the NEC on 9–10 June 2027.
- Most shows are trade-only and many set a minimum age of 16; Food & Drink Expo admits no under-18s.
- Pick by supply chain: engineering, metals, packaging, chemicals, automotive aftermarket, transport or farm machinery each have their own show.
On this page
What does the UK manufacturing event calendar look like in 2026–27?
UK manufacturing shows cluster in November and from February to June, and most are at the NEC Birmingham. They are short, free, trade-only exhibitions of two or three days, each built around one supply chain, with seminars running alongside.
| Month | Event | Sector | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | Euro Bus Expo (3–5 Nov) | Bus and coach vehicles and components | NEC Birmingham |
| Nov 2026 | Advanced Engineering (4–5 Nov) | Aerospace, automotive, space, rail, electronics supply chains | NEC Birmingham |
| Nov 2026 | UK Metals Expo (4–5 Nov) | Metals production, processing, stockholding | NEC Birmingham |
| Nov 2026 | UKPackaging Expo (10–11 Nov) | Packaging for brands in the North | Exhibition Centre Liverpool |
| Nov 2026 | Paper & Tissue Show London (11–12 Nov) | Paper, tissue, hygiene | ExCeL London |
| Jan 2027 | LAMMA and CropTec (20–21 Jan) | Farm machinery, arable inputs | NEC Birmingham |
| Jan 2027 | January Furniture Show (24–27 Jan) | Furniture and home interiors | NEC Birmingham |
| Feb 2027 | Southern Manufacturing & Electronics (2–4 Feb) | Industrial technology, electronics | Farnborough International |
| Feb 2027 | Packaging Innovations & Empack (24–25 Feb) | Packaging design, machinery, contract packing | NEC Birmingham |
| Mar 2027 | IntraLogisteX (17–18 Mar) | Warehousing, materials handling, robotics | NEC Birmingham |
| Apr 2027 | The Commercial Vehicle Show (20–22 Apr) | Trucks, vans, trailers, fleet tech | NEC Birmingham |
| May 2027 | CHEMUK (19–20 May) | Chemicals supply chain, process, lab | NEC Birmingham |
| Jun 2027 | Automechanika Birmingham (8–10 Jun) | Automotive aftermarket and supply | NEC Birmingham |
| Jun 2027 | Smart Manufacturing Week and Subcon (9–10 Jun) | Smart factory, design engineering, subcontracting | NEC Birmingham |
| Sep 2027 | London Packaging Week (22–23 Sep) | Premium, beauty and drinks packaging | ExCeL London |
July and August are quiet. The live list is on industry and manufacturing events in the UK.
Which UK manufacturing shows should you attend, by sector?
Match the show to the part of the supply chain you buy for or sell into.
Engineering, electronics and smart factories
Southern Manufacturing & Electronics (2–4 February 2027, Farnborough International Hall 1) is the first industrial show of the UK year. Its 2026 edition had 10,722 attendees and 571 exhibitors, and 570+ exhibitors are expected for 2027. Advanced Engineering (4–5 November 2026, NEC Halls 3 and 3a) spans aerospace, automotive, defence, space, rail and electronics, and its free registration also covers Lab Innovations and UK Metals Expo. Smart Manufacturing Week (9–10 June 2027, NEC Hall 5) groups Smart Factory Expo, MAINTEC, Design + Engineering Expo and Drives + Controls, produced with The Manufacturer.
Subcontracting and metals
Subcon (9–10 June 2027) holds its 50th show alongside Smart Manufacturing Week. It is built for buyers who arrive with drawings and live projects and need suppliers to machine, fabricate or finish parts. UK Metals Expo (4–5 November 2026, NEC Hall 4) covers producers, processors and stockholders, with 40+ conference sessions.
Packaging and processing
Packaging Innovations & Empack (24–25 February 2027) is three shows in one: packaging design, machinery and contract packing, with 280+ suppliers. London Packaging Week (22–23 September 2027) serves luxury, beauty and drinks brands. UKPackaging Expo brings packaging buyers in the North of England to Liverpool on 10–11 November 2026.
Chemicals
CHEMUK (19–20 May 2027) combines five shows covering chemicals supply, management, process engineering, laboratories and formulated products, with ten free conference tracks.
Vehicles and the automotive supply chain
Automechanika Birmingham (8–10 June 2027) expects 550+ brands and around 15,000 visitors from motor factors, garages and OEM supply chains. The Commercial Vehicle Show (20–22 April 2027) has 350+ exhibitors of trucks, vans and fleet technology; Euro Bus Expo covers buses and coaches.
Agriculture and consumer goods
LAMMA and CropTec share the NEC on 20–21 January 2027 with 800+ exhibitors of farm machinery and crop technology; Cereals (9–10 June) runs on a working farm in Lincolnshire. Consumer-goods makers have the January Furniture Show and The Exclusively Show for housewares.
Where are UK manufacturing shows held?
The NEC Birmingham is the default venue: most of the shows above take place there.
The NEC is about five minutes' walk from Birmingham International railway station. A free air-rail link connects the station with Birmingham Airport's Terminal 1, with trains roughly every two minutes taking about 90 seconds. By road it is signposted from the M42, M40 and M6; parking is paid, and pre-paying online saves £5. That makes it practical for a same-day visit from London or the North by train.
| Venue | Shows | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NEC Birmingham | Advanced Engineering, UK Metals Expo, Packaging Innovations & Empack, CHEMUK, Smart Manufacturing Week, Subcon, Automechanika, CV Show, LAMMA | Next to Birmingham International station and Birmingham Airport |
| Farnborough International | Southern Manufacturing & Electronics | Hall 1, Gate F off Aerospace Boulevard; free on-site parking |
| ExCeL London | London Packaging Week, Paper & Tissue Show, E-commerce Packaging & Labelling Expo | East London, Docklands |
| Exhibition Centre Liverpool | UKPackaging Expo | Liverpool waterfront |
For the wider London calendar, see business events in London.
What does it cost to visit a UK manufacturing show?
Nothing, for most industrial shows: registration is free for trade visitors, and the seminars are usually included. Costs come from late registration at a few shows and from parking.
| Event | Entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Manufacturing & Electronics | Free with advance registration | 16+; free parking |
| Smart Manufacturing Week | Free | Register your interest now |
| Packaging Innovations & Empack | Free | Strictly 16+ |
| The Commercial Vehicle Show | Free | Industry only; no under-16s |
| LAMMA | Free if registered by 4 January 2027 | Then £8 + VAT online, £12 + VAT on the door |
| Cereals | £15 one day / £25 two days (early bird to 14 February 2027) | Advance tickets only |
Prices are the organisers' published figures for these editions. NEC parking is paid at most shows; LAMMA lists pre-booked parking at £12.95 against £17.95 on the day.
How do you choose the right UK manufacturing show?
Start from what you need to buy or sell, then check the date, the venue and who else will be on the floor.
- Sourcing parts or capacity? Go to Subcon, where suppliers are there to quote against your drawings, and walk Smart Manufacturing Week in the next halls on the same days.
- Looking at technology across sectors? Advanced Engineering and Southern Manufacturing & Electronics are broad shows where aerospace, automotive and electronics suppliers sit side by side.
- Specialist supply chain? Metals, packaging, chemicals, automotive aftermarket and farm machinery each have a dedicated show; a specialist show gives you more relevant suppliers per hour.
- Combine shows. Advanced Engineering, UK Metals Expo and Lab Innovations run on the same days at the NEC; Smart Manufacturing Week and Subcon share 9–10 June 2027.
- Register early. Free registration often closes or becomes paid near the date (LAMMA, CropTec), and badges are faster if pre-registered.
- Use the free content. Most shows run CPD-accredited seminars; Euro Bus Expo alone lists 25 free Masterclass sessions.
For how exhibitions differ from conferences, see conference vs exhibition vs summit; for German trade fairs, see trade fairs in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the biggest manufacturing show in the UK?
- Southern Manufacturing & Electronics bills itself as the UK's largest annual industrial technology event; its 2026 edition had 10,722 attendees and 571 exhibitors. Smart Manufacturing Week calls itself the UK's largest festival of advanced manufacturing.
- Are UK manufacturing trade shows free?
- Most are free for trade visitors who register in advance, including Advanced Engineering, Smart Manufacturing Week, Subcon and CHEMUK. Agricultural shows such as LAMMA charge after an early-registration deadline, and Cereals sells tickets.
- How do I get to the NEC Birmingham?
- By train to Birmingham International station, about five minutes' walk away, or by plane to Birmingham Airport, linked to the station by a free air-rail shuttle. Drivers follow signs from the M42, M40 or M6.
- Is there a minimum age for UK trade shows?
- Often yes. Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, Packaging Innovations & Empack, London Packaging Week and the CV Show require visitors to be 16 or older, and Food & Drink Expo admits no under-18s.
- When is the UK's main subcontract manufacturing show?
- Subcon, which holds its 50th show on 9–10 June 2027 at the NEC Birmingham alongside Smart Manufacturing Week.
Sources
Written and fact-checked by the atndr team. Dates, venues and organizers are checked against each event’s official website; the figures in “At a glance” come live from the atndr calendar. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
