The year 2026 began on a sparkling high as festive and gift buyers flocked to Harrogate for the UK's only dedicated Christmas trade show, Harrogate Christmas & Gift. Taking place in early January, the event welcomed a record number of buyers, with attendance up 12 percent on the 2025 show, underlining the continued strength and relevance of the sector's flagship event.
Posted: 27 January 2026
Hale Events has confirmed that the 2026 edition of the Devon-based Giving & Living Trade Show was its last. "This show has marked a significant chapter in the life of the gifting industry, Hale Events, and for me personally," said Mike Anderson, Managing Director.
This decision comes after careful consideration. While the gift and home market continues to grow, the way products reach consumers has changed dramatically over the past decade and accelerated since the pandemic. Many businesses now sell direct to consumers or combine consumer and trade sales, and online B2B platforms and marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy, Faire, and Temu have become significant routes to market.
Posted: 26 January 2026
Source Fashion concluded a successful edition at Olympia London, bringing three days of sourcing and collaboration to a close as buyers, brands and manufacturers came together to drive progress across the fashion supply chain.
The latest edition recorded a 16 percent increase in visitors and a 12 percent rise in exhibitors, underlining the show's continued growth and increasing relevance for businesses navigating responsible, transparent and commercially viable sourcing.
Throughout the final day, the show floor remained busy as visitors made the most of their last opportunities to connect with responsible manufacturers, discover new sourcing partners and continue conversations sparked across the week. Buyers and sourcing teams from across the fashion industry attended throughout the final day.
Posted: 22 January 2026
Spring Fair 2026 (1–4 February, NEC Birmingham) is placing personal growth and practical support firmly at the heart of the show with the return of two powerful, free personal business-boosting opportunities for retailers and brands: 1-2-1 Retail Mentoring Clinics in the Buyer's Retreat and the Retail Huddle Live: Kick Start 2026 event in The Merchant's Corner.
Designed to deliver tailored advice, real-world insight and actionable next steps, both initiatives are free to attend and aimed at helping independent retailers and emerging brands trade more confidently, profitably and sustainably in the year ahead. Retailers can book a time slot in advance, share what they need help with, and are matched with the most relevant expert on the day.
Posted: 22 January 2026
Quality, variety and innovation were heard as the buzzwords around the hall at Scotland's Trade Fair Spring.
The Show highlighted what it does best – showcasing original, quality products with strong commercial appeal that perform well in retail outlets across the country.
In an era where online dominates much of our retail landscape, it's often debated if trade shows still have a relevance in 2026. But Scotland's Trade Fair showed how crucial they are.
With more than 400 suppliers exhibiting and several thousand retailers visiting, exhibitors and buyers alike stressed the value of face-to-face interaction, as well as the ability to see, touch and experience the products first hand – something no digital platform can fully replicate.
Posted: 22 January 2026
Spring Fair and Autumn Fair have announced a series of senior leadership appointments, reinforcing their commitment to long-term growth, strategic focus and delivering exceptional experiences for exhibitors and visitors alike.
These appointments come at a time of sustained commercial and community momentum across both events, with strong growth already secured for upcoming editions and well into 2026.
At a time when retailers are navigating continued economic pressure, evolving consumer behaviour and rapid innovation, Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Glee play a vital role in supporting the UK retail sector. As platforms for discovery, connection and commercial opportunity, the shows are increasingly focused on helping businesses of all sizes adapt, grow and thrive in a changing marketplace.
Posted: 13 January 2026
With just one week to go, Top Drawer S/S26 is set to return to Olympia London from 11–13 January, bringing together hundreds of the world's most exciting design-led brands, trend insight, and retail intelligence at a pivotal moment for independent retail. To help visitors skip boring and FAST FWD to Design, Top Drawer S/S26 has been shaped around what buyers told the show they need most: sharper curation, more newness and practical ideas they can put to work immediately. The result is a tightly edited sourcing destination, designed to help retailers start 2026 with clarity, confidence and commercial edge.
Posted: 6 January 2026
Spring Fair, the UK's most influential retail trade event for Home, Gift and Fashion, is proud to announce the debut of the Widdop & Co Village, an immersive new destination showcasing innovation, storytelling, and product launches from one of the industry's most established suppliers. Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 1 - 4 February 2026, the Widdop & Co Village will deliver a vibrant programme of live content, experiential showcases, and exclusive celebrity appearances.
Posted: 2 January 2026
Spring Fair, returning to the NEC Birmingham 1-4 February 2026, is set to deliver its most globally diverse edition yet, as the show experiences an unprecedented surge in international exhibitors and pavilion participation. Brands and trade associations from Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia are confirming in record numbers, reflecting renewed confidence in the UK market and Spring Fair's position as the premier destination for product discovery. From design-led collections to large-scale sourcing opportunities, this expanding global presence will bring fresh innovation, new partnerships, and wider product choice to the thousands of retailers who rely on Spring Fair to shape their buying season.
Posted: 15 December 2025
Spring Fair, the UK's definitive showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, returning to the NEC Birmingham from 1–4 February 2026, has unveiled its most ambitious and experience-led content programme to date, designed to deliver meaningful, value-driven insights and the topics at the heart of retail.
Under its bold new creative direction Retail Alchemists – Masters of the Mix, the 2026 programme brings together the industry's most influential voices across five stages, with a line-up curated around the themes shaping the future of retail:
From retail strategists and trend forecasters to designers, founders, innovators and cultural commentators, Spring Fair's speaker programme blends practical masterclasses with future-thinking debate, giving buyers the tools, knowledge and connections to thrive in 2026 and beyond.
Posted: 7 December 2025
