GREEN HEART Glee returns to the NEC Birmingham, and this year it forms part of something much bigger… For the first time, Glee will run alongside Autumn Fair, together creating the largest retail buying event of the second half of the year, making it an unmissable week for buyers across garden, home and gift. While Glee retains its own identity, the co-location introduces a powerful new dynamic. With two crossover days and seamless access between shows, buyers can tap into a broader, more diverse audience than ever before, from garden centres and outdoor living specialists to independent gift shops and lifestyle retailers. It’s a unique opportunity to explore how categories connect, where products sit across multiple retail environments, and how trends translate into commercial success. And it’s exactly this crossover that Glee 2026 is built to deliver. Today’s Glee reflects the full breadth of a thriving, fastevolving sector. At its core is Green Heart – a vibrant celebration of plants in all their forms, from indoor houseplants to outdoor seasonal varieties – a category that continues to influence gifting in a big way. A lifestyle story Beyond plants, the show spans garden care, landscaping, tools and growing media, alongside an increasingly strong home, gift and lifestyle offer. Outdoor décor, wellness-led products, retail services, pet care and sustainable solutions all sit within the mix, creating a show floor that feels diverse, relevant and full of retail opportunity. For gift buyers, it’s this variety that makes Glee so compelling – a place where products don’t just sit in categories, but contribute to a broader lifestyle story. Feature areas bring these trends to life. Food@Glee returns for its second year following a hugely successful debut, with an expanded line-up of artisan food, drink and gifting ranges designed to drive impulse purchases and elevate in-store experience. Meanwhile, Fire, Grill & Chill taps into the continued boom in outdoor cooking and entertaining, showcasing products that encourage social living and seasonal spending. Beyond the product, Glee’s ‘What’s On’ programme is set to be a major draw. Across multiple stages and feature areas, visitors can expect a packed schedule of talks, panels and live sessions covering retail trends, consumer behaviour, sustainability and future opportunities. The content is designed to be practical, insightful and immediately useful. Brand new products The ever-popular New Product Showcase will once again highlight the latest launches across the show, offering a quick and effective way to spot innovation. Matthew Mein, Event Director of Glee, said: “Glee 2026 is all about creating a more connected, more valuable experience for our visitors. By bringing together a broader mix of categories, stronger content and new audiences through our co-location with Autumn Fair, we’re giving retailers the opportunity to discover more, learn more and ultimately buy better. It’s about reflecting how retail is evolving and making sure Glee sits right at the centre of that conversation.” IN BRIEF: WHO: Glee, www.gleebirmingham.com WHERE: NEC, Birmingham WHEN: 8th-10th September, 2026 44
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