EVENT UPDATE

Autumn Fair 2026 Opens at NEC Birmingham

Published: 02/09/2026

Author: Fashion Value Chain

Autumn Fair 2026 Opens in Birmingham with New Brands, Products and Retail Opportunities

The four-day buying event brings together more than 1,250 exhibitors, 500,000+ products and 20,000+ buyers at the NEC Birmingham.

Birmingham, UK: Autumn Fair 2026 opens at the NEC Birmingham, bringing the retail industry together for four days of product discovery, buying, networking and business insight during a key period in the retail calendar. The event runs from 6 to 9 September 2026.

Buyers can explore new collections and established bestsellers across Gift, Home, Fashion, Beauty & Wellbeing, Greetings, Kids, Toys & Play, Jewellery & Watch, Fashion Accessories, Food & Drink and Retail Services. The event provides retailers with an opportunity to make final buying decisions, respond to current sales and refresh ranges ahead of the Golden Quarter.

Autumn Fair and Glee Expand the Buying Opportunity

The 2026 edition introduces an expanded buying opportunity as Glee joins Autumn Fair on 8 and 9 September, creating a combined event covering home, gift, fashion, garden and outdoor living.

Across the two shows, more than 1,250 exhibitors, 500,000+ products and 20,000+ buyers are expected to come together at the NEC, creating opportunities for retailers to explore categories beyond their traditional buying areas.

The combined audience includes department stores, multiples, independent retailers, garden centres, visitor attractions, online businesses and specialist retailers, with 80% of the audience holding purchasing power and 70% operating physical stores.

Newness Takes Centre Stage

Product discovery is a major focus of Autumn Fair 2026, with more than 25% of brands new to the show and over 30% exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair.

The show brings together established industry names, returning exhibitors and emerging businesses across major retail categories. Brands showcasing new inspiration include Widdop & Co, Gift Republic, Puckator, Gingko Design, Warmies, Chalk, Pacific Lifestyle, Malini, Hill Interiors, Forever England, Lighthouse Clothing, Powder Design, Gold Trip, Evolve Organic Beauty, The English Soap Company, Bomb Cosmetics, Wild Spirit Sportswear and adhock.

The Home, Living & Décor destination spans furniture, textiles, decorative accessories, artisan homeware, premium gifts and outdoor living, while The Summer House brings together brands including Bronte by Moon, Biggie Best, Casa Verde, Culinary Concepts, DM Brands, Edge Company, The Otters Brook Collection, Inis, Freckleface Home Fragrance, JJ Textile, Nordic Style and Pacific Lifestyle.

Fashion Offers Mid-Season Buying Opportunities

The Fashion destination gives independent retailers an opportunity to react to what is selling during the season, with womenswear, menswear, footwear, jewellery, bags and accessories available across the show.

Featured names include Lighthouse Clothing, Weird Fish, Powder Design, Gold Trip, Pineapple Island, Oxford Blue, Nina Murati, Tretorn, Carol C Collections, Gini London, Nomads and Eighth Hour.

Product Pavilions Spotlight Emerging Brands

The newly renamed Product Pavilions provide dedicated destinations for emerging brands, fresh product launches and retail-ready innovations across Gift, Home, Beauty & Wellbeing, Greetings, Party & Celebration and Fashion.

The destinations highlight areas including sustainable and purpose-led products, wellness, experiential gifting and new retail concepts. Buyers can also explore the Gift of the Year Showcase, featuring winners of The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year 2026 Awards.

For the first time, Food & Drink joins the show, bringing gourmet gifting and edible treats from brands including Spice Kitchen, The Chocolate Gift Company, Cocoba Chocolate, Joypots, Treat Kitchen and Lakrids by Bülow, alongside a dedicated tasting station.

Trend Trails Help Buyers Navigate the Show

Autumn Fair’s Trend Trails are designed to help buyers identify suppliers aligned with specific sourcing priorities and retail opportunities.

The Show Guide highlights exhibitors across Made in the UK, Licensed Product, White Label, Export Ready, B Corp Certified and Also on Faire, providing buyers with a focused way to discover relevant suppliers.

Major Retailers Head to Birmingham

The event’s registered retail audience includes John Lewis, Tesco, Next, Fortnum & Mason, Sainsbury’s Argos, Mamas & Papas, The Range, Joules, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, National Trust, British Museum, TJX, Morrisons, Waitrose, Blue Diamond, Paper Tiger and Scribbler, alongside thousands of independent retailers from across the UK.

The September timing also supports reactive buying, allowing retailers to top up proven sellers, source ready-to-ship stock and identify products with potential for the Christmas season and early 2027.

Fashion Brands Take the Stage with Pitch Live

Autumn Fair 2026 will also spotlight emerging businesses through Pitch Live, beginning with Fashion, Accessories & Jewellery brands on Sunday morning.

Hosted by Ami Rabheru, the Dragons’ Den-style session will take place on the Counter Talks Stage, with the judging panel including fashion designer Jeff Banks, Estella Arroyo, Head of Design at George at Asda, and Sharon Good, Founder and Managing Director of Good Results PR.

Pitch Live will continue with Home & Gift on Monday, followed by Toy, Play & Kids Clothing on Tuesday.

Retail Knowledge and Live Commerce

The new Counter Talks Stage will host a four-day programme featuring practical sessions covering AI, digital growth, social commerce, retail crime, visual merchandising, licensing, buying, customer loyalty and consumer trends.

Experts from organisations including Google, Faire, Retail Huddle, BIRA, Buy Women Built, George at ASDA, Buying & Beyond and Licensing International will contribute to the programme. Retailers can also access complimentary 30-minute one-to-one Mentor Sessions in The Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse in Hall 9 will also become a live commerce studio through Autumn Fair’s partnership with Whatnot, allowing visitors to see products showcased and sold in real time and learn more about live selling. A Whatnot Takeover After Party is scheduled for 7 September from 4pm to 8pm.

AI Technology Transforms the Buying Experience

Autumn Fair and Glee have partnered with Alibaba.com’s Accio as Official Agentic AI Partner. The AI-powered event assistant is designed to help buyers find products and brands, create exhibitor shortlists, plan routes and build personalised agendas.

The technology also allows buyers to upload an image of their shop, display or window and receive recommendations for exhibitors and products suited to their retail style and customer demographic.

The event has also partnered exclusively with Faire, connecting physical and digital wholesale buying by allowing retailers to discover products at the show and continue purchasing through Faire’s online marketplace.

Supporting Britain’s High Streets

Autumn Fair is also supporting a national campaign calling for a minimum of 90 minutes of free parking in town and city centres across England.

The Support Free Parking. Back Local Businesses. Bring People Back campaign centres on a Parliamentary petition focused on increasing footfall, supporting independent retailers and strengthening local economies. According to the Voices of Retail findings cited in the release, 38% of independent retailers believe free parking would have the greatest positive impact on their business, while 63% of consumers say it would encourage them to visit town and city centres more frequently.