17 SHOWS & EVENTS AUTUMN FAIR CLOSES WITH RETAILERS ACTING ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES Autumn Fair 2026 closed following four days of buying, discovery and networking at the NEC Birmingham, with feedback from retailers and exhibitors highlighting a more cross-category approach to sourcing, growing demand for distinctive and story-led products, and the continued importance of face-to-face relationships in retail. Across Gift, Home, Fashion and the newly co-located Glee, buyers came from leading retailers including John Lewis, TJX Europe, Fenwick, NEXT, IKEA, Argos, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, The Range, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, Natural History Museum, British Museum, ZSL, Royal Shakespeare Company, Hobbycraft, and Scribbler, to name a few. Two shows - a bigger buying opportunity The co-location with Glee emerged as one of the strongest themes of the show, with retailers using the two-day opportunity to combine their Autumn Fair gift, home and fashion buying with garden, outdoor and lifestyle sourcing. For some buyers, the combination has changed the way they approach their buying trip, enabling them to move between categories and make one longer visit work harder. Discovery remains a key driver for buyers While buyers arrived with specific ranges and gaps in mind, conversations across the show demonstrated that discovery remains one of the key reasons retailers value physical trade shows. Claire Bevan, Head of Buying at the Natural History Museum, highlighted the growing importance of distinctive, storyled products and stronger relationships with producers and suppliers. “In the area I buy for, there’s definitely a lot of optimism and I’m seeing more products that are story-led, creative and distinctive. There’s a real focus on going back into the supply chain, working with great producers and suppliers, and creating products that have a strong story behind them. That’s something I’m seeing more and more of every year at Autumn Fair.” Independent retailers drive demand for something different Independent retailers were a consistent presence across the show, with exhibitors reporting strong conversations with boutiques, independents, garden centres and smaller retail groups. Retail Huddle Live: turning insight into action The final day saw Retail Huddle Live take over the Counter Talks Stage, bringing founders and industry experts together for a programme of practical advice, workshops and discussion. The morning covered everything from AI and digital skills to seasonal planning, creator collaborations, visual merchandising, sustainability and winning new retail listings. Among the sessions, Natasha Birk, Head of Product & E-Commerce at FlightStory (The Diary of a CEO), led Unlocking Growth by Obsessing Over the 1%, exploring how small, strategic improvements can unlock growth, while visual merchandising specialist Sarah Manning examined how retailers can use the psychology of customer behaviour to improve displays, store journeys and ecommerce. Partners, experiences and connections The show was supported by headline sponsor TY, alongside a network of partners and activations bringing additional insight and inspiration adding opportunities for buyers to discover products, share ideas, network and make connections throughout the four days. Whatnot’s live commerce activation proved a particularly busy destination, with buyers engaging with the working studio and exploring the opportunities presented by live shopping and community-led commerce. The Gift of the Year Showcase presented an edited selection of standout products and must-have gifts for the year ahead, providing buyers with a quick route to some of the most exciting new launches. The Home & Gift Association also brought its newly launched Buyer Circle to the show, alongside the Gift of the Year Showcase, helping to connect buyers with suppliers and new product opportunities. Looking ahead Autumn Fair and Glee will align their September dates again in 2027, with Autumn Fair taking place from 5–8 September 2027 and Glee from 6–8 September 2027 Birmingham. This season’s most unmissable events Shows, news & events Diary dates Mega Show Part 1 20th -23rd Oct 2026 Hong Kong Convention & Exhbition Centre Megashow.comasia.net.cn/ index.html Mega Show Part 2 27th -29th Oct 2026 Hong Kong Convention & Exhbition Centre Megashow.comasia.net.cn/ index.html Harrogate Christmas & Gift 10th –13th January, 2027 Harrogate Convention Centre www.harrogatefair.com Toy Fair 19th –21st January, 2027 Olympia, London www.toyfair.co.uk Spring Fair 7th – 10th February, 2027 NEC, Birmingham www.springfair.com Creativeworld 29th January – 1st February, 2026 Messe Frankfurt, Germany https://creativeworld. messefrankfurt.com
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