Clarion Events has announced that it is to be acquired by Informa, a leading international B2B live events group, bringing together two highly complementary organisations with a shared commitment to growth, innovation and customer value. The acquisition reflects the strength of Clarion's portfolio of market-leading brands, its strong positions across a range of attractive sectors and geographies, and the expertise and commitment of its people.
Posted: 20 October 2026
Visitor registration for Toy Fair 2027 is now open, ahead of the UK's largest toy, game and hobby trade exhibition taking over Olympia, London from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st January 2027. Those who attended any of the previous three shows will receive a 'Smart Link' to their existing profile, streamlining the re-registration process. Toy Fair continues for its 73rd year to serve as the principal meeting point for retailers, buyers, licensors, designers, inventors, media, influencers, marketeers, educators, and the wider industry seeking early insight into the year ahead in toys and games, and provides an established platform for generating new business and reinforcing existing industry relationships.
Posted: 15 October 2026
Koelnmesse, Inc. has announced the expansion of the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival (FFCF) with a second edition launching in Houston, Texas, in autumn 2027, growing the consumer festival from a single flagship event in Rosemont, Illinois, into a multi-city platform for the fibre, fabric, and craft community. The Houston edition will run alongside Koelnmesse's h+h americas Fall Edition, and additional U.S. markets are planned as Koelnmesse continues to grow the platform.
Posted: 8 October 2026
h+h americas Fall Edition 2026 officially concluded today at Reliant Center in Houston, bringing together creative industry professionals, suppliers, retailers, designers, educators, creators, and business owners for the inaugural autumn edition of the h+h americas platform. Held 30th September to 2nd October, the new Fall Edition introduced an additional annual B2B marketplace designed to connect the creative supply chain during an important time of year for business planning, product discovery, and preparation for the autumn and holiday selling season.
Posted: 6 October 2026
With around six months to go before the event, h+h cologne 2027 is seeing exceptionally strong demand. More than 85 percent of the exhibition space has been reserved. Those on board include well-known industry names as well as companies exhibiting at h+h cologne for the first time. Over 200 companies have confirmed their participation in h+h cologne, taking place in Cologne from 2 to 4 April 2027.
Posted: 28 September 2026
Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Paperworld Middle East, the region's leading international trade platform for paper and stationery products, has announced the postponement of the upcoming edition. Originally scheduled for 13–15 October 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will now take place from 28-30 September 2027. The decision follows extensive discussions with the industry and careful assessment of the challenges currently facing the paper and stationery industry, including constraints around production lead times and issues across freight and logistics.
Posted: 16 September 2026
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 from leading retailers including John Lewis, TJX Europe, Fenwick, NEXT, IKEA, Argos, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, The Range, Mamas & Papas, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, Natural History Museum, British Museum, ZSL, Royal Shakespeare Company, Hobbycraft, Scribbler, Paper Tiger, Joules, Mountain Warehouse, QVC and Amazon, alongside a broad mix of independent retailers, garden centres, visitor attractions and specialist stores, have used the show to discover new products, meet existing and potential suppliers and identify opportunities beyond their traditional buying categories, with the combined event creating new crossover between home, garden, gift, fashion and lifestyle.
Posted: 15 September 2026
The Home & Gift Association has met with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to discuss growth, exports, regulation and support for small businesses across the UK's home and gift sector.
Representing around 400 suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and service providers, the Association highlighted the pressures facing businesses, including rising costs, export barriers and increasing regulatory requirements.
A key focus of the meeting was international growth, with DBT outlining opportunities for UK businesses through partnerships with major online marketplaces in regions including Latin America and the Middle East. The Association welcomed further collaboration to help members access new customers and export markets.
Posted: 14 September 2026
UK Hand Knitting (UKHK), the leading organisation championing yarn crafts across the country, has announced the launch of its first comprehensive consumer research study into the UK knitting and crochet market. This landmark project will deliver unprecedented insight into how today's makers discover, purchase, and engage with yarn and craft products. The full research findings will be published later this year, with a detailed report available to all UK Hand Knitting premium subscribing shops.
Posted: 9 September 2026
The Luxury Fabric Show, whose exhibitors are all British suppliers offering low minimums, is launching a series of expert briefings during its autumn event next month (14-15 October at The Box Office Studio in Shoreditch, London). The exhibition presents a tightly curated collection of the best suppliers of silk, wool, lace, jacquards, linings, buttons, labels, workshop essentials and more aimed at the fashion, bridalwear, lingerie, interiors and costume making sectors.
Posted: 9 September 2026