January Furniture Show concluded at the NEC Birmingham on 21st January, following four days that reaffirmed its position as the UK’s largest, most influential and most internationally relevant furniture trade event.
"The 2026 edition demonstrated clear strength in the quality, seniority and commercial intent of its audience," reports show organiser, The Furniture Shows (Clarion Events). "Throughout the event, the show floor was busy, focused and purpose-driven, with buyers arriving prepared to spend time on stands, engage in detailed discussions and progress conversations with both existing and new suppliers. Exhibitors consistently reported positive momentum, high-value engagement and a depth of interaction that underlined the continued importance of meeting face to face."
Visitor attendance grew by 2% YoY, reports The Furniture Shows, "demonstrating sustained demand and an engaged buyer audience despite wider market headwinds.
"This growth was supported by an 11% expansion of the show footprint, delivering more brands, larger feature spaces and a clear shift towards exhibitors investing in bigger, more ambitious stand environments, reflecting confidence in the event and a focus on creating stand-out presence for buyers.
"The 2026 edition welcomed a highly engaged mix of attendees spanning retail, manufacturing, ecommerce and specification, with independent retailers, multiples, department stores, online businesses, contract buyers and interior designers all strongly represented, underlining the breadth of today’s furniture market and the show’s relevance across multiple buying channels."
That quality of audience was particularly evident at the top end of the market, the show organiser continues: "VIP attendance increased by 28% YoY, with consistently strong conversion rates and significant growth among buyers controlling annual budgets of £1m and above. Sharp increases were recorded across every high-spend bracket, from £1-2m through to £10m+, reinforcing the show’s role as a destination for serious, decision-led sourcing."
Importantly, this confidence translated directly into commercial commitment, says The Furniture Shows, noting that 75% of the exhibition floorplan has already been rebooked for January 2027, as exhibitors confirmed their return early "in response to the quality of conversations, relationships and opportunities generated during the week".
The show also strengthened its international profile, welcoming buyers from 55 countries, up 15% YoY, alongside a strong presence of new international exhibitors, including a number making their UK debut.
"Together, this further reinforced the show’s position as a globally relevant sourcing destination, offering access to international design influence, manufacturing capability and new commercial opportunity, all under one roof," says the show organiser, adding that buyer feedback consistently highlighted the scale, quality and efficiency of the show.
A business manager from Leekes commented: “The mix of products available to purchase and the variety on show, from UK to international suppliers, is excellent.”
A central operations director at ScS added: “It’s huge, fantastically well put together, and if you can’t find quality product for your store here, you’ll never find it. For me personally, it’s been invaluable to meet all our existing suppliers in one place, and I’ve also made a number of new connections with suppliers we’ll be working with moving forward.”
Further endorsement came from Arighi Bianchi's MD, who described the show as “the best selection of furniture under one roof,” while a manufacturing director at DFS highlighted its value as “a great place to catch up with important suppliers and industry colleagues”, and a sales manager from Wayfair said: “January Furniture Show is a one-stop place to really understand the home, furniture and interiors market. It’s invaluable for seeing new products and trends, meeting suppliers and buyers in one place, and having proper conversations around sourcing, selling and partnerships.”
January Furniture Show 2026 brought together a strong mix of established market leaders, returning brands and new and international exhibitors. Across the halls, buyers engaged with brands including G-Plan, Parker Knoll, Himolla, Tetrad, Fama, Nest Space, Kelston House, Hill Interiors, Premier Housewares, Mindy Brownes, Wiemann, Rauch, Image, Indus Valley, Seconique, La-Z-Boy, Shire Beds, Birlea, Incanto and Violino, alongside more than 500 brands showcased across four halls of the NEC.
A series of Product Entrance Showcases, one in each hall, highlighted stand-out collections from hall sponsors Hooker Furnishings, Buoyant, Vida Living and ScatterBox, creating strong visual impact and immediate product engagement from the moment visitors entered each space.
In Hall 1, the VIP Lounge, delivered in partnership with At The Helm, offered a premium environment for senior buyers and exhibitors to meet, network and connect, away from the busy aisles.
The show floor was complemented by a series of curated feature spaces designed to encourage discovery, connection and dwell time. These included the Botanical Garden Bar in Hall 2, sponsored by Denbigh Rowe, the Retail Revealed LIVE stage delivering practical insight throughout the week, the Festival Food Court, and the BFA Networking Hub, delivered in partnership with event charity partner The Furniture Makers' Company, which provided a dedicated space for meetings and conversation.
This year also saw the successful introduction of an expanded and revised show layout across halls 1, 2, 3 and 5, "supporting improved flow and clearer sector zoning", says The Furniture Shows. "The evolution of the floorplan aligned with the show’s long-term vision to return to a horseshoe shape whilst creating a more connected and navigable experience for buyers and exhibitors alike."
Beyond the exhibition floor, the programme of content and community moments added further depth. Insight and leadership were a defining part of the event, with the Retail Revealed LIVE programme bringing senior voices from across retail, manufacturing and brand leadership into the heart of the show.
Sessions featured contributors from Wayfair, La-Z-Boy International, ufurnish, Shire Beds, Accouter Group of Companies, Coytes Furnishing, The Furniture Makers’ Company and OLISE Magazine, reflecting the breadth and quality of organisations shaping the sector today. Together, the programme reinforced January Furniture Show’s role not only as a sourcing destination, but as a platform for informed discussion, leadership and direction at the start of the buying year.
Events hosted by the Women in Furniture Network were among the most talked-about highlights of the show. The Networking Brunch, in particular, drew a full room and enthusiastic feedback, described by attendees as “authentic, inspiring and genuinely useful” and “a must-attend that left us energised and inspired”.
New for 2026, a series of one-to-one mentoring sessions connected emerging and established professionals with industry leaders, offering practical guidance, open discussion and career support in a focused setting.
Reflecting on the show, Paddy Wallace, head of sales at The Furniture Shows, says: “What stood out this year was the quality of engagement. Buyers came with intent, exhibitors came prepared, and the conversations happening across the halls were commercially meaningful. The strength of senior decision-makers, international participation and high-spend buyers reinforces January Furniture Show’s role as the industry’s most important meeting point at the start of the buying year.”
The show organiser concludes: "January Furniture Show 2026 stands out for the quality of its conversations, the seniority of its audience and the strength of its international participation. From early-stage discovery to confirmed follow-up and ongoing commercial discussions, the show once again played a defining role in setting direction at the start of the buying year.
"With confidence returning to the market and decision-makers firmly engaged, January Furniture Show continues to deliver where it matters most, bringing the right buyers and brands together, at the right moment, to move business forward."
The January Furniture Show will return to the NEC Birmingham from 24–27th January 2027.
