As Spring Fair drew to a close on 4th February, the message from those on the show floor was consistent, reports organiser Hyve Group: “From the moment doors opened, retailers have spoken about the experience, the look and feel of the show, and the sense that Spring Fair has regained its momentum” …
Jackson Szabo, Spring Fair’s portfolio director, says: “The buzz at Spring Fair this year has been incredible. Welcoming 40,000 visitors from 124 countries, the feedback on the refreshed look and feel, new destinations and immersive experiences has been overwhelmingly positive.
“With 86% of visitors holding purchasing power and 81% of buyers placing or planning to place orders, it’s clear that Spring Fair is where retail comes to do business, spark creativity and shape what’s next. Providing the ideas, partnerships and momentum retailers need to move their businesses forward with confidence, the show brought together a global retail community. If you weren’t here, you really missed something special.”
The show’s scale and momentum were reinforced by a 30% growth in new brands, an 8% rise in new exhibitors, 20% more international brands and a 10% increase in small businesses taking part. With over a million products on display – 38% of them exclusive to the show – and more than 100 expert speakers delivering insight and inspiration, Spring Fair “firmly positioned itself as the definitive retail destination for discovery, connection and growth” adds Hyve.
Successful exhibitors highlighted the quality of conversations, types and breadth of buyers. For example, Claudia Bovingdon, director of Coach House, comments: “Spring Fair has been incredibly busy for us – at points we’ve barely been able to move on the stand, which is a great position to be in.
“We’re very pro-fair and pro-exhibition, and Spring Fair is something we work towards all year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see so many customers in one place, reconnect with people we may only see once a year, and strengthen existing partnerships while forming new ones. With some customers unable to travel to our North West showroom, Spring Fair is a vital chance to catch up and talk through pre-orders face to face.”
Charlotte Broadbent, international marketing and partnerships director at show partner Faire, says: “This year, we connected with more customers face to face than ever before, and as a digital business those in-person conversations are incredibly meaningful. The energy at the show has been really positive about the year ahead in retail, and we have learned a huge amount by listening closely to customers.”
Looking ahead, event director Fay Tranter comments: “Spring Fair 2026 has been an incredible milestone for us. The energy across the halls, the quality of buyers and brands and the feedback from the industry have all reinforced that Spring Fair is not just a trade show, it’s an experience. We’ve seen real momentum in how people want to engage, connect and discover, and that transformation is something we’re fully committed to building on.
“Looking ahead to 2027, our strategy is focused on deepening that experience even further, with more immersive content, stronger communities, and even more opportunities for meaningful connections that genuinely support retail growth.”
Spring Fair 2027 will take place from 7-10th February at the NEC Birmingham. Before then, Autumn Fair returns on 6-9th (co-located with Glee from 8-10th September).
