Industrial.Connected
Industry guide

UK manufacturing & engineering trade shows

A planning guide to the upcoming UK engineering exhibitions. Use it to plan visits, book stands and line up supplier meetings.

All sourcing guides

Trade shows are still where most UK engineering procurement teams and suppliers meet in person. A well chosen handful of visits each year, paired with a strong online presence on Industrial Connected, covers the majority of new supplier relationships in British manufacturing.

This guide covers the major upcoming UK engineering exhibitions, what each one is best for, and who should attend. Dates are confirmed where the organiser has published them and marked TBC where they have not.

Upcoming UK trade shows (rest of 2026)

PPMA Total Show 2026

Both
29 September to 1 October 2026
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Processing, packaging machinery, robotics, industrial vision.

Essential for food, drink, pharma and FMCG capital equipment buyers and the machine builders who serve them.

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Advanced Engineering 2026

Both
28 to 29 October 2026
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Aerospace, automotive, composites, connected manufacturing, performance metals.

The UK's largest annual gathering for advanced and high value manufacturing supply chains. Strong aerospace and motorsport tier 1 and 2 attendance.

Visit official site

The Manufacturing & Supply Chain Expo 2026

Buyers
October 2026 (TBC)
Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
Subcontract manufacturing, logistics, supply chain technology.

Midlands focused buyer event with a procurement and supply chain bias.

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UK trade shows in 2027

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2027

Both
February 2027 (TBC)
Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, Farnborough
Subcontract engineering, electronics, factory automation, test and measurement.

First major UK engineering trade show of the calendar year. Book stands and travel in Q3 of 2026.

Visit official site

Subcon 2027

Buyers
June 2027 (TBC)
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Subcontract manufacturing, contract assembly, design and prototyping.

Tightly focused on buyers actively sourcing subcontract work. Smaller and more efficient for procurement teams than MACH.

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Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2027

Both
June 2027 (TBC)
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Digital manufacturing, design and engineering software, factory automation, additive.

Co-located shows covering Drives & Controls, Plant & Asset Management, Smart Factory Expo and TCT 3Sixty. Useful for engineering and operations leaders.

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Manufacturing & Engineering North East 2027

Both
May 2027 (TBC)
Newcastle Racecourse, Newcastle
Subcontract, automation and process engineering across the North East corridor.

Regional show with strong attendance from Tyne & Wear, Teesside and County Durham manufacturers.

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Advanced Engineering 2027

Both
October or November 2027 (TBC)
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Aerospace, automotive, composites, advanced metals.

Closes the trade show year. Strong forward order pipeline conversations for tier 1 and 2 suppliers.

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UK trade shows in 2028

MACH 2028

Both
April 2028 (TBC)
NEC Birmingham, Birmingham
Machine tools, additive manufacturing, automation, tooling, metrology.

The flagship UK machine tool and production technology exhibition, organised by the MTA. Runs biennially. The single biggest gathering of UK precision engineering buyers and suppliers. Plan around the published MTA calendar.

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How to get the most from a UK engineering trade show

For buyers and procurement teams

  • Pre-book meetings two to three weeks before the show. Walk-up conversations on busy days rarely get past pleasantries.
  • Bring a one page brief for each live sourcing project. Drawings, materials, quantities, timing.
  • Capture supplier capability evidence on the stand: photos of sample parts, certification badges, capacity claims.
  • Cross check what you hear against verified profiles on Industrial Connected's category directory when you get back to the office.

For suppliers exhibiting

  • Send your top three target buyers a personal invite two weeks before the show. Pre-booked meetings convert at multiples of walk-ups.
  • Bring sample parts that show range and tolerance, not just your prettiest work.
  • Have your verification documents available: ISO certificates, key client logos with permission, recent capacity figures.
  • Keep your Industrial Connected supplier profile up to date before the show so new contacts can verify you immediately.
Between shows

Sourcing doesn't have to wait for the next show.

Post a project on Industrial Connected and verified UK suppliers respond with capability evidence, certifications and project history. The same kind of conversations you'd have at MACH or Subcon, available year round.

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