Printwear & Promotion LIVE! 2026, held from 22-24 February at Birmingham’s NEC, proved to be another success. The co-located event featured 165 exhibitor stands and drew nearly 6,500 visitors over three days, 5,000 attending via Printwear & Promotion LIVE! and an additional 1,500 through Sign & Digital UK. Consistent with previous years, Sunday, the opening day, experienced the highest attendance with 2,700 visitors.

For many years, the show has served as a launch pad for new equipment, and this year was no exception. Over a dozen leading industry suppliers exhibited new additions and expanded product ranges. The event also highlighted the industry’s diversity, featuring more than 60 garment suppliers presenting their latest styles, colours and fabrics.

Commenting is event director, Tony Gardner

“Feedback from the industry indicates that as a whole, the printwear sector in the UK has remained pretty static over last year. Consequently, we were very pleased to see a virtually identical turnout to the number of visitors to last year’s P&P LIVE! What really stood out to so many this year, was the investment made by the exhibitors in the quality of their stands and displays. There is always a buzz at the show, and you could really feel the energy across the halls. We are delighted to have received so many positive comments on the event from both visitors and exhibitors.”

Meanwhile, over in the adjoining hall at Sign & Digital UK, visitors could discover all the equipment, products, services and advice needed should they wish to diversify into the sign making world. During the show, Martin Lowe, marketing manager at Resolute, shared his positive experience. “Both stands have been incredibly busy the entire time, so we’ve been really fortunate in how it has been going so far.”

 

 

Rob Goleniowski, regional manager for Roland Europe, said it had been a “vibrant” event, as he noted a particular interest in DTF, with customers asking more questions to find the right fit for them.

“We’re finding that the customers are a bit more educated now that there is no kind of one perfect solution,” says Goleniowski. “So, whilst DTF has advantages, there are other technologies, eco solvent and UV for example, that have also got their own relative strengths. We’re seeing that customers are more understanding about choosing the right technology for the right application.”

IPIA’s general manager, Brendan Perring, observed that the event actively showcased a growing diversification of interest, emphasising how boundaries between different areas of the industry continue to blur. “It’s interesting to see every year how the different boundaries between our sectors are breaking down,” he says.

Printwear & Promotion LIVE! will return to the NEC next year. Provisional dates for 2027 are 21-23 February. For further information, please click here.