AUTUMN FAIR UNVEILS ITS STRONGEST EVER GIFT DESTINATION AS UK GIFTING MARKET CONTINUES TO EVOLVE

From wellness and gourmet gifting to nostalgia-fuelled toys and premium stationery, Autumn Fair brings together the brands and trends shaping the future of UK retail.

As the UK gifting market continues to demonstrate its resilience and adaptability, Autumn Fair 2026 is set to deliver its strongest-ever showcase of gift brands, bringing together established industry leaders, emerging designers and exclusive launches across every major gifting category.

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 6–9 September, Autumn Fair arrives at a pivotal moment for retailers preparing for the Golden Quarter and planning ranges for early 2027. This year, with Glee co-locating on 8–9 September, the event becomes Europe's biggest buying moment for home, gift, garden and fashion retail, bringing together more than 1,250 exhibitors, over 500,000 products and 20,000+ buyers under one roof.

The UK giftware market is estimated to be worth around £9.3 billion, reflecting consumers' continued appetite for thoughtful, personalised and experience-led gifting. Personalisation, sustainability, wellness, artisan products and premium home accessories continue to shape purchasing decisions, while retailers are increasingly seeking products that help differentiate their offer from online competitors.

With more than 25% of brands exhibiting for the first time and over 30% exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair, buyers can discover an unrivalled mix of newness, innovation and established bestsellers across Gift, Beauty & Wellbeing, Greeting Cards, Stationery & Wrapping, Food & Drink and Kids, Toys & Play.

Gift: Creativity, craftsmanship and commercial opportunity

The Gift destination brings together some of the sector's biggest names including Joe Davies, Lesser & Pavey, Widdop & Co, Richard Lang & Sons, Gift Republic, Kikkerland, Warmies, Gingko Design, University Games, Anjica, and Candlelight Products.

Alongside these established favourites, buyers will discover an exciting wave of new exhibitors including Puckator, CGB Giftware, Repeat Repeat, Craftstone Europe, Coaster House, Heritage Playing Cards, Portland Living, Baltus Candles, Significant Otter, JJ Vaillant, McHugs and Outdoor Collective - North Star Brands, while exclusive exhibitors such as Big Potato Games, Bubblegum Stuff, East of India, Rex London, House of Disaster, Powell Craft, Forever England, Lanka Kade, House of Marbles, Winning Moves and Light Style London make Autumn Fair the only place buyers can see them this season.

Sally Mason, Head of Sales for Professor Puzzle & Ginger Fox said: “Autumn Fair is the perfect opportunity to showcase the breadth of our portfolio and introduce retailers to our latest licensed launches. From Harry Potter to Race Across the World, we're excited to share a collection that combines innovative gameplay with some of the world's most recognisable licensing ahead of the festive season. We love seeing all our retailers in one place and having somewhere to catch up before peak.”

CHALK will unveil its new Autumn/Winter 2026 collections showcasing timeless design, premium fabrics and understated style across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and homeware. Buyers will be among the first to discover luxurious faux fur outerwear, elevated knitwear, gifting-led baby collections and an expanded homeware range inspired by the rich tones of the British countryside.

The show also continues to champion emerging brands through its Gift Pavilion, where visitors can discover exciting newcomers including TINIT, Radiance B2B, The Candle Carousel®, Gift Candle, Celestial Irias Apothecary, Everyday Womtras™ and Tawny Owl Wood.

Beauty & Wellbeing continues its rapid growth

One of retail's fastest-growing categories, Beauty & Wellbeing continues to expand as consumers prioritise self-care, wellness and sustainable beauty products.

Returning brands including Bomb Cosmetics, The English Soap Company, Fikkerts, Best Kept Secrets and The Highland Soap Company are joined by first-time exhibitors including Nougat London, Evolve Organic Beauty, Cosy Cosmetics, and Patio Das India, showcasing everything from award-winning organic skincare and natural bath products to premium home fragrance and wellness collections.

Premium bath, body and home fragrance brand Arthur Betsy will officially unveil its complete rebrand at Autumn Fair, marking an exciting new chapter for the British wellbeing brand, while new lifestyle and gifting brand Edit Five makes its debut with bold, colourful collections.

A new destination for Food & Drink gifting

New for 2026, Autumn Fair introduces a dedicated Food & Drink destination, recognising the continued convergence of gourmet food, gifting and lifestyle retail.

Visitors will discover artisan producers and premium food gifts including Norfolk Jar Kitchen, Lakrids by Bülow, Spice Kitchen and Treat Kitchen, alongside live sampling opportunities that allow buyers to experience products first-hand before placing orders for the festive season.

Food gifting continues to grow as consumers increasingly seek premium, locally sourced and experiential products that create memorable gifting moments.

Greeting Cards and stationery remain a British retail success story

The UK remains one of the world's strongest greeting card markets, supported by continued consumer demand for premium, personalised and sustainable cards. Eco-friendly production, independent illustration and artisan publishing continue to drive growth.

Autumn Fair reflects these trends through well-known favourites including Ohh Deer, Five Dollar Shake, Paper Salad, The Art File, The Eco-Friendly Card Co, Cardgains, Collins Debden and Raspberry Blossom, alongside newcomers including Jellow Cards, Lydia Mae and the Greetings Lab Designer Showcase, introducing emerging independent publishers.

Kids, Toys & Play taps into nostalgia and collectability

The Kids, Toys & Play destination continues to evolve alongside changing consumer habits. While value remains important for families, the market is increasingly driven by licensed products, collectibles and the continued rise of the ‘kidult’ consumer, with nostalgic toys, games and plush proving particularly popular. Recent market data shows adult consumers are becoming an increasingly influential force in toy purchasing, while licensed products and collectibles continue to outperform.

Autumn Fair showcases market leaders including TY UK, unveiling its new Beanie Bouncers range, and Keel Toys, presenting the latest additions to its sustainable Keeleco collection made from 100% recycled materials. Buyers can also discover University Games, House of Marbles, Blade & Rose, JigglyBitz, Cryptic Killers, Reydon Sports, and Winning Moves, alongside exclusive brands including Lanka Kade, and Big Potato Games.

Beyond product discovery, buyers can also gain valuable commercial insight through Autumn Fair's extensive content programme, designed to help retailers navigate the trends shaping the season ahead. The new Counter Talks Stage will bring together leading retailers, buyers and industry experts to share practical advice on consumer behaviour, merchandising, social commerce, AI, marketing and profitability.

Visitors can also explore the prestigious Gift of the Year Showcase, discover tomorrow's talent through Pitch Live, connect with fellow retailers in the Greeting Card Association Lounge, and attend Retail Huddle Live for actionable strategies to drive growth in 2027.

Matthew Mein, Event Director at Autumn Fair said: “Gift retail has never been more dynamic. Consumers are looking for products that tell a story, reflect their values and create memorable experiences, whether that's through sustainable beauty, artisan food, beautifully designed stationery, nostalgic toys or innovative home accessories. Autumn Fair brings all of those trends together under one roof. With more than a quarter of our exhibitors joining us for the first time, over 30% exhibiting exclusively, and hundreds of exciting product launches across every gifting category, we're giving buyers the opportunity to discover the brands and products that will define the Golden Quarter and beyond. Whether you're looking for established bestsellers or the next big thing, Autumn Fair is where those discoveries happen.”

As retailers continue to seek products that inspire customers, encourage repeat visits and differentiate them from competitors, Autumn Fair's focus on product discovery has never been more relevant. From artisan beauty and premium food gifting to sustainable stationery, innovative toys and contemporary homeware, the show offers buyers a unique opportunity to uncover the next bestselling brands while building commercially successful ranges for the busiest trading period of the year and beyond.

Autumn Fair 2026 takes place 6–9 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.

Glee 2026 takes place 8–10 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.