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NEC Birmingham is a venue in Birmingham with 186,000 m2 of exhibition space across 18 halls. We list 48 upcoming shows there.

Photos of NEC Birmingham

Giant red and white NEC letters on the lawn in front of Hall 1 and a covered walkway
Visitors browsing a food producer's stand on a busy NEC exhibition hall floor
Illuminated inflatable event structure with a fenced terrace on the NEC campus at night
Moxy hotel beside a lakeside path on the NEC campus, with exhibition halls behind
NEC exhibition hall exterior with a giant Welcome screen, shuttle buses and the covered walkway
See all 8 photos
Giant red and white NEC letters on the lawn in front of Hall 1 and a covered walkway
Visitors browsing a food producer's stand on a busy NEC exhibition hall floor
Illuminated inflatable event structure with a fenced terrace on the NEC campus at night
Moxy hotel beside a lakeside path on the NEC campus, with exhibition halls behind
NEC exhibition hall exterior with a giant Welcome screen, shuttle buses and the covered walkway
Self-order kiosks and menu screens at a food counter inside the NEC, with visitors wearing lanyards
Group with giant NEC 50 letters in a glass-roofed NEC foyer beside the seminar suite doors
Families sitting on the grass watching a big outdoor screen at NEC Lakeside on the campus

Images: NEC Birmingham.

Largest capacity
16,580 people (Hall 5, exhibition visitors at any one time (illustrative figure, 24,870 m2))
Exhibition space
186,000 m2
Exhibition halls
18
Event spaces
13

Visit website (opens in a new tab) thenec.co.uk

At the NEC you can book a single hall for a launch or link several together as a show grows, because the venue lists 18 interconnected halls, 32 conference suites and 186,000 m2 of covered space on one campus beside Birmingham International station and Birmingham Airport. It opened in 1976 with seven halls, and it sits among the UK exhibition venues we list for trade shows in Birmingham.

Size your floor plan hall by hall

You can estimate stand numbers before you enquire, as the NEC publishes floor space for each hall with stand and visitor figures based on 9 m2 per stand. The venue says these are illustrative and depend on the floorplan.

Hall Floor space (m2) Stands Visitors at one time VE doors
Hall 1 14,010 771 9,340 6
Hall 2 11,500 633 7,667 4
Hall 3 10,610 584 7,073 5
Hall 3A 7,895 434 5,263 3
Hall 4 16,700 919 11,133 7
Hall 5 24,870 1,368 16,580 9
Hall 6 10,125 557 6,750
Hall 7 4,950 272 3,300 2
Hall 9 10,178 560 6,785
Hall 10 4,811 265 3,207
Hall 11 5,132 282 3,421
Hall 12 10,195 561 6,797
Hall 17 7,960 438 5,307

Hall 1 has a 15.5m ceiling and a 120m by 120m maximum footprint, while Halls 2 and 3 have 10.6m ceilings. Hall 5, at 210m by 120m, is the largest single space listed. Pairs such as Halls 1 and 2, 6 and 7, or 17 and 18 can be joined, and the site also has 440 acres of outdoor space with woodland and a lake.

Get your stand built, powered and connected

For build days, you book your rear-of-hall delivery slot through Voyage Control. Parking behind the halls is for offloading only, and on busy events a deposit system may apply, with an automatic overstay charge. After unloading, your Voyage Control QR code lets you leave any visitor car park free. Breakdown access to the rear of the halls needs no booking.

  • Order services early: anything ordered within 28 days of the first build day costs 20% more than the Standard price, and on-site orders cost 30% more than the Late price. Payment is due before the event.
  • Send a stand plan. Power, water, air and data come from floor ducts, and without a plan they arrive at the centre of your stand. Moving them later can cost extra.
  • Hardwired internet is uncontended and symmetrical, set by DHCP, and usually live by the last build day. Bring your own router.
  • Your organiser names the stand wiring contractor. High-visibility bibs are required in offloading areas.

Plan your trip by rail, air or road

You can reach the halls without a car: Birmingham International station is a five-minute covered walk away, the Air-Rail Link connects it to the airport, and the NEC reports six trains an hour to London. Birmingham Airport serves over 150 destinations, according to the venue. Drivers use over 16,500 parking spaces with ANPR barriers, and exhibitors park free during build and breakdown. On open days some organisers issue free parking codes, while at other shows you pay, ideally by pre-booking.

Stay and eat on site

Your team can stay within walking distance of the halls, as the venue counts seven on-site hotels with over 1,950 rooms, plus more than 16 restaurants and bars, a cinema, casino and spa. Amadeus is the in-house caterer, and the venue delivers your food orders to your stand.

Shows coming up at the NEC

You can walk Lab Innovations and Advanced Engineering from 4 November 2026, then SALTEX from 11 November and MegaCon Live from 5 December 2026. In 2027, LAMMA opens on 20 January, Spring Fair on 7 February, the Commercial Vehicle Show on 20 April and UK Games Expo on 4 June.

If you are comparing large halls, Excel London and SEC Glasgow are also listed. Our guides to planning stand delivery and installation and choosing shell scheme or space only help with the build stage.

Source: thenec.co.uk/organisers/host-an-exhibition, thenec.co.uk/exhibitors/exhibitor-faqs, thenec.co.uk/exhibitors/exhibitor-parking, thenec.co.uk/about

Halls and rooms you can hire

Event spaces at NEC Birmingham
SpaceArea (m²)
Hall 114,010
Hall 211,500
Hall 310,610
Hall 3A7,895
Hall 416,700
Hall 524,870
Hall 610,125
Hall 74,950
Hall 910,178
Hall 104,811
Hall 115,132
Hall 1210,195
Hall 177,960

Capacities as published by the venue. Source: thenec.co.uk.

Getting to NEC Birmingham

Birmingham International railway station is a five-minute covered walk from the halls, and the Air-Rail Link connects the station to Birmingham Airport. The venue reports six trains an hour to London and says the airport serves over 150 destinations. The NEC sits on the UK motorway network and has over 16,500 parking spaces with ANPR barriers and a free shuttle bus service. Exhibitor parking is free during build and breakdown and can be pre-booked for open days.

Upcoming shows at NEC Birmingham

Upcoming shows at NEC Birmingham
ShowDatesSectors
The Creative Craft Show5-8 November 2026Craft & hobbies
Simply Christmas5-8 November 2026Retail & gifts
Cake International and Bake International6-8 November 2026Food & drink
Nursing Live9-10 November 2026Healthcare
Automotive Management LIVE11 November 2026Automotive
SALTEX11-12 November 2026Agriculture & horticulture
Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show13-15 November 2026Automotive
The Schools & Academies Show18-19 November 2026Education & technology
Festive Gift Fair19-22 November 2026Retail & gifts
Classic Antique Fairs20-22 November 2026Art & antiques
MCL21-29 November 2026Automotive
The National Festival of Railway Modelling21-22 November 2026Craft & hobbies
Occupational Therapy Show25-26 November 2026Healthcare
Therapy Show25-26 November 2026Healthcare
Festive Good Food Show26-29 November 2026Food & drink
MegaCon Live5-6 December 2026Entertainment & collectibles
Toy Collectors Fair27 December 2026Craft & hobbies
Sim Global Expo16-17 January 2027Gaming & simulation
LAMMA20-21 January 2027Agriculture & horticulture
Low Carbon Agriculture20-21 January 2027Agriculture & horticulture
Crop Tec20-21 January 2027Agriculture & horticulture
January Furniture Show24-27 January 2027Retail & gifts
National Running Show30-31 January 2027Sport & fitness
Spring Fair7-10 February 2027Retail & gifts
Pure London7-10 February 2027Textiles & fashion
The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show9-10 February 2027Food & drink
The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show16-21 February 2027Travel & tourism
Printwear & Promotion LIVE!21-23 February 2027Manufacturing & engineering
Packaging Innovations & Empack24-25 February 2027Manufacturing & engineering
The National Wedding Show Spring27-28 February 2027Weddings & celebrations
The National Equine Show27-28 February 2027Equestrian
National Homebuilding & Renovating Show11-14 March 2027Construction & built environment
BVA Live11-12 March 2027Veterinary & animal health
Digital Health Rewired16-17 March 2027Healthcare
IntraLogisteX17-18 March 2027Transport & logistics
UK Concrete Show23-24 March 2027Construction & built environment
Commercial Vehicle Show20-22 April 2027Transport & logistics
The Security Event27-29 April 2027Technology & security
National Cyber Security Show27-29 April 2027Technology & security
The Health & Safety Event27-29 April 2027Safety & facilities
The Workplace Event27-29 April 2027Safety & facilities
The Baby Show Birmingham7-9 May 2027Family & parenting
UK Games Expo4-6 June 2027Gaming & simulation
Subcon9-10 June 2027Manufacturing & engineering
Multimodal29 June - 1 July 2027Transport & logistics
The Pharmacy Show10-11 October 2027Healthcare
Farm Business Innovation12-13 January 2028Agriculture & horticulture
The Land Leisure and Tourism Show12-13 January 2028Travel & tourism

Where to find NEC Birmingham

Map loads here.

Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

View a larger map (opens OpenStreetMap in a new tab) Get directions (opens OpenStreetMap in a new tab)

What's on at NEC Birmingham

48 upcoming trade shows and exhibitions on the calendar, 2026–28, in date order. Dates are checked against each organiser's official website.

November 2026

Healthcare

Nursing Live

9–10 Nov 2026

NEC Birmingham

Agriculture & horticulture

SALTEX

11–12 Nov 2026

NEC Birmingham

Automotive

MCL

21–29 Nov 2026

NEC Birmingham

Healthcare

Therapy Show

25–26 Nov 2026

NEC Birmingham

December 2026

Entertainment & collectibles

MegaCon Live

5–6 Dec 2026

NEC Birmingham

January 2027

Gaming & simulation

Sim Global Expo

16–17 Jan 2027

NEC Birmingham

Agriculture & horticulture

Crop Tec

20–21 Jan 2027

NEC Birmingham

Agriculture & horticulture

LAMMA

20–21 Jan 2027

NEC Birmingham

February 2027

Textiles & fashion

Pure London

7–10 Feb 2027

NEC Birmingham

Retail & gifts

Spring Fair

7–10 Feb 2027

NEC Birmingham

March 2027

Veterinary & animal health

BVA Live

11–12 Mar 2027

NEC Birmingham

Transport & logistics

IntraLogisteX

17–18 Mar 2027

NEC Birmingham

Construction & built environment

UK Concrete Show

23–24 Mar 2027

NEC Birmingham

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

Gaming & simulation

UK Games Expo

4–6 Jun 2027

NEC Birmingham

Manufacturing & engineering

Subcon

9–10 Jun 2027

NEC Birmingham

Transport & logistics

Multimodal

29 Jun – 1 Jul 2027

NEC Birmingham

October 2027

January 2028

Shows at NEC Birmingham by sector

Questions and answers

Where is NEC Birmingham?

NEC Birmingham is at Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT.

How many people can NEC Birmingham hold?

The largest capacity stated is 16,580 people (Hall 5, exhibition visitors at any one time (illustrative figure, 24,870 m2)).

What is the largest space at NEC Birmingham?

Hall 5, at 24,870 m². The smallest space with a published floor area is Hall 10, at 4,811 m².

How much exhibition space does NEC Birmingham have?

186,000 m2 of exhibition space across 18 exhibition halls.

What event spaces does NEC Birmingham have?

13 spaces are listed: Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3, Hall 3A, Hall 4, Hall 5 and 7 more.

What is the nearest station to NEC Birmingham?

Birmingham International railway station is a five-minute covered walk from the halls, and the Air-Rail Link connects the station to Birmingham Airport.

Is there parking at NEC Birmingham?

The NEC sits on the UK motorway network and has over 16,500 parking spaces with ANPR barriers and a free shuttle bus service. Exhibitor parking is free during build and breakdown and can be pre-booked for open days.

How do I get to NEC Birmingham?

The venue reports six trains an hour to London and says the airport serves over 150 destinations.

Which shows are coming up at NEC Birmingham?

The Creative Craft Show (5-8 November 2026), Simply Christmas (5-8 November 2026), Cake International and Bake International (6-8 November 2026), Nursing Live (9-10 November 2026), Automotive Management LIVE (11 November 2026) and 43 more.

How do I contact NEC Birmingham?

You can contact NEC Birmingham by phone on 0121 780 4141, or through its website, thenec.co.uk.

What kind of venue is NEC Birmingham?

NEC Birmingham is listed under exhibition venues.

You can check every answer against the details on this page (source: thenec.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026).

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Exhibition space

186,000 m2

Exhibition halls

18

Capacity

16,580 people (Hall 5, exhibition visitors at any one time (illustrative figure, 24,870 m2))

Source of these figures: thenec.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026

Source checked

2 November 2026

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