UKPackaging Expo 2026: where the industry turns upside down to get it right-side up again
UKPackaging Expo 2026 is not just another date on the packaging industry calendar. It is a bold reimagining of what a trade event can be, designed for a sector that is transforming at speed.
On 10 and 11 November 2026, the Exhibition Centre Liverpool will become a platform for new ideas, new buyers and new opportunities, all created to challenge the traditional event model.
While many shows repeat the same formula and attract the same visitor base year after year, UKPackaging Expo is breaking that cycle. This event flips expectations by delivering something fresh, disruptive and regionally focused, opening the door to audiences who have long been underserved by southern based exhibitions.
A show built for the North
The North West is the UK’s number one manufacturing region, generating £29.5 billion in manufacturing output, more than any other region in the country. It is where production happens, where technical teams operate and where packaging solutions are needed every single day. Yet most major packaging events still take place in the Midlands or the South, creating travel barriers for thousands of Northern, Scottish and Welsh organisations.
UKPackaging Expo brings the industry closer to the people who rely on it. It gives exhibitors access to new visitors, new buyers and new regional markets that are not already saturated by the traditional trade show circuit. This creates real commercial potential and a genuine opportunity for suppliers to build connections where demand is strongest.
A new kind of event for a changing industry
Packaging is shifting faster than ever. Sustainability expectations, supply chain pressures, automation, digital workflows and new regulations are redefining how brands operate. The industry needs an event that does not simply mirror the past but instead pushes conversations forward.
This is why UKPackaging Expo is building two dedicated stages for 2026, each focused on future trends, technical insight and transformative ideas.
According to Naomi Stewart, Head of Marketing at UKPackaging Expo,
“We are incredibly excited about what is coming for 2026. Our team is currently developing a completely new content programme across two stages, bringing together innovators, technical experts and change makers who will challenge the status quo. This is not another traditional trade show. It is a fresh direction for the industry and a platform that finally puts the North at the forefront.”