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Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) has opened visitor registration for its 2026 exhibition, with organisers projecting the largest event in its history following double-digit year-on-year growth in exhibitor bookings.
The annual event, which is organised in partnership with industry association Licensing International, is scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 October 2026 at ExCeL London. Registration is free for industry professionals who sign up before 5 October 2026.
The growth in early bookings reflects sustained commercial confidence across the global licensing market, which is valued at an estimated $389.8 billion. To date, 222 exhibitors have been confirmed for the London trade show, representing diverse consumer sectors including heritage, sports, fashion, and food and beverage.
New Exhibitors and Sector Diversification
The 2026 exhibition will feature an expanded floor plan to accommodate a wider variety of creative and commercial IP sectors. The event organisers have highlighted several new international brands making their debut at the show:
🏛️ Heritage – Tate Modern, National Trust for Scotland, and René Magritte.
🎾 Sports – ATP Tour.
🍎 Food and Beverage – Del Monte Europe.
🧸 Toys – Market Plush from Spain.
🏠Manufacturing – Polyflame Europe from France and Red Robin Design from Belgium.
These new entries join a list of returning major global brand owners, which includes Hasbro, SEGA, Smiley, Sanrio, Games Workshop, IMG, LEGO, Paramount, Mattel, Netflix, the Natural History Museum, UEFA, the Van Gogh Museum, Pokémon, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Manchester City FC.
The expansion of the 2026 event follows a record performance for BLE in 2025. The previous edition attracted more than 11,000 professional attendees, including an 8% increase in visitors from France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
The 2025 attendee base featured more than 1,100 retail representatives from major European companies, including Zara, Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Tesco, Dunelm, H&M, and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.
To manage the high volume of attendees and facilitate commercial deal-making, organisers are launching a digital Event Planner ahead of the physical show. The platform will allow registered visitors to research brand portfolios, coordinate meeting schedules, and plan educational sessions in advance of the October opening.
6-8 October 2026, Excel London, register to attend below:
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