The Pub Show returns to Excel London from 30 March to 01 April 2026 as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, bringing together the people, products and ideas shaping the future of the UK pub sector.  

Created specifically for publicans, bar operators and pub businesses of all sizes, the show offers a focused opportunity to step back from day-to-day pressures and engage with the wider forces influencing the licensed trade. 

At a time when pubs are navigating rising costs, recruitment challenges and shifting consumer habits, The Pub Show places people and community firmly at the centre of its 2026 programme. From independent publicans to major pub groups, the event brings together some of the most influential voices working across pubs and bars today, offering a platform for honest discussion about what it takes to run successful venues in a rapidly changing landscape. 

Across the three days, visitors will hear directly from peers and sector leaders addressing the realities of modern pub operations. Sessions explore leadership, culture and marketing, alongside evolving consumer behaviour and the role technology can play in supporting teams on the ground. The programme reflects the diversity of today’s licensed trade, with perspectives from large operators including Butcombe Group and Fuller’s sitting alongside independent publicans from across the UK. 

Independent publicans from community pubs such as The Bull in Charlbury, The Three Horseshoes in Witney and The Squirrel in Duston will share firsthand experience from the front line, offering practical insight rooted in real pub environments. Bar-led businesses and hybrid operators will also feature prominently, recognising the increasingly varied models that now make up the sector. 

A strong line-up of pub-focused sessions will see operators and industry bodies tackle shared challenges head-on. Highlights include sessions on empowering teams to create magic moments in pubs, drawing on new research from KAM and the British Institute of Innkeeping, alongside discussions examining what Britain’s pubs need to survive and thrive. Changing drinking habits, consumer expectations and ongoing cost pressures are explored not in isolation, but through the lens of what publicans can realistically do next. 

This emphasis on people and collaboration reflects The Power of Us theme running across The Pub Show in 2026, celebrating the collective strength of the hospitality community. Steve Alton, CEO of the British Institute of Innkeeping, underlines the importance of that focus: “Pubs are incredibly special places, but what makes them so special is the people at their heart. Those friendly faces behind the bar, looking after their customers and communities in every town and high street across the UK. 

“Pubs connect people, launch careers, provide safe spaces for all, and in many cases are the last remaining place for people from all walks of life to come together. At the BII, we support our members, but they are the ones who support their local communities every single day.” 

The show floor complements the conference programme, bringing together suppliers spanning drinks, food, equipment and services, with a clear focus on commercial relevance for pubs.  

The Pub Show’s exhibitor line-up brings together a broad cross-section of suppliers supporting today’s pub businesses, spanning drinks, food, equipment, services and experience-led offers. Drinks brands on the show floor include Budweiser Budvar, Butcombe Brewery, Titanic Brewery, Athletic Brewing and BARHI MEADS, alongside distillers such as AK Distillery and BrewDog Distilling Co: Wonderland Cocktails.  

Food and snack suppliers range from KP Snacks, Kellogg’s, Pipers Crisps / Walkers Crisps, Popcorn Kitchen and The Sausage Roll Sanctuary to foodservice brands including Lamb Weston and Hungry Boar.  

Operators can also meet technology, entertainment and equipment suppliers including ICRTouch, Lucky Voice Karaoke for Business, Hashtag Quiz, Merrychef, Flightcase Bars, Marmax Products and Essex Stoves and Chimneys, reflecting the full spectrum of modern pub needs. 

 At the heart of the show’s social and tasting offer is the Taproom, located within The Pub Show’s Beer Garden, featuring a rotating line-up of brewery brands including Butcombe Brewery, Titanic Brewery, Attic Brew Co., Beyond Belief and Lonkero, giving operators the chance to sample beers and alternative drinks in a relaxed, informal setting while speaking directly with producers. 

Visitors can also explore the Bar section at HRC, taking place alongside The Pub Show, where spirits, beer, wine and low- and no-alcohol drinks sit alongside bar equipment and accessories designed to support efficient, high-quality service. 

Food-led pubs and operators looking to strengthen their kitchen offer can also benefit from access to IFE, the UK’s largest food and drink sourcing platform. IFE brings together brands from across the UK and overseas, offering everything from core ingredients to speciality products that can help pubs refine menus without adding unnecessary complexity. 

Skills and progression within pub kitchens will be further highlighted at International Salon Culinaire, which runs alongside The Pub Show. The Pub Chef of the Year competition, delivered in partnership with the British Institute of Innkeeping, celebrates the talent and professionalism of chefs working in pub environments.  

For pub and bar operators looking to learn from peers, explore new ideas and reconnect with the wider industry, The Pub Show 2026 offers a timely and practical place to do just that. 

To find out more about everything happening as part of The Pub Show this year, and to secure your free trade ticket, visit thepubshow.co.uk.