UKPackaging Expo 2026: a new year, a new appetite for packaging in the North

As the packaging industry enters a new year, one thing is clear. The market is changing, expectations are shifting and there is a growing appetite for something different. UKPackaging Expo 2026 is stepping forward as the challenger event, questioning long held assumptions and offering a fresh alternative built specifically for the North of the United Kingdom.

For too long, the packaging industry has followed a familiar pattern. The same locations, the same audiences and the same conversations repeated year after year. While these shows have their place, they no longer reflect the reality of where manufacturing happens or where many buyers are based. UKPackaging Expo is challenging the idea that major packaging events must be confined to one part of the country.

Why the North, and why now

The North West is the UK’s leading manufacturing region, producing £29.5 billion in manufacturing output, more than any other region. Manufacturing also accounts for nearly 15% of the region’s economy, underlining the importance of packaging to local and national supply chains. Despite this, Northern manufacturers, technical teams and engineers have historically been underrepresented at large scale industry events.

UKPackaging Expo 2026 responds directly to this imbalance. It brings the industry closer to where production, innovation and demand converge. By hosting the event in Liverpool, the expo removes unnecessary travel barriers and opens the door to buyers who have often been excluded by geography, time constraints or cost.

Challenging the traditional trade show model

UKPackaging Expo is not here to replicate what already exists. It is built as a challenger brand that prioritises relevance, accessibility and commercial value. The event focuses on attracting new visitors and untapped regional markets, rather than recycling the same audience year after year.

For exhibitors, this approach delivers a different kind of opportunity. Instead of competing for attention in an oversaturated environment, suppliers can engage with buyers who are actively looking for solutions and who rarely attend shows outside the North. With lower exhibiting and logistics costs compared to southern venues, the event also delivers stronger return on investment, particularly for SMEs and growing suppliers.

A fresh platform for a changing industry

The packaging sector is facing increasing pressure to innovate. Sustainability targets, automation, supply chain resilience and changing consumer behaviour are reshaping priorities across every industry. UKPackaging Expo 2026 reflects this shift by creating a platform designed for forward thinking businesses that want to be part of what comes next.

The event will feature two dedicated stages delivering a curated content programme focused on future materials, production technologies, design innovation and regulatory insight.

There is a clear shift happening in the industry. It is a new year and there is a new appetite for a packaging show that genuinely reflects where manufacturing happens. We are excited to be building a challenger event that puts the North first, introduces new voices and creates real value for both exhibitors and visitors.

Naomi Stewart, Head of Marketing at UKPackaging Expo

A movement, not just a show

UKPackaging Expo 2026 is about more than dates and floor space. It represents a movement towards a more inclusive, accessible and regionally balanced packaging industry. It brings together brands, manufacturers, designers and problem solvers who are ready to challenge convention and explore new ways of doing business.

On 10 and 11 November 2026, the Exhibition Centre Liverpool will host an event built for those who believe the industry deserves something new. A new location. A new audience. A new appetite.

Visit https://ukpackagingexpo.co.uk to register your interest and for more info.