London Packaging Week 2026 has introduced a series of new features aimed at helping
packaging professionals find practical solutions to industry challenges, as the show’s most
ambitious programme to date takes shape around the theme of Discovery. Organisers say
the redesign responds to packaging’s increasingly strategic role within brands, with teams
under pressure to navigate changing regulations, shifting consumer expectations, material
innovation and commercial demands.
Among the additions is a new-look Innovation Gallery, curating standout packaging
developments with twice-daily guided tours. Alongside it, the Design Hub, powered by Pentawards, offers expert talks and networking for brand and design professionals,
complemented by an expanded Pentawards exhibition showcasing 50 award-winning
designs and an exclusive networking reception.
The show will also premiere the trailer for a documentary on James Cropper, the UK’s last
remaining mill producing coloured paper, offering a behind-the-scenes look at its craft and
processes. A new Podcast Studio will host industry conversations, while the Start-up Zone
and Discovery Theatre spotlight emerging businesses and disruptive technologies. A new
“Trail of Secrets” will lead visitors to key exhibitors and innovations across the show floor,
rewarding completion with a drink at The Inner Circle Bar, alongside daily Happy Hours and
an end-of-day networking reception.
The networking programme has also been expanded, including a new Women in Packaging
Networking Breakfast & Powerhour, run in partnership with Packaging News.
Josh Brooks, Divisional Director, Packaging at Easyfairs, said the event’s value lies in what
visitors take away rather than how much there is to see, adding that every new feature was
designed to help attendees solve real problems and build meaningful connections.
These additions join the event’s established conference programme and returning highlights,
including the London Packaging Week Innovation Awards, the VIP Lounge and The Inner
Circle Bar. The 2026 edition will bring together more than 220 exhibitors and over 5,700
visitors.
BACK TO NEWS |
