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“Excellent” Home & Gift 2026 Reinforces the Power of Face-To-Face Connection
Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival returned to Harrogate from 19–22 July 2026, bringing the retail community together for four days of face-to-face connection, product discovery and purposeful buying.
At a time when retailers and brands continue to navigate a challenging market, the conversations taking place across the show reinforced the enduring importance of meeting in person. Exhibitors and buyers highlighted the value of discovering products first-hand, strengthening existing relationships and creating new commercial opportunities in the relaxed environment for which Home & Gift is known.
“What an amazing show! […] we met so many new faces! It’s shows like this that remind us how special the industry is!” Cath Tate Cards
“Fourth year and it never fails to disappoint. Lovely to meet lots of new people, catch up with current stockists and be surrounded by so many other amazing independent businesses, riding on the same rollercoaster as us! Thanks Home and Gift, until next year!” Oldfield Design Co Ltd
This positive industry response was backed by the impressive purchasing power of those attending. Attendance from buyers responsible for annual budgets exceeding £10 million increased by 44% compared with 2025, demonstrating the show’s increasing ability to attract commercially influential decision makers.
VIP attendance also grew by 17% following the introduction of stricter qualification criteria for 2026. Within this audience, the number of buyers with purchasing budgets above £10 million rose from 11 in 2025 to 51 attendees in 2026, representing an exceptional increase of 364%.
A veritable who’s-who of UK retail came through the doors, spanning national multiples, department stores, leading independents, garden centres and some of the nation’s most celebrated cultural destinations. Attendees included John Lewis, Tesco, TJX Europe, HomeGoods, Accessorize, Fenwick, World Duty Free, Kurt Geiger, Harvey Norman, Booths Supermarkets, Blue Diamond, Haskins Garden Centres, Klondyke Group, Fron Goch Garden Centre, Graham & Green, Lark London, Vinegar Hill, Kilkenny Design, Tate, the V&A, Imperial War Museums, the Science Museum Group, Historic Royal Palaces, Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth Estate and the National Trust for Scotland.
From major retailers with significant purchasing power to influential independent stores and destination retailers, the breadth of buyers in attendance reflected Home & Gift’s continued importance as a place to discover products, strengthen relationships and do meaningful business face to face.
“Home and Gift is one of the nicest trade shows we have ever been to. It’s the first time we’ve been, it came highly recommended by our some of our licensees that we work with, they said how lovely of a show it is and how nice of an atmosphere it is! It’s been nice to see some new brands, see our suppliers, see what’s out there and the new trends” Senior Account Manager, Brand Licensing, V&A
Visitor conversion remained strong and consistent across every audience type, reflecting the high intent of registered buyers.
Across the four days, buyers explored more than 500 established names and emerging brands spanning Gift & Wellbeing, Home & Lifestyle, Jewellery & Fashion and Design-Led Gift. With thousands of products to see, touch and source, the show provided an important opportunity to discover new launches, refresh ranges and place orders ahead of the key autumn and festive trading periods.
“Home & Gift has always been built around the value of bringing our industry together face to face – there’s simply no substitute for seeing products in person, having meaningful conversations and building the trusted relationships that drive our industry forward. The feedback from across the show reflected the quality and commercial intent of the buyers in attendance. This was supported by significant growth among those with the highest purchasing budgets, as well as increased attendance from carefully qualified VIP buyers.” David Westbrooke, Event Director
The 2026 “Scrapbook Summer” campaign was brought to life throughout the Harrogate grounds, celebrating the inspiration, creativity and individual discoveries that shape every buying journey.
Alongside product sourcing, visitors enjoyed the show’s signature summer atmosphere through Sunday Sundowners, Drinks on the Lawn, the People’s Choice Awards and relaxed networking at the Alfresco Bistro. These shared experiences created further opportunities for the industry to connect, exchange ideas and strengthen relationships beyond the stands.
“We’ve had an excellent show in Harrogate at Home and Gift! Lots of re-orders from current clients, many new clients and some fantastic opportunities on the horizon!” The Yorkshire Print Company
Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival will return to Harrogate in July 2027, continuing its role as the industry’s favourite summer sourcing event and a valuable meeting place for the retail community.
For those who couldn’t join this year, the message is clear: you missed something special.
Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival returns to Harrogate from 18–21 July 2027, register your interest now to be part of next year’s inspiring summer showcase.
About Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival
Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival is retail’s favourite summer sourcing event, bringing buyers and brands together in Harrogate at a key moment in the buying calendar. The event combines a curated selection of new products and established bestsellers with meaningful networking and a uniquely relaxed summer atmosphere.