NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show 2026: the figures, the launches and the shows to put in your diary

The NEC show in figures

Over six days, from Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 October 2026, the autumn show filled the halls of the NEC Birmingham. Organiser NCC Events has announced 95,816 visitors, a whisker below the 96,149 of October 2025, with around 350 exhibitors. Before the show, the organiser promised more than 1,000 leisure vehicles from over 80 brands.

The more telling figure is on the sales side. Several exhibitors, including Erwin Hymer UK and Coachman, reported higher sales than last year, one of them quoting a 25% rise, according to Practical Caravan. A steady crowd and better order books suggest buyers are still there, even if they take longer to decide.

The 2027 models worth noting

The October show is when British manufacturers unveil their next model year. A few launches stood out:

• Elddis Autoquest GTV: a new range of five campervans on the Fiat Ducato, 5.4 to 6 metres long, all plated at 3,500 kg, priced from £64,327 to £68,327 on the road. Elddis also showed two slimline low-profile motorhomes, the 66DS and the 70CS, from £61,227.
• Swift: an all-new Merlin campervan in nine layouts, a new Trekker 505, and an Escape motorhome now a two-berth with its maximum mass reduced to 3,500 kg.
• Bailey showed its updated Unicorn caravan range and Coachman its new Acadia 655 Xtra.

Note the trend: several new motorhomes are plated at exactly 3,500 kg so that drivers without C1 can take them on a car licence. The other side of the coin is the payload. Before you sign, our payload calculator shows what is left for passengers, water and luggage, and our licence checker confirms what you are allowed to drive.

The next shows to put in your diary

Dates checked on 21 October 2026 on each organiser's website. They can change: each show has a link to its source.

• 4 – 7 Feb 2027

  Scottish Motorhome, Caravan & Holiday Home Show

  SEC, Glasgow

  Scotland's biggest leisure vehicle show, with up to 200 exhibitors announced. Source

• 16 – 21 Feb 2027

  Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show

  NEC, Birmingham

  Over 420 exhibitors on 19 acres, 10am to 6pm. Advance tickets £13.95, £19.95 on the day, parking included. Source

• 27 Aug – 5 Sep 2027

  CARAVAN SALON

  Messe Düsseldorf, Germany

  Europe's biggest caravanning show, over ten days at the end of the summer. Source

• 12 – 17 Oct 2027

  The Motorhome and Caravan Show

  NEC, Birmingham

  The autumn show where most UK brands launch their next model year, 10am to 6pm. Source

Düsseldorf 2026: the European benchmark

For a sense of scale, look at Germany. The 65th CARAVAN SALON in Düsseldorf (29 August – 6 September 2026) drew more than 259,000 visitors, slightly fewer than in 2025, but welcomed a record 834 exhibitors from 41 countries, according to Messe Düsseldorf. It is the place to see continental brands, off-grid equipment and campervans that rarely reach UK dealers. The 2027 edition runs from 27 August to 5 September 2027.

Getting the most from a show visit

• Go on a weekday if you want time with the sales staff: weekends are the busiest days.
• Book in advance: tickets are cheaper online than on the day, and NEC parking is included in the ticket for the February show.
• For every model on your shortlist, note the length, height, mass in running order and maximum authorised mass. They decide your payload and the licence you need.
• Show offers often come as free option packs: compare the final on-the-road price, not the discount on the sign.