The February Show Returns: What 420 Exhibitors and 700 Units Tell You About 2026 Trading Conditions

The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show opens at the NEC Birmingham on 17-22 February 2026. Before you dismiss this as just another trade show announcement, look at what the numbers reveal about dealer expectations and manufacturer confidence heading into the new season.

What's Actually on Display

700 leisure vehicles across five halls. That's nearly 19 acres of exhibition space.

420 exhibitors have committed to the show. Not just manufacturers — accessory suppliers, campsites, hire companies, watercraft dealers, and the full supply chain supporting UK outdoor leisure.

The vehicle mix tells you where manufacturers think the market is heading:

• Pop-tops, fixed roof and panel van conversions

• 4x4 and AWD campervans for off-grid buyers

• Compact coachbuilts through to premium A-class motorhomes

• Entry-level two-berth caravans to luxury tourers

• Holiday caravans and lodges

That product spread signals manufacturers are covering multiple price points and buyer profiles. They're not betting on a single segment.

The Numbers That Define This Show

Visitor volume: The show historically attracts 90,000+ visitors across six days. That's 90,000 people actively researching their next purchase in a concentrated window.

Ticket pricing: £13 advance (£19 on door) with parking included. Under-16s free with adults. The pricing structure removes barriers for family attendance. You're not just reaching individual buyers — you're reaching household decision-makers together.

Content depth: Wildlife podcaster Sarah Roberts is hosting an Inspiration Theatre with travel talks from Martin Dorey MBE, Marcus Leach, Highlands2Hammocks, and TV personalities including Graeme Hall and Iolo Williams. The show isn't just selling products — it's selling the lifestyle.

That matters because buyers who connect emotionally with the outdoor experience become higher-value customers with longer ownership cycles.

What This Tells You About Industry Confidence

420 exhibitors committing to five halls of exhibition space signals confidence in buyer demand. Manufacturers don't invest in shows this large unless they expect sales conversion.

The product diversity — from entry-level two-berth caravans to premium A-class motorhomes — indicates manufacturers are targeting multiple buyer segments. They're not consolidating around a single price point or vehicle type.

The expanded content programming (Inspiration Theatre, adventure zones, bushcraft activities, watersports demonstrations) shows NCC Events is investing in visitor experience beyond pure product display. That's a bet on attracting lifestyle buyers, not just specs-focused purchasers.

Why This Show Matters for UK Dealers

You already know the February show kicks off the selling season. What you need to focus on is what happens after visitors leave Birmingham.

The research window has moved earlier.

Buyers attending this show in mid-February are researching models that won't reach your forecourt until March or April. The gap between research and purchase is widening. Your digital presence needs to bridge that gap.

If your website still treats February show coverage as a March update, you're entering conversations three weeks too late.

Show-only offers create pricing expectations.

Multiple exhibitors will offer show-exclusive deals. Your customers will see those prices. When they walk into your dealership in March, they'll remember what they could have paid in February.

You need a clear position on how you handle show pricing versus forecourt pricing. Don't get caught justifying margins you haven't explained.

The advice infrastructure matters.

NCC Events is running a Leisure Vehicle Advice Hub with Ask the Expert sessions twice daily. The Caravan and Motorhome Club is offering free three-month trial memberships plus complimentary site night vouchers. There are free motorhome manoeuvring sessions and caravan towing experiences.

First-time buyers are getting educated at scale. The customers arriving at your dealership in spring will be better informed and more confident about technical requirements. That changes your sales conversation.

What Dealers Should Do Now

1. Plan your February-March content strategy

The show runs from 17th-22nd February. Your website, social media, and email communications should be ready to engage visitors immediately after they leave Birmingham. Don't wait until March to start conversations with February browsers.

2. Review your show-season competitor pricing

If you're not exhibiting, you need to know what show-exclusive deals your competitors are offering. Your March pricing needs to compete with February's memories.

3. Update your first-time buyer resources

The advice infrastructure at this show is training new buyers at scale. Your dealership needs equivalent educational content for buyers who didn't attend. Technical guides, towing advice, security information — all the content that positions you as the expert.

4. Prepare for informed customers

Buyers who attend this show will arrive at your forecourt with questions about specific layouts, weight ratios, and technical specifications. Your sales team needs to be ready for that level of detail.

5. Track which manufacturers are exhibiting

The press release mentions "leading campervan, motorhome and caravan manufacturers from the UK and Europe" but doesn't specify which brands. You need to know which manufacturers are investing in this show, because that tells you which brands are prioritising UK dealer support in 2026.

The Question You Should Be Asking

How many of those 90,000 show visitors will contact your dealership in March and April?

Your website analytics will tell you. Your lead generation data will tell you. Your showroom traffic will tell you.

If you're not tracking the correlation between show timing and your own sales pipeline, you're missing the commercial signal this event creates.

The February show doesn't just launch the manufacturer season. It launches the dealer season.

Your readiness in the three weeks following this show will determine how much of that buyer interest converts to your forecourt rather than your competitors'.

The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show
17-22 February 2026
NEC Birmingham
Tickets: £13 advance / £19 on door
ccmshow.co.uk