Brand Licensing Europe 2026 Wraps with Record-High Exhibitor Turnout

Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) closes out another record-setting year. The 2026 event welcomed its largest exhibitor lineup to date, alongside increases in international attendance and industry engagement.  

Held at ExCel London, BLE 2026 brought together a record 325 exhibitors, marking a 20% increase over last year. Among them were 85 first-time exhibitors, joining major industry players like Hasbro, Mattel, The LEGO Group, Netflix, Sanrio, and Warner Bros. Discovery to showcase the hottest licensed brands in the business. Approximately two-thirds of this year’s exhibitors have already confirmed plans to return in 2027. 

While the overall number of attendees remained on par with last year’s record-high levels, international attendance rose by an additional 6% compared to 2025. The event also saw a 14% increase in pre-booked meetings, with 7,200 scheduled through BLE’s online event planner. 

“This year we introduced a small onsite fee to dissuade members of the public from coming into the show from the Excel Boulevard,” says Ella Haynes, Event Director of BLE. “The fact we did that and still maintained the record attendee levels we achieved in 2025 and such a significant uplift in meetings is incredible, and a testament to the role BLE plays at the heart of the European licensing industry.”

More than 1,000 retailers attended the 2026 show, including representatives from Aldi, Primark, Urban Outfitters, Miniso, Temu, Gymshark, Hamleys, Selfridges, and Zara. First-time retail attendees included Carrefour, Auchan, Decathlon, and Stella McCartney. 

BLE’s content program also drew increased interest this year. Session attendance was up by 8% across the board, with keynote presentations exploring licensing strategies for Pokémon, Harry Potter, The Beatles, and more. 

BLE will return to ExCel London in 2027 from Sept. 28-30. For more information about the event, visit brandlicensing.eu.