The right chemistry
With 300 stands sold in three months, ChemUK 2026 is bringing together all right elements for a record-breaking event.
The UK’s biggest trade show for the chemicals and process engineering industries returns to the NEC in May next year, bringing together over 600 exhibitors and smashing all records set by its 2025 edition earlier this year.
“This year set a new high-water mark for CHEMUK’s appeal and influence across the sector, with all metrics yet again on a strong upward trajectory,” says show founder and CEO Ian Stone.
“From 09.30 on day one, the show was absolutely buzzing with engagement and busy aisles in every corner of the giant Hall 5. There was a fantastic energy from the hundreds upon hundreds of fact-finding and procurement conversations taking place on stands, in breakout meeting zones and topped up with five enthusiastically-attended conference stages running continuously – many with standing room only!”
Following the high of the 2025 edition, the countdown to ChemUK 2026 is already on for Smart Display clients as they seek to stand out from the bolstered line-up and ever-increasing competition. For Projex Solutions – a project management and engineering consultancy specialist – getting its exhibition presence on point is a key factor in securing footfall and sales and having a successful show.
“Creating a stand that commands attention highlights our industry expertise and engages our visitors,” says managing director Jamie Ashton, who has worked with Smart Display for the last three editions of ChemUK. “As well as building our brand recognition, this helps us to generate leads effectively and boosts the potential to follow up sales after the show.
“As an SME working across highly regulated industries, our main goal at ChemUK 2026 is to maximise the return on our investment, and we do this by showcasing our expertise and strengthening our brand recognition. It is also an opportunity to promote our new developments this year, which include an expansion into emerging markets and new sustainability initiatives.”
Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration for exhibitors across the spectrum of the industry, and Smart Display is proud to align its operation with such initiatives with a transparent and sustainable approach to exhibition stand build. A recent expansion into new premises offers even more capacity to store and re-use stand elements, keeping materials out of landfill.
“This year has been all about adapting to the evolving demands of highly-regulated industries in the UK, and ChemUK is an opportunity to take advantage of those growth opportunities this year.”
With stand space selling at a record pace for ChemUK 2026 – and an unprecedented level of new exhibitors – Smart Display is on hand to share its expertise in exhibition stand design and build, and the full project management of trade exhibition presence. If you would like to discuss your options for the forthcoming edition, get in touch today #wemakeevents.
