Glee @ Spring Fair Returns to Reignite Early Season Garden Retail

After a six-year absence, one of the garden industry's most anticipated events is making a triumphant return. Glee @ Spring Fair 2026 launches at the NEC Birmingham this February 1-4, bringing with it a refreshed vision for the spring season and a timely opportunity for retailers to reconnect with key suppliers and fine-tune their seasonal offerings. 

A New Spring Edition Arrives at a Crucial Moment 

Timed perfectly with early season trading, this inaugural spring edition marks a significant shift in how the garden retail calendar operates. Rather than waiting for traditional autumn buying cycles, Glee @ Spring Fair has been specifically designed to support retailers earlier in the year—when they're actively finalising orders, topping up ranges and responding to in-season demand. 

Matthew Mein, Event Director of Glee and Autumn Fair, emphasises the strategic importance of this move: "The show has been created specifically for Glee's garden retail audience, giving them a timely opportunity to see new product launches, reconnect with key suppliers and fine-tune orders as the season takes shape." 

A Curated Selection of Leading Brands 

The spring edition brings together a carefully curated group of garden and outdoor living suppliers, delivering a diverse mix of products that reflect modern garden retail. Confirmed exhibitors include Botanica Intl Ltd, Fern & Forge, Green Tones, Hunter Stoves, L V Bespoke, Mr Fothergills Seeds Ltd, Rago Planters and Seed Revolution, spanning everything from seeds and growing products to planters, outdoor leisure essentials and garden décor. 

Crucially, this edition also provides retailers with the chance to discover brands they may not have encountered at Glee's September flagship event, expanding their supplier networks and product knowledge. 

The Programme: Innovation and Industry Recognition 

Beyond the exhibition itself, Glee @ Spring Fair hosts a robust programme designed to drive discovery and commercial opportunity. Monday's highlights promise to be particularly significant, with two major announcements dominating the day. 

The Glee New Product Showcase will reveal the most innovative and commercially exciting new launches from this year's exhibitors, shining a spotlight on product innovation across the sector. Importantly, these showcased products will remain on display throughout the event, allowing buyers to explore new offerings in greater detail. 

That same day will also see the announcement of Garden Trade News' Greatest Christmas Awards, a hotly contested competition that has attracted thousands of votes from garden centre customers. These awards recognise those centres that delivered standout displays, memorable events and exceptional customer service during the festive season. With many shortlisted garden centres expected to be in attendance, the show floor promises an extra buzz as the industry waits to discover this year's winners. 

The GIMA Business Village: A Networking Hub 

At the heart of the experience sits the GIMA Business Village, delivered in partnership with the Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association. Building on its record-breaking success at Glee 2025, the Business Village provides a lively meeting point for networking and developing new retail partnerships, reinforcing Glee @ Spring Fair's role as a central hub for industry support and collaboration. 

The backing of both the Garden Centre Association and Gardenex further underscores the significance of this event, highlighting the value of an early-season garden retail showcase for UK and international audiences alike. 

Garden Retail in the Wider Context 

Perhaps most tellingly, Glee @ Spring Fair reflects broader shifts in how garden products are positioned within the retail landscape. As Mein notes, the show "reflects the changing face of garden retail, where garden products sit confidently alongside home, lifestyle and gifting." By integrating garden retail within Spring Fair's wider offer, Glee is placing the sector firmly within the contemporary retail conversation. 

What's Next 

Glee @ Spring Fair runs from 1st to 4th February 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, with Glee occupying Hall 6. Registration is now open, with free tickets available at springfair.com. For those interested in exhibiting or seeking further information, the Glee team can be reached via www.gleebirmingham.com.

As the countdown begins, it's clear that this return signals the start of something much bigger, a long-term spring vision that will reshape how the garden retail sector approaches the crucial early-season buying cycle.