London Packaging Week will return to Excel London on 16–17 September 2026, strengthening its position as a key UK event for packaging innovation, sustainability and regulation, with an expanded network of strategic partners and a strong focus on the challenges facing the FMCG sector.
New partners for 2026 include the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Food and Drink Federation (FDF), INCPEN, Products of Change, Recoup and WRAP, reflecting growing collaboration across retail, food and drink, packaging and environmental organisations. Their involvement highlights the increasing need for the industry to work together on issues such as sustainability, circular economy initiatives and evolving packaging legislation.
“London Packaging Week has become a place where the most important conversations in packaging are not only happening but being shaped in real time,” said Sema Tezel Basbug, Head of Marketing at Easyfairs UK. “The industry is moving too quickly and becoming too interconnected for anyone to operate in isolation. This is where perspectives meet, where assumptions are challenged, and where practical direction begins to form across sustainability, regulation and innovation.”
The new partners join an established network that includes the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), British Plastics Federation, BCMPA, Foodservice Packaging Association, PackUK, Smithers, Walpole and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, creating a platform where packaging policy, commercial strategy and materials innovation come together.
For snack manufacturers, one of the event’s major themes will be the industry’s response to changing packaging regulations, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This will be explored during a keynote presentation by Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at PackUK, titled Next steps for industry in the evolution of EPR. The session will examine how businesses can move beyond regulatory preparedness towards practical implementation while aligning commercial packaging strategies with new policy requirements.
Sustainability will remain a central focus throughout the exhibition. WRAP will host a dedicated networking breakfast bringing together senior industry representatives to discuss practical approaches to packaging sustainability and circular economy solutions.
Conference programme
The conference programme will also feature speakers from organisations including the British Retail Consortium, British Soft Drinks Association, Walpole, Ecosurety and the British Beauty Council, offering perspectives on the future of packaging regulation, retail expectations and sustainable innovation.
A wide range of major FMCG companies have already confirmed their participation, including Aldi, Amazon, Marks & Spencer, Mars, Müller, PepsiCo, Tesco, Waitrose, Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, Disney, John Lewis, Lush, Charlotte Tilbury, Selfridges, Diageo and William Grant & Sons. Their presence reflects the event’s broad appeal across food, drink, retail and consumer goods, while providing snack manufacturers with opportunities to explore packaging developments being adopted across multiple sectors.
Expected to attract more than 5,700 visitors, 220 exhibitors and 90 expert speakers, London Packaging Week will showcase thousands of packaging products and solutions covering materials, design, sustainability, policy and innovation. For snack manufacturers navigating new regulatory requirements while seeking more sustainable and commercially effective packaging solutions, the exhibition offers an opportunity to gain practical insights, discover new technologies and engage with experts shaping the future of FMCG packaging.
