UK Garage & Bodyshop Event 2026 welcomed 6,098 garage, bodyshop and detailing business owners and senior technicians to the NEC Birmingham, representing an 18% increase in attendance compared with the 2024 event. The strong visitor growth underlines the show’s continuing importance as a meeting place for the UK’s vehicle workshop, body repair and detailing sectors.
More than 200 brands exhibited including AkzoNobel, Mirka (UK) Ltd, Alliance Automotive Group, Bosch Mobility Aftermarket, GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK, Hella Ltd, AUTEL UK, LKQ Euro Car Parts, MAHLE Aftermarket UK Ltd, and PHINIA Delphi UK. Several major brands made their debut including Schaeffler, Pro Align Ltd and UFI Filters Group, highlighting the event’s growing appeal as a platform. Now in its third edition, the event delivered high levels of visitor, exhibitor and speaker satisfaction, with 78% of the exhibition floorplan already sold for the next edition in 2028.
Discussions on the main stages were delivered by a cohort of new expert speakers, many of whom were speaking publicly for the first time. The event provided one of the first major industry opportunities to learn about SERMI, giving garages practical guidance on compliance, manufacturer portal access and the future of secure vehicle repair data. Topics tackled some of the biggest challenges facing the sector, from Right to Repair and access to vehicle data through to the future of MOT testing, alongside updates on industry campaigns to protect consumer choice and competition.
The IAAF announced its call for a mandatory minimum MOT fee of £54.85, warning that continued discounting risks undermining the long-term viability of the UK’s vehicle testing network and, ultimately, road safety itself.
The bodyshop programme delivered valuable insight, including an expert-led session from ARIES covering the latest repair methods, evolving vehicle construction techniques and the skills required to support the next generation of vehicle repairs.
The exhibition also showcased the sector’s commitment to developing future talent. For the fourth consecutive year, the official Student Programme welcomed more than 250 students to the event, providing valuable insight into career opportunities across the automotive aftermarket. Four students also gained hands-on experience through dedicated work placements during the show.
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of UK Garage & Bodyshop Event, commented: “UK Garage & Bodyshop Event continues to showcase the strength, expertise and ambition of the UK aftermarket. Bringing together suppliers, technicians, workshop owners and industry leaders under one roof creates opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. The energy throughout the event reflected an industry that is committed to continually evolving and driving standards forward.”
Jason Smith, UK and Ireland Sales and Marketing Manager at MAHLE Aftermarket Ltd, said: “Exhibiting at the event for the first time has been an excellent opportunity for us. The engagement from workshops and students has been fantastic, generating strong interest in our equipment and plenty of enquiries to follow up. Events like this are invaluable because they allow us to demonstrate our technology in action and show workshops the benefits firsthand. We’ve already booked our place for the next event and can’t wait to be back.”
A spokesperson from Greenfield Motor Services said: “I wouldn’t say you can’t find this information online, but it’s all in one place here. I came to see Launch Tech and Topdon, as I’m looking to buy their machines. I already have one, but I’m looking to upgrade, and you need more than one piece of diagnostic kit. Garages need to visit the show and see for themselves.”
Anthony Jhally, General Manager at AAK Autos, said: “The show was excellent and continues to improve every year. There is so much value in attending, with opportunities to discover new ideas and business opportunities that can benefit a bodyshop. Meeting industry peers, seeing what others are doing and learning from their successes and challenges provides real insight. Those conversations can help shape future decisions, avoid potential pitfalls and highlight proven approaches that deliver results.”
Looking ahead, the industry will meet again at Automechanika Birmingham 2027, which returns to the NEC Birmingham from 8-10 June 2027, before UK Garage & Bodyshop Event returns in 2028.
