Link Exhibitions, organiser of established print industry event The Print Show, is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new event for the UK sign-making industry: The Sign Show.
Taking place for the first time next year, The Sign Show will run from 23rd to 25th September in Hall 3 of the NEC, co-located with The Print Show. The new exhibition will be designed to address a void in the market for a focused event dedicated to sign-making in the UK.
Much like its sister event, The Sign Show will focus on helping visitors find the tools and solutions they need to succeed and grow across branding, advertising, and marketing – all crucial areas for signs and graphics.
With crafts like signwriting, engraving, vinyl wrapping, sign fabrication, and traditional neon, The Sign Show is dedicated to creating a place for visitors to learn and expand their ideas, as well as showcase what brands and marketing professionals can access to make their clients stand out.
The Sign Show will be the one stop shop for solutions like wayfinding signage, eye-catching exterior and interior graphics, LED signs, and all-new digital signage technologies.
“From speaking to key industry figures, suppliers, manufacturers, and actual sign-makers, it is clear that there is great demand for this event,” said event director Chris Davies, who also heads up The Print Show. “The UK is crying out for a national event that addresses actual sign-making and the many moving parts of this creative industry.
“At present, there is nowhere else in the UK that sign professionals can go to see actual sign-making tools and solutions from a wide range of companies, all under one roof. The Sign Show will deliver exactly this.”
What to expect at The Sign Show 2025
While the event is still one year away, work has already begun on delivering the best show possible for UK sign-makers. Visitors can look forward to a range of special in-show features such as vinyl wrapping to showcase the possibilities of vehicle wrapping, window and floor graphics, as well as the expanding world of architectural wrapping.
There will also be opportunities for visitors to see historic and inspiring workshops on crafts not seen at any other trade show, including neon sign-making, traditional signwriting, and metal work, all, as the organiser says, with the goal of “demonstrating the art and wow factor of amazing signage projects”.
In addition, those in attendance will have access to free seminars and workshops designed to help them continue to succeed and grow in the modern, fast-paced market.
“We want The Sign Show to be so much more than a simple exhibition,” Davies said. “We want to build an event that truly celebrates the UK sign industry and the many amazing people that work across the sector. By running these in-event features, we hope to open visitors’ eyes to the methods behind signage and inspire them to go away and explore new opportunities for their own businesses.”
Co-location with The Print Show
While The Sign Show will very much focus on sign-making and related markets, visitors who also have interests in print will benefit from the event’s co-location with The Print Show.
Both shows will be located in the same hall at the NEC, with those in attendance able to pass freely between each event, allowing them to explore the very latest innovations in both sign-making and wide-format print.
“The Print Show has had a strong wide- and large-format print presence for a number of years now,” Davies said. “Take our 2024 show for example; we welcomed Fujifilm, swissQprint, Agfa Graphics, and Liyu UK to name but a few major manufacturers, as well as leading distributors and suppliers such as CMYUK, Soyang Europe, and Quality Print Services. Across the two events, visitors from the signage market will be able to find the solutions they are looking for.
The Sign Show’s ‘Fantastic Four’
Leading industry organisations the British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) and FESPA UK are among those backing the event, in addition to key industry publications SignLink and Eye on Display, and the Make It Happen signage consultancy.
On top of this, the event has formed its own ‘Fantastic Four’, welcoming some of the most recognised faces from the UK sign-making industry as part of the planning team. The group comprises Craig Brown, CEO of the BSGA; Suzi Ward, managing director of FESPA UK; Sam Armstrong, founder and CEO of Make it Happen; and Jack Gocher, editor of Eye on Display.
“We’re delighted to be working with four leading voices from the UK signage industry, each of which will help us put together our inaugural event and deliver exactly what the industry requires,” Davies said. “We are committed to working closely with the industry to ensure the event meets the demands of the sign-making market and we address the issues that are most important to the sector.
“Our Fantastic Four will be playing a key role in running our in-event areas. Visitors can look forward to specialist workshop sessions from Sam Armstrong and her Make It Happen team, as well as hands-on demos of sign-making and one-on-one business advice from some of the best minds in the business.”
Davies added: “The bottom line for us is that we want to create an event that actually helps the industry and supports visitors with their own growth plans – much like we have done with The Print Show since its launch back in 2015.”
“I very much look forward to speaking with potential exhibitors and visitors over the next few months, and I encourage readers to keep an eye on our official social media channels and website for exciting updates in the not-too distant future.”
