An expanded show floor and 84 new exhibitors await visitors to this year’s event, with just four weeks to go until doors open
BLE has expanded its show floor to accommodate a record-breaking event, with exhibitor numbers up 13 per cent, with just four weeks to go until doors open.
Over 300 exhibitors, including brands, agents, manufacturers and service providers representing thousands of licensable IP are now confirmed for the event, including 84 who are new for 2026. The event takes place 6-8 October 2026 at Excel London.
“The fact so many exhibitors, including 84 new to show, will be at BLE next month is testament to the relevance of this event in Europe, and also the power of brand licensing in business – for brands, for manufacturers, for retailers and for consumers,” said BLE Event Director Ella Haynes.
“What I love this year about BLE is the breadth of businesses on the floor – from huge studios in character and entertainment, to fashion brands, heritage, sport, design, food and beverage, publishing, music (Universal Music Group is debuting) and so much more,” she added. “Our sports zone line up is really strong – up 17 pe cent year on year – and we’re delighted to welcome ATP Tour and CR7 Life. Museums and heritage continues to push boundaries and we’re so excited to have Tate Enterprises, The National Gallery, The National Trust for Scotland and Rene Magritte among the new brands joining us for 2026.”
New exhibitors at BLE this year originate from all over the globe, with six each from the US and China, four from Spain and three each from the Netherlands, UAE, Italy and Japan.
Returning exhibitors include Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Arsenal FC, BBC Studios, CAA Brand Management/Beanstalk, Caroline Mickler Licensing, Cloud Co Entertainment, Crunchyroll, English Heritage, Imperial War Museum, Konami, Mattel, Moomin, Paramount Skydance Corporation, Sanrio, The Lego Group, Universal Studios and Wildbrain CPLG plus over 250 more.
Major retailers and licensees from across Europe already signed up to attend include Lidl, Decathlon, H&M, Inditex, Mad Beauty, Tesco, Primark, Ty, Tonies, C&A, Pandora, Clementoni and many more.
