My day at Professional Woodworking Expo 2026

George Lewis, Editor of Modern Joinery News, discusses his visit to the Professional Woodworking Expo 2026, at the NEC in Birmingham.

“I had the pleasure of making the trip to the NEC and the second day of the Professional Woodworking Expo (PWE), and it was interesting to hear the thoughts of some of the exhibitors at the show.

“As the UK’s only dedicated exhibition for woodworking and joinery professionals, PWE brought together machinery manufacturers, software providers, tooling specialists, suppliers and industry experts under one roof.

“The 2026 edition was also co-located alongside the effervescent InstallerSHOW, but in my opinion, the crossover between those attending that show and PWE seemed to be minimal during my walk around the show.

“For me, one of the highlights was catching up with many familiar faces and brands that Modern Joinery News has worked with and covered over the past two and a half years.

“Being on the media side of the industry means that trade shows are often as much about strengthening relationships as they are about discovering new products, and there was certainly plenty of both on offer.

“Leaving the NEC, the overriding feeling was one of optimism. Despite the show being smaller in size compared to its predecessors, speaking to exhibitors, the key theme that kept coming up was that despite lower numbers, the conversations being had were very strong, which I feel is the best way to be. Strong leads outweigh big numbers.

“For those in the sector, I feel like a trip to the show is very much worthwhile, and I have no doubt I’ll be visiting again next year.”

For more information about the show, visit: Professional Woodworking Expo | 23 – 25 June 2026