The Photography & Video Show Returns to Birmingham: What to Expect from the 2026 Edition
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A Return to the Spiritual Home
After a brief detour to London’s ExCeL Center last year, The Photography & Video Show (TPVS) is returning to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. Running from Saturday, March 14, to Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the event marks a shift in strategy for the organizers, who have now opted for a rotating residency between the UK’s two largest exhibition hubs.
For the imaging community, the return to Birmingham is more than just a change of venue. The NEC has historically provided the sprawling footprint necessary for the industry’s heaviest hitters—including Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm—to deploy full-scale experience zones. In an era where mirrorless technology is reaching a plateau of maturity, these shows have shifted from being simple product catalogs to immersive educational hubs.
The Shift Toward ‘Creator’ Culture
One of the most telling aspects of the 2026 lineup is the dedicated focus on the ‘Creator’ economy. While traditional photography remains a pillar, the introduction of the Creator Stage and Creator Playground signals a recognition that the line between a professional cinematographer and a TikTok influencer has blurred.
These zones are specifically designed for those navigating the algorithmic demands of YouTube and Instagram. Rather than focusing solely on megapixels or dynamic range, these sessions aim to tackle the business of digital presence, community building, and the rapid-fire workflow required for short-form video. It is a clear pivot toward the ‘prosumer’ market, where the ability to edit a reel is as valuable as the ability to light a portrait.
Technical Deep Dives and Analog Resurgence
Despite the digital push, the show maintains a strong commitment to the tactile. The Analogue Stage, sponsored by AG Photolab, continues to address the surprising resilience of film photography. The resurgence of 35mm and medium format among Gen Z and professional artists has turned what was once a legacy niche into a primary attraction.
For those focused on the technical side of the craft, the Photo Live stage (sponsored by Capture One) and the Editing & Post-Production Suite (sponsored by MPB) will offer tethered-shooting demonstrations and workflow optimizations. These areas are critical for professionals looking to bridge the gap between raw capture and final delivery, particularly as AI-driven editing tools begin to automate traditional retouching processes.
The Gear Ecosystem
The 2026 show will act as a centralized marketplace for both new and pre-owned hardware. With major retailers like Wex Photo Video and London Camera Exchange (LCE) on-site, the event serves as a high-stakes testing ground for the latest lenses and bodies from Sigma, Pentax, and OM System.
The speaker roster further validates the event’s prestige, featuring a mix of diverse disciplines. American fashion photographer Lindsay Adler, street photography expert Adam Schaller, and veteran landscape artist Charlie Waite are among the 130+ confirmed speakers, providing a cross-section of industry expertise that ranges from high-fashion studio work to wilderness documentation.
Access and Logistics
The event has overhauled its educational pricing, replacing previous paid masterclasses with a series of free “Fundamentals” talks sponsored by Shimoda, Tenba, and Benro. This democratization of knowledge is intended to lower the barrier for beginners entering the imaging world.
Standard tickets are priced at £24 for single-day entry, with a significant 50% discount applied to subsequent days for those attending a multi-day marathon. In a bid to attract the next generation of visual storytellers, students can attend for free on Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17, though weekend attendance remains subject to a concession fee of £21.
