The BIG Wearables Trade Show and The BIG Promotional Trade Show are in Manchester on Thursday 17 September 2026, 10:00 to 15:00. The venue is The Point at Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club — not Manchester United, which was the original announcement. Images magazine (11 August) and the BPMA (21 August) both put the switch down to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.
The official events listing now matches that for 17 September: The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0PX. Later Manchester dates on the same page still show Manchester United FC Old Trafford. Those are other shows. This one is cricket ground, not football.
Last admissions are one hour before close, so 14:00. That is also when the floor pauses for lunch. Free parking. Refreshments through the day, including breakfast rolls, pastries and biscuits before lunch. At 14:00 the Lunch’n’Meet networking buffet runs so visitors and exhibitors can catch up. There is a Meet the Boss slot so visitors can put questions to business owners and senior leaders from exhibiting companies.
BPMA talks are promised on industry topics, with a full Manchester programme still “coming soon”. Do not plan the day around named sessions until that list is published. BPMA staff will be there for one-to-ones either way.
Images and the BPMA say 60 exhibitors, including garment suppliers and brands, with new products plus ranges and catalogues being launched in the fourth quarter of 2026. Neither page names the stand list. The shows are trade only: bona fide distributors and garment decorators in promotional merchandise, printwear and wearables, with a strict door policy. Register in advance at the organisers’ events page.
Should you go? If you need Q4 ranges in front of you before autumn briefs lock, a five-hour, one-site day in Manchester is built for that. If you only wanted a talks timetable, wait until the programme is out, or skip. If your diary still says Sir Matt Busby Way, you will be at the wrong Old Trafford.
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