Events 5 September 2026

London Wine Fair 2026 opens next week — what to expect

Exhibitors 700+

Dates 18–20 November 2026

Venue ExCeL London

This year's focus Low-intervention, Southern Hemisphere

The London Wine Fair opens 18 November at ExCeL London for its three-day run, bringing together over 700 producers, importers and distributors under one roof. The 2026 edition has two headline programming themes: a spotlight zone dedicated to low-intervention wines from the Southern Hemisphere, and a new on-trade education track aimed at buyers, sommeliers and floor staff.

The Southern Hemisphere focus reflects a shift in buyer attention toward producers from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand who are working with minimal additions in the cellar. Importers report growing UK on-trade and independent retail demand for bottles with organic, biodynamic or natural credentials — though the latter remains an informal designation without legal definition.

The education programme

The new on-trade education track runs across all three days and is designed for working buyers and floor staff rather than enthusiasts. Sessions cover practical subjects: blind tasting technique, structuring a wine list by margin and style, navigating the sparkling sweetness scale for customers, and understanding label information. The How to read a wine label guide covers the baseline label knowledge these sessions build from. The Sparkling sweetness terms guide is directly relevant to the sparkling session.

What to look out for

Beyond the spotlight zones, the fair is a useful annual survey of new UK import listings. Producers launching into the UK market for the first time often use the fair for their debut. Independent merchants use it to identify wines for their list ahead of the Christmas trading period. For those attending as consumers on the open day (typically the final day), the education programme offers the best value — guided tastings covering specific regions or styles, led by Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, at no additional cost above the door price. For booking and full event details, see the London Wine Fair 2026 event page.

Source: London Wine Fair. Industry education: WSET (courses and tastings at the fair); Institute of Masters of Wine (professional development). Published 5 September 2026. Corrections via the contact form.

Questions

About the London Wine Fair.

Who attends the London Wine Fair?

The London Wine Fair is primarily a trade event: wine buyers, importers, retailers, restaurateurs, journalists and educators. Trade and media attendees pre-register for free. Consumer tickets are available on selected days and must be purchased in advance. The education programme — masterclasses, producer tastings, panel sessions — is open to all ticketed attendees. For the full event guide, see the London Wine Fair 2026 event page.

What does "low-intervention wine" mean?

Low-intervention wine (often also called "natural wine") is made with minimal additions or manipulations in the cellar. Common principles: organic or biodynamic farming; fermentation with ambient rather than added yeasts; no fining or filtration; little or no added sulphur dioxide. There is no legal definition — the term is used loosely by producers and retailers. For how the winemaking steps that these producers omit actually work, see the Red, white, rosé and sparkling methods guide.

Which Southern Hemisphere wine regions are growing fastest?

New Zealand's Central Otago and Marlborough continue to attract international attention. In Argentina, the Uco Valley sub-region of Mendoza — particularly high-altitude sites — is producing increasingly recognised Malbec and Cabernet Franc. South Africa's Swartland (old-vine Chenin Blanc and Syrah) and Hemel-en-Aarde (Pinot Noir) have strong critical followings. In Australia, Margaret River (Cabernet Sauvignon) and the cooler-climate Adelaide Hills (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) are well-established internationally. The Cool and warm climate styles guide covers how Southern Hemisphere geography creates distinctive wine characters.

How should I prepare for a large wine fair?

Download the exhibitor list before the event and note the producers or regions you want to prioritise. Plan a loose route through the halls. Start with lighter wines first — whites and sparkling before reds. Use the spit buckets — spitting is normal at trade tastings and allows you to taste many wines while staying clear-headed. Take brief notes on what interests you. The How to taste wine guide covers the structured approach that works well across many wines in quick succession.

Is there a difference between the London Wine Fair and the Decanter World Wine Awards?

Yes — they are separate events. The London Wine Fair is a trade fair where producers exhibit and buyers taste. The Decanter World Wine Awards is a judging competition where a panel of experts blind-tastes thousands of wines and awards medals. They happen to fall in the same November window in 2026, which makes it a particularly active period for the London wine trade.