UK Black Business Show 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions

ExCeL London · 17 October 2026 · 10th Anniversary

Below are frequently asked questions about the event:

General

The UK Black Business Show 2026 takes place on Saturday, 17th October 2026, from 9am – 6pm at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1FR.

2026 marks our landmark 10th Anniversary, a decade of connecting Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies with the access, education, and opportunity they need to grow.

UK Black Business Week runs across multiple London venues from Monday, 12th October – Saturday, 17th October, culminating in the Show on Saturday.

The UK Black Business Show is the UK's largest annual gathering for Black entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals. Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur and author Raphael Sofoluke, as featured on BBC, Sky News, ITV, Forbes, and CBS - the Show has grown into a flagship platform for Black business excellence.

In 2025, the Show welcomed over 16,000 attendees, 250+ speakers, and 200+ exhibitors across a single day, with a 96% satisfaction rating. Headline sponsors include HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, bp, Lloyds Bank, Salesforce, Ralph Lauren, IKEA, Citi, and eBay.

UK Black Business Week (Monday 12th – Saturday 17th October 2026) is the UK's biggest Black business development week, running across multiple London venues before culminating in the Show on Saturday 17th. The Week features summits, masterclasses, investor conversations, and future-focused industry panels, with over 21 events spread across six days.

Tickets for the UK Black Business Show 2026 can be booked via our official website: ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/book-tickets

We recommend booking in advance — the Show consistently sells out ahead of the October date. Weekly passes for UK Black Business Week are also available separately.

The full agenda, including stage times, speaker sessions, panel topics, and workshop schedules, is published on our website ahead of the event: ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/agenda

The 2026 programme will cover Finance, Technology, Property, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and more across multiple stages.

 

The Show brings together some of the UK and Europe's most inspiring Black entrepreneurs, business leaders, broadcasters, and industry pioneers. Past speakers have included Melvin Odoom, Nissi Ogulu, Steven Bartlett, Chi Chi Izundu, Danielle Scott-Haughton, Remi Burgz, Fleur East, and many more.

The full 2026 speaker lineup will be announced on our website and social media channels. Visit ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/speakers for the latest updates.

Yes. The UK Black Business Show After Party is an official event taking place on the evening of Saturday 17th October. Details on venue, tickets, and how to attend are published at ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/after-party

Yes. ExCeL London provides free, fast WiFi suitable for browsing, social media, and email. On arrival, connect to '_ExCeL FREE Wi-Fi' and sign in directly or via LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

ExCeL London has a wide selection of retail units serving a diverse range of food and drinks. For a full list of restaurants and food outlets, visit: excel.london/visitor/food-drink

Yes. Water refill points are located at the east and west entrances of the venue and near halls S4 and S7.

ExCeL London is committed to being as inclusive as possible for visitors with access needs. For full accessibility information, visit: www.excel.london/visitor/venue-guide/faqs

ExCeL London operates a no-smoking policy throughout the venue, including e-cigarettes and vaping. Designated smoking areas are available outside the venue.

For first aid, contact the on-site medical team on 0207 069 5556.

Yes. The multi-faith prayer room is accessible through the grey door next to the S9 entrance on the boulevard. The family room can be found at the S9 hall entrance.

Contact ExCeL London's lost property team at lostpropertyenquiries@excel.london. Once notified of a found item, guests have 30 days to collect before items are donated to a local charity.

Further venue information: www.excel.london/faqs

Exhibiting at the UK Black Business Show

The UK Black Business Show is the UK's most concentrated gathering of Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporate allies — all under one roof at ExCeL London on 17th October 2026.

In 2025, most exhibitors captured between 51–100 qualified leads in a single day, and 96% said they would recommend exhibiting to others. Our exhibitor village brings together Black-owned businesses at every stage of growth alongside corporates including HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, bp, Lloyds Bank, Salesforce, and more.

Whether you're looking to generate leads, recruit talent, launch a product, or build brand awareness during Black History Month — there is no higher-concentration opportunity in the UK calendar.

Full details at: ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/why-exhibit

Spaces fill quickly — particularly ahead of Black History Month in October. To secure your stand, contact the sales team as soon as possible: Email: sales@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

Stand packages vary depending on size and inclusions. A general industry rule of thumb is to budget three times your stand fee to cover your total investment, including:

  • Public Liability Insurance – approx. £70
  • Electrics (1 x 500w socket outlet, 1 x light track with 2 x LED spotlights) – from £250
  • Graphic panels – from £175 per panel + VAT
  • Branded merchandise (e.g. 250 x A6 notebooks) – from £400 + VAT

For businesses unable to take a full stand, advertising options in the Show Guide are also available — see the Marketing section below.

 

Yes. If you intend to share stand space, please notify the sales team in advance so the floorplan can be updated accurately.

Once signed up, our sales team will be in touch to walk you through all pre-show and on-site opportunities to maximise your exposure — including profile listings, social media announcements, and marketing materials.

The Exhibitor Manual will be made available via the Exhibitor Hub ahead of the event. Please stay tuned for updates.

You will receive Exhibitor Hub login details after booking. From the Hub, you can register your exhibitor passes and access guest pass links to invite customers.

As an exhibitor, you will receive a set of complimentary guest passes. You can access your bespoke invitation link via the Exhibitor Hub under Guest Passes, along with co-branded marketing materials to promote your presence to clients.

Based on pre-registration numbers and year-on-year growth, we are expecting 8,000+ attendees on the day. UK Black Business Week draws an even wider audience across 21+ events throughout the week.

Backdrops are not provided as part of the standard stand package. A recommended supplier for exhibitor graphics is: https://www.insitegraphics.co.uk/products/exhibitor-graphics/

Yes. Exhibitors can courier packages to ExCeL London up to two days before the event. Full delivery instructions are available in the Exhibitor Hub.

All furniture and electrical orders can be placed via the Exhibitor Hub under the Exhibitor Manual section.

The UKBBS exhibition floor is treated as a construction environment during build and breakdown. Closed-toe shoes are the minimum requirement — reinforced toe boots are strongly recommended. Flip-flops and pumps are not permitted. Long trousers are also advised.

Yes (shell scheme stands only), at an additional cost. Contact the official contractor via the Exhibitor Manual for order forms, pricing, and deadlines.

Please be aware of industry scams targeting exhibitors. Visit our website's scam alerts page for the latest warnings and guidance before responding to any third-party outreach claiming to represent the Show.

The UKBBS operations team does not hold all contractor orders centrally. Please contact each relevant contractor directly to confirm your order status. The Operations team can confirm whether you have completed your Health & Safety Declaration, Nameboard Form, and Show Guide profile. Contact: magz@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

Conference & Speakers

The UK Black Business Show features some of the UK and Europe's most inspiring Black entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry pioneers. In 2025, the Show hosted 250+ speakers across stages covering Finance, Technology, Property, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership.

Past speakers include Melvin Odoom, Nissi Ogulu, Steven Bartlett, Chi Chi Izundu, Danielle Scott-Haughton, Remi Burgz, Fleur East, Dean Forbes, and many more — covered by BBC, Sky News, ITV, and Forbes.

Speaker announcements for 2026 will be released via our website and social media channels. Visit: ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk/speakers    

All confirmed speakers will receive a Speaker Manual with full event details, including timing, stage location, AV requirements, and logistics.

Limited speaking and presentation slots are available across our stages. To enquire: Email: sales@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

Marketing & Press

All exhibitors are entitled to a free listing in the official Show Guide (distributed in 10,000+ copies on the day). To secure your listing, submit your 100-word company profile and logo before the print deadline. Exhibitors who miss this deadline will not be included.

Additional pre-show marketing materials — including social assets, email templates, and bespoke invite links — are available via the Exhibitor Hub at no extra cost.

  • Half Page Advert – £95
  • Full Page Advert – £180
  • Double Page Advert – £300

All exhibitors receive a 100-word company listing. The Operations team will request your content in the run-up to the event. Submissions should include your company description and logo (JPEG + EPS).

Please supply two versions of your logo: one JPEG and one EPS file. These will be used across print and digital promotional materials.

The UK Black Business Show actively partners with media outlets, community platforms, and content creators. If your organisation is interested in a media partnership for 2026: Email: kofi@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

Research consistently shows that most visitors decide which stands to visit before they arrive. UKBBS provides exhibitors with a full suite of free marketing materials:

  • Email invite templates
  • Social media graphics and copy
  • Bespoke guest pass links
  • Show logo downloads (via Exhibitor Hub > Marketing Materials)

Instagram: @ukbbshow · @ukbbweek LinkedIn: UK Black Business Show · UK Black Business Week Facebook: UKBBSHOW X (Twitter): @UKBBSHOW · @ukbbweek

Official hashtags: #UKBBSHOW #UKBBWEEK

Please send no more than 300 words of copy, a high-resolution image or logo, and your final content in HTML format to: marketing@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

For all press and media enquiries: Email: kofi@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk

A strong press pack includes a relevant press release, company background, and high-resolution captioned photography. Journalists are looking for news, not sales collateral — brochures alone are not sufficient. Pack all materials in a clearly labelled folder or USB.

For physical press packs being delivered to the venue, please mark them FAO the marketing team and notify us by email in advance at marketing@ukblackbusinessshow.co.uk so we can expect them.

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