London Wine Fair 2026 to spotlight British drinks
The London Wine Fair (LWF) has unveiled an initiative for its 45th edition in 2026, launching the inaugural ‘Host Nation’ programme with a focus on the UK’s drinks industry.
For the first time, the fair will shine a torch on a selected nation or region each year. beginning with the home nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The 2026 show will take place from 18 to 20 May at Olympia. It is set to be the largest yet in terms of British participation, and will celebrate the full spectrum of UK drinks, from English still and sparkling wines, Scottish and Welsh spirits, and Northern Irish distillers to no-and-low options, beer, cider and mead.
Organisers expect more than 100 domestic producers and brands to exhibit – nearly five times the number seen last year – with 37 already confirmed.
Hannah Tovey, Event Director of London Wine Fair. said: “It feels entirely right that the home nations should be in the spotlight for the inaugural ‘Host Nation’ initiative.
A celebration of ‘progress, ambition, talent and passion’
“The decision to champion English wines follows the success of Nyetimber and Gusbourne at last year’s Icon Tasting: Battle of the Bubbles, which saw these two leading English producers place top and runner up respectively, against the best Champagnes and sparkling wines of the world.
“2026 will be a celebration of what has been a quite extraordinary journey of progress, ambition, talent and passion in the pursuit of excellence.”
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A flagship English Wine stand will take pride of place near the show’s main entrance, housing 12 leading producers. Among the confirmed names are Simpsons Wine Estate, returning to the fair after a seven-year hiatus, and Gusbourne, which will make its debut appearance.
“Simpsons Wine Estate is delighted to be returning to the London Wine Fair again in 2026,” said Charles Simpson, co-founder of Simpsons Wine Estate. “With a mixed client base that is nearly 50% export, we now feel that the LWF offers an ideal location, platform and venue to see both our domestic customers and some of those from around the world.”
Gearing up to the event
Gusbourne CEO Jonathan White echoed the sentiment, adding: “We are really looking forward to showcasing our Gusbourne wines alongside other leading English producers at the 2026 London Wine Fair. It’s wonderful that the fair now offers such a suitable opportunity to present Gusbourne to a new audience of customers from the UK and around the world.”
Pop-up theatres throughout the fair will host regionally themed tastings and panel discussions. On Tuesday, contract winery Defined Wine will curate a 30-producer showcase from East Anglia and Kent, including a VIP-only early access session and evening networking reception.
“As the UK’s only winery focused entirely on contract winemaking, we have always tried to help the vineyards and brands we make wine for to find routes to market,” said Henry Sugden, CEO of Defined Wine. “We are delighted to be partnering with LWF to showcase the breadth of wines, especially still wines, that England has to offer in response to the increasing request from LWF visitors for more English wines.”
Business-focused programme
In addition to tastings, the Host Nation initiative will include a raft of commercial opportunities designed to connect British producers with buyers and distributors. These include a VIP concierge service, bespoke workshops, premium masterclasses, exhibitor profiles in the London Wine Fair Times and hosted attendance for international buyers from key markets.
The Centre Stage debate, ‘The Future of English and Welsh Wine’, will feature industry voices exploring pathways to making British wine a mainstream consumer choice.
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