The Photography & Video Show NEC 2026: a smaller show, and for us, a disappointing one

We went to The Photography & Video Show 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, running from 14–17 March 2026 in Hall 5, hoping to come back inspired, slightly poorer, and carrying at least one new gadget we didn’t know we needed. Officially, the show billed itself as a major event for photographers, filmmakers and content creators, with hundreds of brands and a packed programme of talks and demos.

Sadly, for us, it felt rather different on the ground.

The first thing that struck us was that the show seemed physically smaller than in previous years. We managed to see everything we wanted to see in a couple of hours, which is not usually the sign of a giant day out packed with irresistible temptations. The official material talks up 250+ exhibitors and brands, but the overall feeling was still that the event had less breadth than we had hoped for, particularly if you were looking for specialist or niche kit.

What was missing? In a word: exhibitors.

Some of the big names were there. Canon had a substantial presence, and RØDE was also exhibiting. Adaptalux was around too, which was nice to see, as familiar faces at these shows always make things feel a bit more personal.

But many smaller companies seemed absent, and some of the specialist things we were hoping to explore simply were not there at all. We were particularly keen to look at a new time-lapse camera, but saw nothing that really fit the bill. I am also using filters more and more these days, yet there seemed to be very little on display in that area either.

That was a theme throughout the visit: plenty of things to look at, but not many things that genuinely matched what we actually use in our work.

We did spend some time trying out the Canon EOS C50, and also looked at the Canon dual fisheye lens approach for stereo and immersive imaging. Canon was very much presenting its latest hybrid and creative imaging tools at the show, so it made sense to have a proper look.

But for our purposes, it just did not quite land.

In theory, stereo imagery and specialist immersive kit are clever. In practice, for what we do in a science lab and on a boat, a 360 camera is simply more useful. It is more flexible, often quicker to set up, and far better suited to awkward spaces, practical demonstrations, and filming where you cannot always stand in the ideal place waving a tripod around like a demented conductor.

There were also some lighting companies, a few models posing for photographers, and the usual pockets of interest where you stop, look, and think, “That’s clever.” But those moments were too few. The overall impression was that this was much more of a photography show with a few scattered video bits attached, rather than a truly balanced photography-and-video event.

That was perhaps the biggest disappointment of all.

For those of us who work seriously with both stills and video, the “video” side still felt like the poor relation. Yes, audio was represented — RØDE had microphones on show — but we already have a decent selection of microphones, so that did not tempt us. And beyond that, there was not enough video-focused gear, workflow, or specialist support to make the trip feel especially worthwhile.

So, was it a bad show? Not exactly.

If you are new to photography, want to attend talks, try some mainstream kit, or enjoy the atmosphere of a creative trade event, there was still plenty going on. The official programme was extensive, with hundreds of talks and demonstrations, and I am sure many visitors will have had an excellent day.

But for us, it was underwhelming.

We did not come back with a new gadget. We did not find the specialist products we were hoping to compare. We did not feel that the video side had enough substance. And we left with the feeling that, unless the show changes direction in future years, this may well be the last time we visit.

That is a shame, because these shows used to feel like treasure hunts.

This year, it felt more like checking a medium-sized shopping list and realising the shop had run out of most of the interesting items.

A camera show without the right exhibitors is a bit like a photography tripod with one leg missing: technically still standing, but not quite doing the job.