FAQ’s

The show will take place at the NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT in halls 9 and 10. Opening times will be: 9am – 5pm on Saturday 27th and 9am – 4pm Sunday 28th February 2027.

You can speak directly to our Event Director Liz Ormesher who would be happy to discuss opportunities to get involved in the Show – she can be reached at [email protected]. You can also find out more information here Get Involved – National Equine Show

We are currently recruiting for a number of roles within Raccoon Media Group. You can view all here: https://raccoonmediagroup.com/job-vacancies

If you are interested in speaking at the event we would love to hear from you – please contact [email protected]

From working with the venue, looking at ourselves and collaborating with exhibitors. But here’s the thing… Visitors’ travel is the biggest carbon emitter of each show. So we need your help. Taking the train instead of driving will reduce the emissions of your journey by around 80%. The NEC is a 5-minute walk from Birmingham International train station or 90 seconds by the free air-rail walk. If you need to drive, car share with friends and reduce your impact by 50%. There’s a great network of cycle and footpaths in the area and bike racks are near the entrance. There are also electric car charging point and more to come in the future…

No need to book, our speaker program is included as part of your ticket and seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Yes, there will be a number of NEC-managed food stalls, and some of our exhibitors will sell packaged food items too.

We do not require ID to gain entry to the Show.

If you still have a question, please email us on [email protected]

HOW TO GET TO THE NEC

PARKING AT THE NEC – Parking can be booked directly through the NEC website – you can save £4 by booking in advance

VENUE FACILITIES

We allow entry to the hall any time during the day between 09:00 and 17:00 on Saturday and 09:00 and 16:00 on Sunday. Arrive before 9am on each day for a chance to be handed exclusive show gifts in the queue.

We’ve officially partnered with EventBeds™ by NuBreed Hotels to give this year’s exhibitors and attendees access to exclusive discounts at carefully selected properties near the event.

Save up to 30% versus booking direct, and fully flexible rates are available. 

Due to increasing demand we recommend you book asap through the EventBeds™ booking widget below

EventBeds™

When planning your travel please consider your carbon footprint:

• Travel on public transport or actively where possible (nearest train line is Birmingham International which brings you straight into the NEC) – save ££ by booking train/coach tickets in advance
• If travelling by car then we encourage car sharing with others you know and/or potentially using car sharing apps like liftshare.com or blablacar.com – save £5 when you book NEC car park tickets in advance
• Combine 1 and 2 – have you thought about connecting with local public transport and bike hire schemes – see tfwm.org.uk for bike hire and park and ride options
• Carbon offsetting your travel – we are encouraging all visitors to donate £2 to offset their carbon footprint on travelling to the show

Yes, the venue is accessible for people with different needs. You can find out more information here: Disabled Visitors to the NEC | The NEC Birmingham but can also contact [email protected] to discuss how we can make the show as accessible as possible.

We will have a small area reserved should a visitor need a few moments away from the show floor – to find out more about this or speak to the team contact [email protected]

Only service dogs are allowed to support inside the Hall.

Your general admission ticket includes 10+ complimentary meet and greets (first come first served), 17+ show features and activities, 170+ brands to shop and 30+ stage sessions with 45+ speakers. 

Everything listed above is included with your general admission ticket. The only optional extra is the Paddock Pass, which gives access to our most in-demand meet and greet sessions. You can find out more about the Paddock Pass HERE.

Every general admission ticket includes access to complimentary meet and greets across the weekend, at no extra cost (on a first come first served basis). You can see the guests announced so far here.

You don’t need to book stage sessions or meet & greets. Every general admission ticket includes access to complimentary meet and greets across the weekend, at no extra cost (on a first come first served basis). You can see the guests announced so far here.

Queues may close once capacity is reached, so we’d recommend arriving in good time for the guest you’d most like to meet.

To ensure we give as many people as possible the chance to meet the guests, your time spent with the guest will be short. But you will have time to say hello, get a signing and take a quick selfie!

You can take photos and selfies with the guest, and most of the time grab a quick signing. On rare occasions, the guest may feel that signings are too time consuming so may ask to stop.

Paddock Pass meet and greets are only available to Paddock Pass holders. However, every Paddock Pass guest will appear on the Inspiration Stage at some point over the weekend, so you can still see them in action with your general admission ticket. 

The Paddock Pass is your ticket to our most popular meet and greet sessions. For £40, you’ll get entry to the show, one meet and greet of your choice from the Paddock Pass guest list, and an entry into our £1,000 giveaway (T&C’s apply).

Some of our guests are so popular that, in previous years, queues became very long and not everyone got to meet them. By limiting numbers for these sessions, we can keep waiting times shorter, give you more time with each guest, and make the experience calmer and safer for everyone.

Putting a price on the Paddock Pass also means we can invest in making these sessions really special, with giveaways while you queue, dedicated security, a dressed area and an all-round better experience for every pass holder. 

That’s absolutely fine. Every Paddock Pass guest will also appear on the Inspiration Stage at some point over the weekend, so you can still see them in action (just not meet them) with your general admission ticket. Keep an eye on the stage timetable so you don’t miss them.

Yes. You can add extra meet and greets to your Paddock Pass for £20 each.

Your Paddock Pass includes show entry on the day of your chosen meet and greet. 

If everyone in the group wants access to the Paddock Pass Meet & Greet area then they will all need their own pass. This includes children and any parent, guardian or carer going in with them.

Yes. We know this is different from our usual show entry policy for carers, and it’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly. Each session has a strict capacity, so everyone in the area needs their own pass.

Babies in arms don’t need a pass, as long as they’re with a Paddock Pass holder.

You’ll find the Paddock Pass sessions in Hall 10, where your ticket will be scanned on arrival. After your meet and greet, you’ll exit straight into the National Equine Show.

Entry opens 15 minutes before your session starts, so please arrive in good time. We’re unable to let anyone in earlier than this, or once a session has finished.

Absolutely. There’ll be time for photos and signings, and you might even get to ask that burning question!

Every Paddock Pass includes one entry into the giveaway. The winner will be announced on Monday 8 March 2027 and contacted directly. Read the full T&C’s here.