The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event will return to the NEC Birmingham on 3-4 June 2026. Organised by Messe Frankfurt UK, the event aims to equip the garage, body repair, and detailing sectors with the necessary training, technology, and confidence to thrive in the evolving automotive landscape. Following strong attendance in 2024, the 2026 event will increase its focus on skills, diversity, and attracting new technicians.
As vehicle technology accelerates with electrification, ADAS, and connected systems, the aftermarket faces significant pressure to develop a skilled and adaptable workforce. The show is structured to address this challenge, offering free access to live, hands-on training across specialist zones. Experts will demonstrate real techniques for repair, diagnostics, and calibration that technicians can implement immediately.
The event also serves as a platform to change perceptions and attract new talent. It will highlight the breadth of available careers, from diagnostics and technical leadership to digital roles and business ownership. The Ignite Arena will return as a dynamic space dedicated to students, apprentices, and young talent, featuring interactive talks and competitions designed to showcase career opportunities.
The show will also celebrate rising stars through the Automechanika ‘30 Under 30’ programme, which recognises the top young professionals shaping the aftermarket’s future. Furthermore, conversations will continue around gender balance and supporting career progression from other industries to help close the skills gap affecting productivity.
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, commented: “The heart of the aftermarket has always been its people. UK Garage & Bodyshop Event is designed to support them, the apprentices starting out, the master technicians evolving their knowledge, and the workshop owners steering their businesses through change. This event is about giving the trade confidence in the future, visibility of the opportunities ahead and a sense of pride in the skills that keep Britain moving.”
Exhibitor enquiries are now open. To find out more, please click here.
