Progressive Party

Retail’s biggest names, 1,500+ brands, 130+ speakers and five new content stages set to bring the industry together for four days in February. Registration is now open for Spring Fair 2027, with the retail trade show inviting buyers from across the industry to secure their free ticket for four days of sourcing, discovery, insight and connection at NEC Birmingham from 7 – 10 February 2027.

The record-breaking contemporary interactive art exhibition, Balloon Museum, comes to Immerse LDN from 24 October 2026. Following its success at Paris’ Grand Palais, EUPHORIA is creating a playful world of colour, movement, sound and unexpected encounters, where artworks are not simply there to be observed, they are made to be experienced. The new installation is taking place at Immerse LDN, Excel Waterfront.

Spirit Christmas delivers interactive experiences, festive discoveries and holiday magic around every corner. Spirit Christmas is back in the US for its third season, bringing festive magic to 44 locations across 15 states, from New England to Florida and west to the Great Lakes. More than just a place to shop, each store is a festive adventure filled with interactive experiences, larger-than-life displays and thousands of joyful, unexpected finds.

Spending on Halloween is expected to reach $13.5bn this year, according to the NRF’s annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure maintains the strong spending level of last year’s record $13.1 billion and reflects consumers’ continued enthusiasm for the holiday. “Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” NRF vice president of industry and consumer insights, Allison Zeller said.

325 exhibitors – the highest ever in the event’s history – were on the BLE show floor at Excel London this week including 85 new for 2026. Together, exhibitors showcased thousands of licence-ready brands that will inform the retail landscape of the next two to three years. Around two thirds of this year’s exhibitors have already confirmed they will return to exhibit at BLE in 2027, indicating the strength of confidence across the industry.

Halloween fans can vote for their favourite 2026 finalist to help choose this year’s Fang Favourite. The Halloween & Costume Association (HCA) has opened the Fan Vote for the third annual Spooky Awards. From now until 15 October, Halloween fans can explore the 2026 finalists and vote for their favourite product to help choose this year’s Fang Favourite.

The Halloween & Costume Association (HCA) has announced the finalists for the third annual Spooky Awards. This year’s finalists were selected in eight categories: Accessories, Adult Costume, Child Costume, Licensed Costume, Most Unique Costume, Décor, Masks and Most Innovative Product. The 2026 Spooky Awards finalists represent the very best in these categories. Each entry was evaluated by a panel of industry experts on innovation, marketability, trendsetting potential, appeal and usefulness.

By Katherine Roberts-Mason October 2, 2026 New research has revealed the costumes set to dominate Halloween 2026. Pop culture is providing plenty of inspiration, with this year’s biggest films, TV shows, celebrities and viral moments all influencing what we’ll be wearing come 31 October. To reveal the costumes set to dominate 2026, the team at discount platform, Promizi analysed Google Trends to uncover the looks seeing the biggest surge in searches.

The countdown to BLE 2026 is on with Europe’s licensing community preparing to come together at Excel London from Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 October. This year’s show will officially be the biggest BLE yet, with a 12% increase in exhibitor numbers to 325 companies, while the show floor has expanded by 5 per cent. Among them are 90 companies new to the show this year, bringing new brands, fresh perspectives and even more opportunities for visitors to discover.

The new partnership strengthens Rubies’ licensed portfolio and brings Warner Bros. Discovery’s characters to fans across EMEA Rubies Masquerade UK has signed a new agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products for the design, manufacture and distribution of officially licensed dress-up products across EMEA The agreement brings together Rubies’ expertise in creative costume design, manufacturing, distribution and retail activations with Warner Bros.