UK to get all-discipline fishing show in 2027

A new UK consumer recreational fishing event is aiming to address what organisers describe as a long-standing structural gap in the angling calendar – the absence of a truly national, all-discipline show bringing the entire sport together under one roof.

The organiser says that while existing exhibitions have proved highly effective within their specialist sectors, the focused formats have left limited scope for cross-pollination between disciplines. “The result is an industry without a single show unified for trade, clubs and anglers to convene at scale. It is a missed opportunity for anglers to explore styles of fishing beyond their usual focus. The new event, HOOKED!, has been conceived specifically to fill that space,” says a spokesperson for the event.

“The launch comes at a point of notable momentum across multiple areas of the sport. Predator and lure fishing continue to expand rapidly, fuelled in part by a new generation of digitally native brands. Sea angling, meanwhile, maintains a strong and loyal participation base, alongside a tackle sector increasingly keen to engage with the wider industry through a shared platform.

“At grassroots level, participation initiatives such as Take a Friend Fishing, Let’s Fish and National Fishing Month are continuing to drive recruitment into the sport. These are complemented by structured development pathways, including junior squads and youth programmes, providing clearer progression routes for young anglers.”

Against this backdrop, organisers believe the conditions are right for a national event that serves both new entrants and established participants across all disciplines and crucially, one designed from inception as a fully integrated format, rather than an incremental expansion of an existing show.

HOOKED! is being developed with active support from across the trade and wider angling community. A formal partnership is in place with the Angling Trades Association (ATA), with Chairman Andrew Race contributing to the development of the event’s trade-facing elements.

Central to this is the Exhibitor Lounge, a dedicated trade-only environment positioned away from the main show floor, designed to facilitate business meetings, networking and industry dialogue. Additional collaborations with governing bodies and sector organisations are understood to be in progress, with further announcements expected.

The event’s floorplan has been structured to accommodate more than 140 exhibitors, segmented into clearly defined zones representing all major angling disciplines. These will sit alongside feature areas including a Club Showcase, a Beginners Bay aimed at entry-level engagement and a Careers Hub focused on recruitment and industry pathways.

Exhibitor interest is reported to be strong across categories, including bait manufacturers, distributors, predator and lure brands and specialist suppliers. Organisers have taken the deliberate decision to cap stand numbers within each zone and product category in an effort to maintain balance across the floor and avoid oversaturation.

The emphasis, it says, is on product education and demonstration-led engagement rather than discount-driven retail – a positioning reinforced by the show lay-out, which places brand activation spaces at the core of each zone, with retail areas arranged around the perimeter.

A different format

The format of Hooked! is designed to differentiate it from existing shows by giving equal prominence to all disciplines, while structuring the visitor journey to encourage exploration across categories. Feature areas include the Angling Skills Arena, offering hands-on workshops; Reel Talk LIVE, a main-stage programme featuring leading anglers and On The Bank: Meet & Greet, providing informal access to high-reach content creators.

The event is targeting 16,000 visitors in its first year, underpinned by an established audience acquisition model previously used to deliver national consumer events attracting more than 20,000 attendees. Marketing plans include radio campaigns, ticketing partnerships, editorial collaborations with angling media and grassroots activation through clubs, fisheries and digital channels.

“The UK is one of Europe’s largest recreational fishing markets, with more than two million anglers. For international brands looking to reach UK consumers, the show is positioned as a gateway into that market: a single national platform on which to build brand presence and put product in front of the UK angler directly. Its central location, well served by the national motorway and rail network, keeps it within easy reach of visitors from across the country.”

Early commitment encouraged

Organisers are urging brands – particularly those requiring larger stand footprints – to commit early, citing limited availability within each zone. A 10% early bird discount is currently available on stand bookings until October 2026, with year one exhibitors granted first refusal on their space for the following edition.

“With delivery led by an experienced consumer events team working alongside trade and industry stakeholders, HOOKED! is positioned not as a one-off launch, but as a long-term platform intended to grow with the sport.

“The objective is clear: to create an event shaped by the needs of the entire angling community – and to deliver it at a scale and standard the industry has been calling for.”

Show facts

Hooked! 2027

Date: September 18 & 19

Venue: Stafford County Showground, Stafford, England

www.hookednationalfishingfestival.co.uk