The UK chemical and process ecosystem concentrates suppliers, formulators and plant engineers for two focused days in Birmingham. CHEMUK 2026 takes place from 20 to 21 May 2026 at the National Exhibition Centre and brings practical solutions for production, safety, formulation and analysis.
Venue and event structure at CHEMUK 2026
The event is held at NEC Hall 5. The exhibition is organised into five dedicated show zones: Chemicals Supply, Chemicals Management, Process & Chemical Engineering, Chemical Laboratory and Formulated Product Manufacturer. That layout helps visitors target suppliers by function and accelerate meeting schedules.
Attendees profile and exhibitor offer
CHEMUK 2026 draws technical and procurement professionals. The programme targets raw material producers, distributors, toll manufacturers, process engineers, plant managers, EHS and regulatory teams, laboratory specialists and formulators. The organiser reports more than 600 specialist exhibitors and over 100 expert speakers, which creates a dense portfolio of suppliers and technical presentations.
Each zone focuses activity. Chemicals Supply concentrates on commodity, specialty and fine chemical manufacturers and distributors. Chemicals Management covers logistics, storage, labelling and compliance. Process & Chemical Engineering hosts plant and control technology. The laboratory and formulated product zones address R&D, scale-up, testing and contract manufacturing services.
Programme themes to note
Speaker tracks include decarbonisation and net zero, chemicals management, regulatory and EHS, process engineering and asset management, industrial biotechnology, formulation and innovation, AI and digitalisation, plus skills and workforce development. The mix of practical tracks and supplier showcases supports comparative assessment of technologies.
Practical tips for B2B prospecting at CHEMUK 2026
- Segment your target list by show zone to focus time on relevant stands.
- Prioritise twelve key contacts and schedule short meetings. With 600+ exhibitors you must be selective.
- Use the event scheduling tools to book 20-minute demos and leave time for technical discussions on stand.
- Bring technical datasheets, compliance documentation and case studies. Procurement and EHS teams will request concrete specifications.
- Agree a three-step post-event follow-up plan: send technical packs, propose a pilot or sample, and schedule a technical review meeting.
Numbers and operational notes
The organiser highlights 600+ specialist exhibitors and 100+ expert speakers grouped into thematic tracks. The two-day format rewards pre-planning and early bookings for meetings. The Smart Badge system speeds up contact capture and session access.
Closing recommendation
If your goal is to evaluate suppliers or validate a technical solution, map visits by the five show zones and block time for peer sessions on regulation and decarbonisation. Check the exhibitor list and speaker programme on the official site https://www.chemicalukexpo.com and lock in meetings before the event to make the most of two concentrated days.
