Transport industry gears up for CV Show 2026

Preparations for this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, which will take place from 21-23 April at the NEC Birmingham, are now well underway, with decarbonisation set to play a pivotal role at the annual event.

The show will welcome 320 exhibitors across an expanded floorplan in Halls 4 and 5 of the venue – as well as hosting the new Bus & Coach Expo, which bosses say will enable greater cross-sector collaboration by allowing attendees to explore both commercial and passenger transport under one roof.

Commercial vehicle manufacturers set to attend with their latest launches and products include Chery, as it prepares for expansion across the UK, Iveco with its eJolly and eSuperJolly, as well as returning exhibitors Farizon, Ford, Isuzu, Kia and Renault.

The theme of this year’s show is ‘Fuelling Change: the route to decarbonising road transport’, which will aim to provide a comprehensive take on what the future holds for van, truck, bus and coach operators navigating the transition to net zero.

“Beyond decarbonisation, the 2026 show will place a strong spotlight on artificial intelligence, emerging vehicle and fleet technologies, the future workforce and skills development, and driver welfare. Together, these themes reflect the full spectrum of change reshaping the sector,” said event organisers.

“The CV Show is where the industry’s future takes shape, bringing together manufacturers, innovators, fleet operators, policymakers and industry bodies to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

New for this year, the CV Show is conducting its own dedicated research to explore the realities of decarbonisation, investment, infrastructure and technology adoption. It says the findings will help shape on-site conversations, ensuring the show reflects the industry’s priorities, pressures and ambitions.

In addition to the established Main Stage, Technical Theatre and Decarbonisation Theatre, the show will be adding three additional stages – the Future Fleet Arena, Driver Safety Theatre and Bus & Coach Leaders Forum.

Over 150 speakers will address attendees across more than 75 seminars and panel discussions, with sessions exploring topics such as decarbonisation pathways, digital transformation, workforce development, safety, finance and regulation.

Feature areas on the show floor elaborating on these themes will include the Future Fleet Lab, Driver Safety Zone and Collaboration Zone, alongside live demonstrations and Ride & Drive.

This year’s CV Show will be launched with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) Industry Address, alongside the unveiling of the latest CV Report, which organisers say will set the tone for three days of informed debate and discussion.

“Both SMMT and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) will play a central role across the programme, contributing insight, expertise and policy perspective as the industry accelerates towards net zero,” they added.

“With record attendance, reinforced by 24 per cent year-on-year visitor growth, alongside new research, expanded content and unrivalled industry involvement, CV Show 2026 is the essential meeting place for shaping the future of road transport.”

Visitors can register for their free tickets via the CV Show website.