There’s a busy year ahead for the baking industry with a host of exhibitions, competitions, and conferences to inspire and inform, as well as several chances to celebrate.
To help keep track of them, British Baker has compiled the list below.
Note: these dates were correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
January
16-20 January – Sigep
Location: Rimini, Italy
Aimed at the foodservice industry, Sigep aims to bring together professionals from the worlds of gelato, pastry and chocolate, coffee, bakery, and pizza.
31 January – Craft Bakers Association Yorkshire Region Post Festive Party Night
Location: York Racecourse
Held at the iconic York Racecourse, this annual event brings together CBA members, teams, families, and friends for a fun night of celebration.
February
11-13 February – Probiota
Location: Dublin
Organised by British Baker’s sister title NutraIngredients, this three-day event will feature expert presentations, dynamic panel discussions, networking opportunities, and a Wellness Programme, all offering a one-stop shop for the latest must-have insights in the fields of prebiotics, probiotics, and the microbiome.
21 February-1 March – Real Bread Week
The annual, international celebration of additive-free bread and the people behind its rise.
23 February-1 March – Cornish Pasty Week
Pasty makers and bakers will be pledging pasty sales to the Cornish Pasty Community Fund during this annual celebration which helps raise funds to get kids cooking in schools. The week culminates in the Global Pasty Championships at the Lost Gardens of Heligan on Saturday 28 February. Picking up where 2022 left off, this competition will give pasty lovers the chance to win a global title.
March
2-8 March – British Pie Week
British Pie Week is an annual celebration of all things pie related. The British Pie Awards are at the centre of the week with judging on the 4 March at St Mary’s Church in Melton Mowbray and the winners revealed on the 6 March.
5 March – MCA Food To Go Conference
Location: Ham Yard Hotel, London
The Food to Go Conference examines growth opportunites and trends in the most dynamic sector of the eating out market, through a day’s programme of interviews, panel debates, insight sessions, and networking.
13-17 March – Internorga
Location: Hamburg Messe und Congress, Germany
The international trade fair for the hospitality and restaurant industry offers exhibitors a platform to present their products to the entire out-of-home market. It also includes conferences and discussions, as well as competitions and awards.
30 March-1 April – IFE
Location: Excel, London
IFE offers networking opportunities and access to products from across the food and drink sector. It’s hosted as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week which unites IFE Manufacturing, IFE, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360, and International Salon Culinaire.
April
13 April – Britain’s Best Cake
Location: NEC Birmingham
Hosted by British Baker and proudly sponsored by Dawn Foods, Kluman & Balter, Rainbow Dust, Shufflemix, and St. Ewe Free Range Eggs, the competition aims to celebrate the most sumptuous sweet treats on offer in the UK. There are nine categories to choose from – Blondies & Brownies, Celebration Cake, Classic Cake, Gluten Free Cake, Fruit Cake, Mini Cakes, Modern Cake, Traybake, and Vegan Cake – offering up the opportunity for all types of cakes to triumph. Entries are open until 16 February.
14 April – Britain’s Best Loaf
Location: NEC Birmingham
Next up are the bread heads. Proudly sponsored by ADM Milling, Fritsch, L&M Parnaby, Matthews Cotswold Flour, and Rademaker, Britain’s Best Loaf 2026 shines a spotlight on the fantastic bread available from the nation’s bakeries. There are eight categories to choose from – Flavoured Sourdough, Gluten Free, Innovation, International, Plain Sourdough, Seeded Sourdough, White, and Wholegrain – presenting a chance for bread of all shapes and sizes to take home a trophy. Entries are open until 16 February.
13-15 April – UK Food & Drink Shows
Location: NEC Birmingham
Organised by British Baker publisher William Reed, the UK Food & Drink Shows comprise the Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Forecourt Show. Here, thousands of visitors will descend to learn about the latest news, trends, and issues in food development, manufacturing, grocery, hospitality, specialist retail, and more. There are exhibitors to visit, competitions to enter, awards, learning sessions, and networking opportunities to be had.
21-22 April – British Society of Baking Spring Conference and Golf Day
Location: Cotswolds Hotel & Spa, Oxfordshire
The conference will feature discussions on key topics in the baking industry, with a dinner taking place the night before. As in previous years, it has been paired with the BSB Golf Day which takes place prior to dinner on the 21 April.
May
16 May – Scottish Baker of the Year Awards
Location: TBC, Glasgow
Trade body Scottish Bakers is set to launch a new and improved competition for its 2026 Scottish Baker of the Year Awards, which culminates in a celebration on 16 May.
16-24 May – National Doughnut Week
National Doughnut Week returns as bakers, coffee shops, and more raise valuable funds for charity The Children’s Trust from the sale of their delicious doughnuts.
June
19-20 June – Alliance for Bakery Students & Trainees (ABST) Annual Conference
Location: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
Following its 100th anniversary in 2025, the ABST is back for its annual conference with a new venue. As usual, it will offer bakery students networking opportunities with key figures from the industry as well as the chance to take part in competitions.
August
10-16 August – Afternoon Tea Week
Afternoon Tea Week celebrates the great British tradition with venues across the UK running a selection of discounts and activities.
23-28 August – Worshipful Company of Bakers Bursary Course
Location: School of Artisan Food, Nottinghamshire
Applications are open for the course until 29 March 2026. It has been designed specifically for bakers who have been working in commercial bakeries for at least three years and aims to provide a valuable opportunity for refreshing and enhancing skills as well as exploring the potential for upgrading standard bakery products to a higher level of finish and quality.
September
1-30 September – Sourdough September
Organised by the Real Bread Campaign, Sourdough September celebrates what it describes as genuine sourdough bread and the people who make it.
16 September – Craft Bakers Association Business Day
Location: TBC, Birmingham
Following the success of the 2025 event, the CBA is bringing its members back together for another day of learning, networking, and celebration.
16-17 September – Lunch!
Location: Excel, London
Dedicated to the food-to-go industry, Lunch! brings together experts for two days of networking, talks, and more.
October
14-15 October – British Society of Baking Autumn Conference
Location: Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwickshire
The conference will feature discussions on key topics in the baking industry, with a dinner taking place the night before.
November
25 November – Baking Industry Awards
Location: London Hilton on Park Lane
With the 2025 Baking Industry Awards selling out five weeks before the event, British Baker has found a new venue and date for the 2026 black-tie celebration. Now in its 39th year, the award ceremony follows months of judging and celebrates the standout people, products, and businesses which make the bakery sector such a special place to be.
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