Festive Gift Fair 2026 at the NEC (19-22 Nov): Parking, Train and Getting There for Groups

Festive Gift Fair NEC parking is straightforward if you pre-book: the organisers say parking is £5 cheaper when you book on the NEC website. The fair runs from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November 2026, 9.30am to 5pm daily, in Hall 17. Birmingham International station is about a 10-minute undercover walk from the hall, and tickets are advance booking only.

This guide is written for groups. You’ll find parking, train and group-ticket advice, plus drop-off options. The busiest day is Saturday 21 November, when Motorcycle Live opens and Deep Purple play bp pulse LIVE.

Festive Gift Fair 2026 at a glance

The details come from the fair’s own essential information page, its travel page and the NEC’s event listing. Hall numbers differ slightly between sources: the NEC lists Halls 17 and 18, while the organisers say the fair has moved into the larger Hall 17. Follow the signs on the day.

Which day suits a group best?

Thursday and Friday

The first two days are the calmer ones. Buy 3 Get 1 Free applies to adult full-day tickets on both, which helps a group. On Friday, the NEC’s events list shows Hits Radio Live at bp pulse LIVE, so expect some evening traffic, but the fair closes at 5pm.

Saturday 21 November

This is the busiest day of the weekend. Motorcycle Live opens at the NEC that day, running from 10am to 5pm. Deep Purple play bp pulse LIVE that evening, with doors at 6pm. Motorcycle Live closes at 5pm, the same time as the fair, and the concert doors open an hour later. Our guide to Deep Purple at bp pulse LIVE covers the concert side.

Sunday 22 November

Motorcycle Live’s second day brings the same 10am to 5pm hours. The NEC’s list shows no concert on the campus that night. That makes the evening quieter than Saturday’s, though the car parks still fill in the morning.

Festive Gift Fair NEC parking

Pre-book to save £5

Booking on the NEC website makes parking £5 cheaper, says the fair. It reports over 16,500 spaces, with the visitor car park for Hall 17 a short walk away. The site is cashless, with number plate recognition, and the NEC says the saving applies when you book before midnight the day before.

When you reach the NEC, the fair advises following its own signs rather than your satnav. Look for the “Festive Gift Fair” signs, because the postcode B40 1NT covers the whole campus.

What it costs

Rates vary by event, and the NEC doesn’t publish one price for every show. Motorcycle Live’s organisers, for example, list £10 if you book before 23:59 on Thursday 19 November and £19.95 on the day. Recent guides quote £13.95 to £14.95 pre-booked and £18.95 to £19.95 on the day for other NEC events. Use the price shown when you book.

Saturday and Sunday

The fair opens at 9.30am and Motorcycle Live at 10am, so the car parks fill early on Saturday and Sunday. If you drive, arrive before 10am, or consider the train or a drop-off.

Station parking

Avanti lists Saturday and Sunday tickets at £9.50 for the Birmingham International station car park. Prices change, so check before you travel.

By train to the fair

Birmingham International

The fair says Hall 17 is a 10-minute walk from Birmingham International station, along an easy undercover and step-free route. West Midlands Railway, CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast all call at the station. From Birmingham New Street, the journey takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Coach passengers can reach Birmingham Airport on National Express or Megabus services, then take the free Air-Rail Link, which the fair says takes about 90 seconds.

Groups on trains

A large group on a train can get split up at the platform and in the crowds. Agree one meeting point at the station, share a leader’s phone number, and decide a time to regroup. Check National Rail for engineering works and your last train home.

Shopping bags on the train

Gifts add weight, and the station walk is long with full bags. The fair says there’s a Present Creche, where you can drop your bags for hands-free shopping. Use it, because carrying bags through a crowded hall tires everyone.

Getting a group to the NEC

Group tickets

The fair offers group rates for 15 or more adults. An adult full-day group ticket costs £8 on Thursday and Friday and £11 on Saturday and Sunday, plus the £1.50 fee. You book through SEE Tickets’ group booking service. Book your tickets first, and then your transport, so you know your numbers.

Afternoon tickets

Adult afternoon-only tickets give entry after 1.30pm, for £8 on Thursday and Friday and £10 on Saturday and Sunday. A group that arrives after lunch avoids the morning rush for parking. Check the exact rules when you book.

Cars or minibuses

A group of five to seven can share a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, which carries up to seven passengers. Larger groups need more than one vehicle, so tell us your headcount and we’ll advise on the number of cars. Our guide to minibus versus multiple chauffeur cars explains how to compare them for a group.

Coach day trips

The fair lists coach operators running day trips from other parts of the country, including Eastons, Galloway Travel, Marchants, Motts Travel, Sharpes of Nottingham and Toureasy. For groups travelling from Birmingham or the Midlands, a car or two is usually simpler. A coach trip may suit groups coming from further afield.

Drop-off at the NEC

The NEC says Veezu is its official private hire partner, with points near the main entrances. Other private hire providers drop off and pick up at the Piazza area or the Atrium entrance. Ask which area suits Hall 17 using the NEC’s site plan, and agree one meeting point for the whole group.

If you’d like a fixed price for your group, our events chauffeur service page explains how event bookings work.

Fixed rates

You agree the price in advance, so slow roads on a busy Saturday don’t change it. Ask for a quote that covers both journeys.

Planning the day as a group

Choose an organiser

Every group needs one person who holds the tickets, the numbers and the pickup details. Share that person’s phone number with everyone, and keep it saved. A group chat helps, but signal can slow in a crowded hall.

Timing your arrival

Many visitors arrive close to opening time, so the first hour is likely to be the busiest for car parks and entrances. If your group isn’t in a hurry, arriving mid-morning avoids the first queue. Tell us your preferred arrival time, and we’ll plan the pickups around it.

A sample timeline

This timeline is an illustration for a group of 12 travelling from Solihull on a Thursday. It isn’t a timetable.

• 9.00am: Pickups in Solihull, in two vehicles.
• 9.30am: Arrive and join the queue.
• 10.00am: Drop coats and bags at the Present Creche.
• 12.30pm: Lunch break, with seating at the Sparkle Cafe.
• 4.30pm: Collect your bags and meet at the agreed point.
• 5.15pm: Pickup after the fair closes.

Adjust the times for your group, and add more time on Saturday.

Pickup after closing time

The fair closes at 5pm. Agree a 20 to 30 minute pickup window after closing, and have everyone ready at the meeting point. On Saturday, the Motorcycle Live exit and the Deep Purple arrivals overlap with your pickup, so allow more time.

Families and children

Child tickets (ages 3 to 16) cost £6 on Thursday and Friday and £9 on Saturday and Sunday, according to the fair’s ticket page. Under-3 tickets cost £3. Carer tickets are available too, and all tickets are advance booking only.

If you’re bringing children, tell us how many and their ages, so we can arrange suitable seats. Plan the day around a lunch break, and keep the return journey flexible if little ones tire early.

Why booking ahead matters

The fair sold out last year and is now advance booking only, with no tickets on the door, according to the organisers. A group that arrives without tickets can’t buy them at the entrance. Book early, hold the confirmations on one phone, and share a copy with your group’s organiser.

Splitting the cost for a group

A group of five to seven can compare one shared fare with the cost of several cars, parking and fuel. Add the £5 saved by pre-booking parking if you drive. Ask us for a quote for your headcount, and compare the whole cost per person, not just the fare.

What’s inside the fair

The fair has 325 stalls, and entertainment is included in the ticket. Santa arrives on his sleigh, the Grinch is on the loose, and live singers and performers appear across the hall. New for 2026 are a stilt-walking toy soldier and a vintage selfie booth, and the giant snow globe returns, according to local reports. Visitors can also enter a daily Santa sack draw.

Carrying gifts home

Hands-free shopping

The Present Creche lets you leave bags while you shop. Take your purchases to the car or the drop-off point in one trip at the end of the day.

Space in the car

Gift shopping fills boot space quickly. Tell us how many people and how many bags you expect, so we choose a vehicle with room. A V-Class carries up to seven passengers with luggage.

The road situation near the NEC

According to the NEC’s travel alert, the northern side of M42 junction 6 at Bickenhill Bridge is closed. National Highways says access to the airport, station and NEC remains open as normal, and diversions are in place. Follow signed routes rather than relying on satellite navigation.

HS2’s weekend M42 closure was rescheduled to 30 October to 2 November, with backup dates of 6 to 9 November, both before the fair. We found no closure announced for 19 to 22 November, but plans can change.

Accessibility

The fair says the NEC aims to be fully accessible for disabled visitors. Contact the organisers about your needs before you book. When you book with us, mention any mobility needs too, so your driver can plan the closest sensible stop. Seating is available inside, and the Sparkle Cafe gives you a place to rest.

Make a day of it

If your group wants more Christmas in Birmingham, our guide to Christmas markets near Birmingham lists options. Many groups combine the fair with lunch or an evening in the city. Tell us your plans, and we’ll build the pickups around them.

What to wear and bring

Mid-November is cold, and you’ll move between the car park or station and Hall 17. Wear layers, comfortable shoes and a coat you can leave at the Present Creche. Bring a reusable bag, a charged phone and your tickets on your phone.

Staying overnight near the NEC

Groups travelling from further away may stay overnight before an early start. The fair says the Hilton, Crowne Plaza and Genting hotels sit within the NEC complex, and the Moxy is closest to the fair. Hotels fill up when several events share a weekend, so book early. Give us the hotel address, and we’ll plan the short journey to the hall.

Your group checklist

• Book group tickets first, for groups of 15 or more adults.
• Pre-book parking, or agree transport for the group.
• Choose an organiser, and share one phone number.
• Agree a meeting point and a pickup window after 5pm.
• Use the Present Creche for bags.
• Check the day: Saturday is the busiest.

Book your Festive Gift Fair transfer

National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers to the NEC, using Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your group size, pickup address and return plans, and we’ll confirm a fixed price. Get a quote and book online.

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