ARE Expo officials are sounding the call to industry professionals across the amusement, retail entertainment and leisure sectors to save the date for the second Amusement & Retail Entertainment Expo (ARE Expo), which is returning to Manchester’s Cotton Sheds venue on 28 and 29 April, 2026 following a successful inaugural event last year.
The exhibition announcement stated: “Building on strong industry engagement, positive exhibitor feedback and a high-quality visitor audience at its launch edition, ARE Expo has quickly established itself as a relevant, modern trade exhibition for a sector undergoing rapid change.
“The event brings together operators, manufacturers, technology providers, suppliers and service partners from across the amusement, gaming, retail entertainment and wider leisure industries, providing a focused platform for networking, knowledge sharing and product discovery.”
ARE Expo launched last year to wide acclaim and it feels the new event has immediately started to “build a strong foundation”. It noted: “The inaugural ARE Expo demonstrated clear demand for a show that reflects the convergence of amusement, retail entertainment, digital technology and experiential leisure. The second edition will build on this foundation, expanding both the exhibition floor and supporting content to reflect the evolving needs of the industry.
So, what to expect from ARE 2026 in April?
The organisers are aiming to cover all the main bases for industry visitors and the exhibitor list to date offers a broad mix of solutions, including: Amusement and gaming equipment; Cash handling, cashless and payment technologies; Ticketing, redemption and access systems; Digital content, data and connectivity solutions; and Compliance and operational services.
At the same time, a dedicated conference and workshop programme will once again run alongside the exhibition most notably the Gambling Business Group’s highly successful High Street Hub.
On the seminar side, The Amusement Network will organise sessions focused on regulation, technology, data-driven insights and future venue formats.
