London Packaging Week returned to ExCeL London for the third consecutive year Oct. 15-16. It was the event’s 15th anniversary, which it marked with record attendance, expanded programming and a continued focus on packaging across luxury, beauty and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) products, including food and beverage, personal care and household items.
What began in 2010 as the Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packing London was rebranded as London Packaging Week in 2022, evolving into four co-located exhibitions: Packaging Première, PCD, PLD and Food & Consumer Pack, each tailored to a distinct market sector.
Together, they raked in 5,752 attendees in 2025, “representing a 15% year-over-year increase and one of our strongest turnouts to date,” said Sema Tezel Basbug, head of marketing, UK packaging portfolio, at Easyfairs, the organizer of London Packaging Week. For context, the event’s final year under its original name in 2021 drew roughly 2,600 attendees, while the 2022 rebrand nearly doubled that figure.
Growth extended beyond the footfall. A total of 211 exhibitors showcased their products in 2025—up from 190 in 2024—across ExCeL London’s 1.1 million square feet of expo space. London Packaging Week maintains ongoing partnership with the venue, though the duration of the contract wasn’t immediately clear.
The results stemmed from “the success of our targeted, insight-led marketing strategy,” Tezel Basburg said. “We focused on understanding audience needs across key packaging sectors and delivering tailored campaigns that inspired attendance from senior decision-makers and innovators alike.”
The approach included a first-ever Exhibitor Open Day held two months prior to the show. It was an extra measure “to ensure our exhibitors were fully prepared and equipped to maximize their participation,” Tezel Basburg said. “It also encouraged them to reach out to their own networks and communities to promote their presence, amplifying the show’s reach and impact.”
Beyond the show floor, London Packaging Week debuted a Top 50 Best of British Packaging Designs showcase, presented in partnership with Pentawards. Tezel Basburg described the gallery as “a visually stunning and inspiring showcase that celebrated creativity and innovation across the UK packaging scene.”
In the spirit of more, this year’s speaker lineup was also more extensive than ever. Although the event remains free to attend—with registration subject to professional verification—Tezel Basburg said the goal was “to deliver a conference program that rivaled paid forums in both quality and depth.”
The 2025 agenda featured 95 speakers, a record number, including executives from Microsoft, Unilever, L’Oréal, Tesco and TikTok Shop, among others. Sessions explored inclusive packaging design, meeting demand for authenticity and future-proofing across three stages: The Luxury Stage, The Beauty & Drinks Stage and The Food & Consumer Pack Stage.
“There was a clear focus on sustainability, policy reform and circular innovation” across the board, Tezel Basburg noted, highlighting “exceptional engagement” around sessions on the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, in particular. (The EPR scheme, for reference, is a policy that makes producers responsible across a product’s entire lifecycle, including disposal.)
The agenda was curated “with input from the new Easyfairs Packaging Council (EPC),” a 10-member advisory board formed in March to help shape London Packaging Week’s programming and content strategy.
To celebrate its milestone year, the event introduced several other new features:
- A ribbon-cutting opening ceremony to officially launch the show
- The debut of the Exhibitor Stand Awards, recognized creativity and innovation on the show floor
- An inaugural Press Breakfast Preview Briefing on day one, offering media an exclusive first look
- A revamped London Packaging Week Innovation Awards Ceremony, “creating a sense of true occasion,” Tezel Basburg said, complete with a new stage and dedicated host and emcee for 200-plus guests
- A greater emphasis on video content, both before and during the event
The true highlight, Tezel Basburg shared, came at the very end: “At the end of day two, exhibitors broke into spontaneous applause, a heartfelt show of appreciation that captured the spirit and success of this year’s event.”
