Exhibition Stand Builders for The London Book Fair

Exhibitors and visitors

According to the organiser, exhibitors include trade and academic publishers, literary agencies, distributors, printers, audiobook and technology providers and national pavilions, while visitors are mainly publishing professionals — editors, rights and licensing teams, commissioners and buyers. The organiser stresses that LBF is a trade event rather than a place for authors to pitch to agents.

Meeting tables first

Rights and sales teams often book half-hour meetings all day. Count the people who will hold meetings at the same time and give each a numbered table with two or three chairs. Small tables placed close together work, but leave enough space for people to pass with bags and catalogues.

Shelving and front-list display

Shelves and face-out display units show your list and give buyers something to browse while they wait. Plan the number of titles you want to show, the formats (hardback, paperback, illustrated, children's) and whether some shelves should be lockable. Strong lighting on spines and covers makes a modest stand look well stocked.

A calm atmosphere

Rights negotiations need quiet. Avoid loud video loops, use soft flooring or carpet, and consider partial screens between tables. A larger publisher can add a semi-enclosed room for confidential conversations about major acquisitions.

Catalogues, rights guides and storage

Printed rights guides and catalogues are still widely used. Plan a small storeroom or lockable cupboards for stock, coats and luggage, and a reception point where visitors can check whom they are meeting.

Collective and national stands

Publishers' associations and country pavilions host several companies under one name. Agree how individual publishers are identified — name boards on tables, separate shelving bays — and how a shared reception directs visitors to the right person.

Stand build options

According to the organiser, exhibitors can use its in-house SmartSpace service for bespoke or modular stands, or bring their own contractor for space-only sites. In earlier editions the organiser's manual made the exhibitor and contractor responsible for compliance with the build regulations and required structural information for complex structures; check what the 2027 manual requires at ExCeL.

• Stand number, dimensions, open sides and whether it is part of a pavilion
• Number of meeting tables and people meeting at the same time
• Shelving: number of titles, formats and face-out display
• Any semi-private meeting room
• Reception point, storage for catalogues, coats and luggage
• Lighting for book display and your company's branding
• Flooring and measures to keep noise down
• Whether you will use the organiser's build service or a contractor of your own
• Budget range and deadlines for design and submission

Selection criteria

• Experience at ExCeL London, given the 2027 change of venue
• Experience with publishing or other meeting-led trade fairs
• In-house joinery for shelving and display units, or a clear subcontracting arrangement
• Ability to comply with the organiser's and venue's build regulations and documentation
• Options to store and reuse shelving for future editions
• Photos and references from comparable stands

What is included — and what is not

Before comparing prices, check whether each quote covers:

• Design, visuals and revision rounds
• Construction, walls and carpet or other flooring
• Shelving, face-out units and lockable storage
• Graphics and signage
• Furniture hire for meeting tables and reception
• Electrics and lighting on the stand
• Any screens or AV
• Transport, build-up and breakdown labour
• Venue services ordered separately, such as power connection, internet and cleaning