The Arboricultural Association has announced the return of ARB Show to Westonbirt on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 May 2027, with a renewed focus on practical experiences, industry engagement and opportunities for the arboricultural community to help shape the event's future.
After a break in 2026, ARB Show will return in 2027 with an exciting new approach, building on its reputation as one of the UK's leading events for tree care professionals, businesses and enthusiasts.
The Association can also confirm that ARB Show will move to a biennial format, taking place every two years from 2027. The change will create opportunities to further develop the show while allowing the Association to dedicate resources to projects and initiatives that support the arboricultural profession in the intervening years.
A refreshed ARB Show experience
Visitors to ARB Show 2027 can look forward to a refreshed event, with an increased emphasis on hands-on learning, technical demonstrations and practical, interactive experiences.
Plans are being developed to introduce more opportunities for arborists to engage directly with new techniques, equipment and industry expertise, alongside improvements to the exhibitor experience, including new stand options and an updated show layout.
Building on the festival atmosphere of the event, work is also underway to introduce new entertainment, activities and opportunities for the arboricultural community to play a more active role in the show itself.
Importantly, the Association wants to involve the profession in shaping what comes next, welcoming ideas and contributions from arborists, businesses, industry organisations and anyone with an interest in helping ARB Show continue to evolve.
Our partners at Westonbirt have expressed their enthusiasm for working with us to make the ARB Show an integrated event to tie in with the Arboretum’s aims and objectives – a truly collaborative festival of trees and their care.
While the format will develop, the event will retain the qualities that have made it a firm favourite in the arboricultural calendar: bringing people together, celebrating the profession, sharing knowledge and showcasing the latest equipment and innovations.
Advancing the profession between shows
The move to a biennial format also reflects the Association's wider commitment to supporting the long-term development of the arboricultural industry.
In the years between events, the time and resources traditionally dedicated to organising ARB Show are used to support major projects, professional development initiatives and new resources that benefit arboriculture professionals and the wider sector.
In 2026, this has included one of the Association's most significant digital transformation projects in over a decade: developing a new digital home for the tree care community. The project, which is in its final testing stages, will deliver a future-proof, integrated digital platform, including a completely new website, designed to make it easier for arboricultural professionals, related sectors and members of the public to access trusted information, engage with the Association and connect with the wider world of arboriculture.
Alongside this, the Association has undertaken a comprehensive review, consultation and update of the industry's Technical Guides, first published in 2020. This work also includes the development of a new suite of Ground Technical Guides, providing dedicated technical guidance in this area for the first time.
Both the updated Technical Guides and the new Ground Technical Guides are scheduled for publication in late 2026, with print and eBook formats planned.
These projects demonstrate how the new approach to ARB Show will enable the Association to balance the delivery of a major industry event with sustained investment in the resources, guidance and infrastructure that support the profession throughout the year.
An exciting new chapter
John Parker, Chief Executive of the Arboricultural Association, said: "ARB Show has always been about bringing our industry together, celebrating the people who work in arboriculture and sharing the knowledge, skills and innovations that help our profession thrive.
"We're really excited to bring the show back in 2027, and we're taking this opportunity to look at how we can make it even more valuable for everyone involved. We want more practical experiences, more opportunities to learn and get involved, and a show that continues to reflect the needs and ambitions of the arboricultural community.
"Moving to a biennial format also gives us the opportunity properly evolve and grow the show as well as making a lasting impact beyond the showground. The work we've been able to progress in 2026, from our new digital platform to the Technical Guides, demonstrates the value of investing that time in projects which benefit our members and the wider profession.
"ARB Show belongs to the arboricultural community, and we want that community to play a central role in shaping its future."
Get involved in ARB Show 2027
Exhibitor bookings for ARB Show 2027 will open in December 2026, with further details on stand options, activities and the event programme to be announced.
The Arboricultural Association is inviting expressions of interest from exhibitors, organisations and individuals who would like to contribute to the show, whether through exhibiting, delivering demonstrations, hosting practical activities, providing entertainment or sharing ideas for its future.
