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GroundsFest has quickly established itself as the industry’s must-attend event, bringing together thousands of volunteers and professionals from landscaping, groundscare, local authorities, estates, contractors, sports turf and horticulture for two days focused on innovation, education and networking.
Taking place on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, GroundsFest offers a different approach to the trade show experience. The event combines extensive indoor exhibition halls with live outdoor demonstrations across hundreds of acres, giving visitors the opportunity to compare machinery, test equipment and speak directly with manufacturers before making purchasing decisions.
With more than 500 brands exhibiting, visitors can explore the latest machinery, tools, technologies and services from across the industry, while discovering products making their UK debut alongside established favourites.
GroundsFest Innovation Awards
One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the GroundsFest Innovation Awards 2026, delivered in partnership with HortWeek and proudly sponsored by Cramer, Kress and Origin Amenity Solutions.
Following a record number of entries, the judging panel faced an incredibly difficult task selecting the finalists, underlining the pace of innovation currently driving the sector forward.
The awards recognise excellence across grass cutting, turf maintenance equipment, turf consumables, landscape equipment and landscape consumables, alongside the popular ‘Stood the Test of Time’ category, celebrating products that have consistently delivered outstanding performance over many years.
The shortlist features some of the biggest names in the industry, including Kress, Husqvarna, Trimax, Ransomes Jacobsen, Toro, Segway Navimow, Techneat, Etesia UK, Turf Tank and many more. Entries showcase everything from autonomous mowing technology and battery-powered equipment to innovative turf treatments and landscape solutions.
Visitors can see many of the shortlisted products throughout the exhibition before discovering who takes home the honours during the Innovation Awards Presentation at 3.30pm on Wednesday 16 September in the BALI & HortWeek Seminar Theatre within the Landscape Zone.
The ceremony will include a champagne reception, courtesy of GroundsFest, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate the industry’s latest achievements.
Free education tackles key industry issues
Education continues to be one of GroundsFest’s defining features, with a comprehensive programme of free seminars taking place throughout the show.
The BALI & HortWeek Seminar Theatre will host sessions exploring some of the biggest issues and opportunities facing the industry today.
Highlights include ‘Smarter kit, stronger teams: the power of autonomous and battery technology ', sponsored by Kress, where industry experts will discuss how autonomous and battery-powered equipment is changing the way contractors and grounds teams operate.
Origin Amenity Solutions sponsors ‘Future-ready landscapes: resilient planting, healthier soils and smarter inputs’, examining practical approaches to creating more sustainable and resilient landscapes. Delegates attending this session will also receive a complimentary lunch voucher, courtesy of Origin Amenity Solutions.
Meanwhile, Cramer presents ‘The battery bottom line: demystifying the financial transition from petrol to battery’, providing practical advice on understanding the costs, savings and long-term benefits of moving towards battery-powered equipment.
Get hands-on with the latest machinery
Away from the seminar theatres, GroundsFest’s unique live demonstration areas allow visitors to see machinery performing in real working conditions and, importantly, get hands-on with equipment themselves.
Whether comparing commercial mowers, battery-powered machinery, robotic technology or landscaping equipment, visitors can experience products before making investment decisions.
Networking, live music and free entry
Networking also remains a key part of the GroundsFest experience. The relaxed festival atmosphere encourages meaningful conversations with suppliers, manufacturers and industry colleagues, while the popular live music festival returns on the opening evening, offering an enjoyable way to unwind after a busy first day.
Attendance is completely free, including parking, making GroundsFest one of the most accessible industry events of the year.
Whether you’re looking to invest in new equipment, discover the latest innovations, gain practical knowledge from industry experts or simply stay ahead of emerging trends, GroundsFest 2026 offers everything you need in one place.