Connecting Frontline Operations with the Future of Public Safety

For 20 years, The Emergency Services Show has been where the UK’s blue light sector comes together to solve frontline challenges, share operational lessons and discover what’s next for emergency response.

In 2026, ESS returns to the NEC Birmingham for its landmark 20th anniversary alongside The Emergency Tech Show, bringing frontline operations and digital innovation together under one roof at a pivotal moment for the sector.

Over two days, more than 16,000 professionals and 550+ exhibitors will gather to explore everything from rescue equipment and fleet to AI, drones, communications and resilience.

For policing, fire and rescue, ambulance and emergency planning professionals, Birmingham will once again become the centre of the conversation around the future of emergency response.

A Sector Under Pressure

Emergency services are operating in one of the most challenging environments in recent memory.

Demand is rising while budgets remain constrained. Workforce wellbeing has become a growing concern, while agencies are also being asked to respond to increasingly complex threats including terrorism, public disorder, severe weather, cyber risk and infrastructure disruption.

At the same time, technology is rapidly transforming frontline operations.
Artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, predictive analytics and unmanned systems are no longer future concepts. They are becoming embedded in day-to-day emergency response.

That shift sits at the centre of ESS and ETS 2026.

The co-location of both events reflects a new operational reality: frontline capability and digital technology can no longer be treated separately. Modern emergency response now depends as much on data, connectivity and situational awareness as it does on physical equipment.

Paramedics increasingly rely on integrated patient data, fire and rescue teams use drones and live mapping during incidents, and police services are investing in AI-assisted workflows and digital evidence management.

The lines between operational response and digital capability are becoming increasingly blurred, and ESS and ETS aim to reflect that evolution.

20 Years of ESS

Since launching in 2006, The Emergency Services Show has become one of the UK’s leading events for the blue light sector, bringing together frontline responders, senior leaders, resilience professionals and suppliers under one roof.

The 2026 edition marks its 20th anniversary, with exhibitors spanning PPE, rescue
equipment, communications, medical technology, fleet, wellbeing and operational support.
But ESS has always been more than an exhibition. Its value lies in the conversations, connections and shared learning that happen across the show floor, helping emergency services tackle challenges together and shape the future of response.

Four Themes Driving the 2026 Programme

The 2026 event is built around four core themes reflecting the operational realities facing emergency services today.

The programme will also see the return of established content theatres including the Royal College of Paramedics Theatre, the People and Skills Theatre and the Protecting the Protector Stage, focusing on workforce wellbeing, leadership and responder safety.

Lifesaving on the Frontline

This theme focuses on frontline care, rescue capability and interoperability, with sessions exploring pre-hospital care, trauma response and the tools supporting responders in high-pressure environments.

A major addition for 2026 is The ATACC Group’s Life Saving on the Front Line demonstration, delivering practical, scenario-based resuscitation training across both days.

Designed for police, fire and ambulance personnel, the CPD-accredited sessions focus on applying Immediate Life Support (ILS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) skills in realistic operational conditions.

Emerging Threats and Resilience

Preparedness and resilience continue to rise up the agenda for emergency planners, local authorities and blue light agencies.

The programme places strong emphasis on civil contingencies, public protection and multi-agency coordination, with Martyn’s Law and climate-related disruption expected to feature prominently.

A key addition is the new Local Resilience Forum Conference, delivered in partnership with the West Midlands Resilience Forum.

Fleet of the Future

Fleet remains one of the fastest-changing areas across emergency services.

Police, ambulance and fire fleets are under pressure to decarbonise while maintaining operational readiness.

The new Fleet of the Future feature area will provide a dedicated space for fleet managers and procurement teams to explore vehicle technology, telematics, infrastructure and electrification.

Training and Development

People remain the foundation of every emergency service.

This strand focuses on workforce capability, leadership, wellbeing and professional
development, including immersive training environments, digital learning tools and mental health support.

Collaboration at the Centre

One of the defining characteristics of ESS has always been its emphasis on collaboration.

Multi-agency working is no longer aspirational within emergency response. It is essential.

The Collaboration Zone at ESS 2026 has been designed to create space for agencies, organisations and partners to share operational experience, strengthen relationships and explore coordinated approaches to resilience and response.

Bringing police, fire, ambulance, resilience professionals, voluntary organisations and technology providers into the same environment remains one of the event’s greatest strengths.

New Features for 2026

Local Resilience Forum Conference

A major new addition for 2026, the Local Resilience Forum Conference reflects the growing focus on community-led resilience and multi-agency preparedness.

Bringing together resilience professionals, emergency planners, voluntary organisations, faith groups and policy leaders, the two-day programme will explore how stronger
partnerships can improve response, recovery and long-term resilience.

Resilience360° Summit

Another major addition is the launch of the Resilience360° Summit.

Part of the wider Response360 ecosystem, the summit focuses on the full lifecycle of
operational resilience, from prevention and preparedness through to response and recovery.

The event will bring together leaders from emergency services, transport, utilities and critical infrastructure to examine resilience strategy, collaboration and the role of emerging technologies during disruption and major incidents.

Emergency Tech Show Comes Into Focus

Running alongside ESS, The Emergency Tech Show has rapidly established itself as a dedicated platform for digital transformation within public safety.

The 2026 edition will feature more than 150 technology exhibitors and thousands of digital and data specialists working across emergency response.

The programme has been developed alongside organisations including the Police Digital Service and the NPCC Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee, ensuring sessions remain grounded in operational need.

Key topics will include AI adoption, cloud migration, cyber resilience, data sharing, digital evidence and automation.

One of the strongest themes emerging across the sector is the need to move beyond experimentation.

Emergency services are no longer simply exploring what technology can do. They are now focused on implementation, interoperability and measurable operational outcomes.

That focus will run throughout ETS.

The AWS Partner Zone will explore how emergency services are using cloud and AI technologies to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Partner Stage and Microsoft Village will showcase how digital tools are supporting safeguarding, operational decision-making and workforce efficiency.

The Drones and Robotics Zone will also return with live demonstrations showcasing aerial surveillance, thermal imaging and robotics platforms designed for high-risk environments.

Alongside this, the Ordnance Survey Mapping Zone will demonstrate how location intelligence and geospatial data continue to shape emergency response planning and incident coordination.

More Than an Exhibition

More than a trade show, ESS and ETS have become one of Europe’s biggest meeting points for emergency services professionals.

Across two days, visitors can access CPD-accredited sessions, live demonstrations, specialist feature areas and valuable peer-to-peer networking at a time when collaboration and shared learning have never been more important.

Birmingham Becomes the Sector’s Meeting Point

The Emergency Services Show and The Emergency Tech Show return to the NEC Birmingham on 16–17 September 2026, bringing the blue light community together at a pivotal moment for the sector.

As operational pressure, technological change and public expectations continue to reshape emergency response, ESS and ETS remain where the sector comes together to share ideas, tackle challenges and explore what comes next.