Midlands Machinery Show looks to the future after another successful event

The Midlands Machinery Show (MMS) delivered another strong outing in November, with exhibitors and visitors once again turning out in force.

Started at the request of a number of regional machinery dealers, Newark and Notts Agricultural Society (NNAS) is proud of what the show has achieved over the past 11 years and remains fully committed to its long-term future.

We are grateful for the continued support from manufacturers, dealers, farmers and the wider industry. Their backing has been the foundation of the show’s success since it was first created to fill the gap left when LAMMA moved away from Newark and to provide a platform that champions agricultural engineering across the region.

As the industry has evolved, so has the show. Following the 2024 event, exhibitor feedback supported the move from two days to one in 2025, showing that we can adapt quickly to deliver the best experience for exhibitors and visitors.

That willingness to listen remains central to how we plan. After taking on board the views of exhibitors, visitors and our Show Advisory Committee, it is clear that sentiment across the industry is shifting.

The appetite for the show is still strong, but many feel the event would be best served by taking a rest year in 2026, and returning when the farming industry has more clarity about its future, and renewed confidence to invest.

A break now gives the show the best chance of coming back stronger with the goal of delivering an even better event for visitors, and an improved return on investment for our exhibitors.

MMS has always been about supporting machinery dealerships, regional manufacturers and the wider agricultural industry and will continue to do so when it is needed. This is a strategic pause, informed by the people who support it, to ensure the event remains relevant, valuable and fit for the future.

The annual Midlands Engineering Apprenticeship Awards will continue. These awards remain a key part of NNAS’s commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural engineers, with bursaries paid over the first two years of each apprenticeship.

To provide continued support for exhibitors, NNAS will also offer those who took part in this year’s Midlands Machinery Show a complimentary stand at the Nottinghamshire County Show on Saturday 9 May 2026, joining a growing line-up of machinery dealers who see the increasing benefit of being there.