The Good Food Show Winter NEC visit has a new name this year. The organisers now call it the Festive Good Food Show, and it runs from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026. Doors are open 9.30am to 5.30pm Thursday to Saturday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday.
A pre-booked taxi drops you at the NEC, then collects you after closing with your shopping bags. It also means nobody has to drive after tasting wine, cocktails or a cheese-and-chutney pairing.
This guide covers the dates, hours, tickets and parking. It explains when a taxi beats the train or car, how to time your day around booked sessions, and how to get your shopping home. It also covers families, accessibility and the other events on the NEC campus that week. Details can change, so confirm them on the show’s own pages before you travel.
Good Food Show Winter NEC 2026: dates, hours and tickets
The show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham B40 1NT. Here are the published opening times:
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Thursday 26 November | 9.30am to 5.30pm |
| Friday 27 November | 9.30am to 5.30pm |
| Saturday 28 November | 9.30am to 5.30pm |
| Sunday 29 November | 9.30am to 5pm |
Adult tickets cost £25 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and £26 on Saturday, including a £1.75 booking fee. Children aged 5 to 17 pay £6.75, and under-5s go free. VIP tickets cost £101.75, or £106.75 on Saturday, and include VIP parking. Groups of 10 or more can save up to 25%.
Your ticket covers the show floor, the free stages and more than 350 exhibitors. Big Kitchen seats, the Cheese Hub and the tasting sessions are booked separately. The show names James Martin, Lisa Faulkner, Si King and Jane’s Patisserie among this year’s line-up, but chefs vary by day.
Should you take a taxi, the train or drive to the show?
All three work, and the right choice depends on what you plan to eat, drink and carry home.
| Option | Works well for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Train to Birmingham International | Solo visitors and couples travelling light | Fewer trains on Sunday, and crowds after closing |
| Driving and parking | Groups who can nominate a driver | Parking costs, shuttle buses and the drive home |
| Pre-booked taxi | Tastings, shopping, groups, timed sessions | Needs an agreed pickup point and time |
A covered walkway links Birmingham International station to the NEC. The show says up to nine trains an hour run between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International Monday to Saturday, and up to six an hour on Sundays.
For parking, the show quotes £14.95 if you pre-pay up to the night before, which saves £5 on the day. Shuttle buses run between the car parks and the halls.
When a taxi makes most sense
A pre-booked taxi earns its place in several situations:
- You plan to taste wine, spirits, beer or cocktails.
- You expect to buy bottles, boxes or hampers.
- You’re travelling as a group and can share one fare.
- You’ve booked timed sessions and can’t risk a late arrival.
- You’d rather not queue for parking or a shuttle bus.
A note on tasting and driving
Many stands offer samples, and the show has a cocktail club and wine exhibitors. The show also bars under-18s from sampling alcohol. If you plan to taste, leave the car at home, because small samples add up. A taxi home removes the guesswork.
Timing your taxi around the show’s sessions
Sessions and closing times shape the day more than the opening time does.
Arriving before your first session
Big Kitchen sessions run for about 40 minutes, and Big Kitchen seats cost £8 on top of your ticket. Chefs and experts vary by day, so check the timetable before you book seats. Plan your taxi to arrive well before your first booked session, because approach roads fill as doors open at 9.30am.
Going home after closing
The show closes at 5.30pm Thursday to Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. When it does, cars, taxis and shuttle buses converge on the same roads. If you can wait 20 to 30 minutes, both the traffic and the pickup queue ease.
Other events can add to the rush. The NEC’s listings show Bob Dylan at bp pulse LIVE on Thursday 26 November and Phoebe Bridgers there on Saturday 28 November. Concert crowds arrive just as the show empties. Motorcycle Live is also listed on the NEC campus from 21 to 29 November, so expect a busier site all week.
Fix the pickup point before the day
Pre-booked private hire cars use set drop-off and pick-up areas on the site. Our guide to taking a taxi to the NEC explains the Piazza and Atrium areas and how to name one when you book.
The show says the Atrium and Piazza entrances have automatic doors, which helps when your hands are full. Pick the entrance nearest the halls you’ll use, and give it to your driver instead of just “the NEC”.
Getting your shopping home
The show encourages visitors to bring shopping bags, and with 350-plus producers, you’ll probably need them. Wine, cheese, cookware and boxed gifts add up quickly. Carrying them onto a crowded train, or across a car park to a shuttle bus, takes the fun out of a good haul.
A taxi takes your bags from the entrance to your front door. Tell us what you expect to carry when you book, and we’ll send a vehicle with enough room. Keep chilled items together in an insulated bag, so they stay cold on the way home.
Families, groups and accessibility
Many visitors come as part of a family or a festive outing. Taxis keep everyone together at the end of a long day.
Groups and Christmas outings
The seven-seat Mercedes V-Class takes a larger party with room for shopping. For bigger groups, contact us before you book and we’ll talk through the options, which may mean more than one vehicle.
Families with children
Children under five go free, and children aged 5 to 17 pay £6.75. Under-18s must stay with an adult throughout. We can provide child seats on request, so tell us each child’s age when you book.
Visitors who need extra support
The show says all levels of the NEC are reachable by ramps and lifts. A registered-disabled visitor can bring a carer free of charge, and the show accepts proof such as a Blue Badge or a Freedom Pass. Mobility scooters and wheelchairs can be pre-booked through Event Mobility.
Taxis carrying Blue Badge holders can drop off at the main entrances, so tell your taxi firm in advance if you need a pickup there. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book, and we’ll discuss what’s possible for your journey. The NEC doesn’t allow dogs, except assistance dogs.
Flying in or staying nearby
Birmingham Airport sits right beside the NEC, so visitors flying in can be at the show within a short journey. On foot, the free Air-Rail Link takes you to Birmingham International station and the walkway to the halls. A taxi is easier with heavy luggage or a hotel stop first.
For arrivals, our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight tracking. Your driver waits inside the terminal with a name board, so a late flight doesn’t leave you stranded.
Many visitors stay in Solihull, Coleshill or the city centre, because hotels near the NEC fill quickly in November. Give us your full hotel address and the time you want to arrive.
Roadworks and event traffic around the NEC
HS2 construction and the upgrade of Junction 6 on the M42 mean works around the NEC throughout 2026. The NEC’s travel updates page lists current alerts, including one weekend M42 closure from 9pm on Friday 23 October to 5am on Monday 26 October. That closure ends before the show.
We found no closure announced for 26 to 29 November, but schedules change. Check the NEC’s travel page and National Highways before you set off. Our guide to HS2 and the Junction 6 works explains how construction affects taxi journeys. Your driver checks live traffic on the day, and a fixed fare doesn’t change if a diversion adds time.
What to tell us when you book
A few details sent in advance prevent most show-day problems:
- Which day you’re attending
- The time of your first booked session, if any
- The entrance you want
- Your pickup address and the time you need to arrive
- Your return pickup time, ideally 20 to 30 minutes after closing
- Number of passengers, and how much shopping you expect
- Child seats or accessibility needs
- A mobile number that will stay switched on
Book your taxi to the Good Food Show Winter NEC
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-price taxis to and from the NEC for shows, concerts and airport connections. You agree the price when you book, name the entrance you need, and arrange your return pickup before you arrive. Book your NEC taxi online or contact us to arrange a group booking or a return journey.
Related Articles
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- Taxi from Birmingham New Street: Where to Meet Your Driver
- Fixed-Price Taxi vs Metered Taxi: Which Is Better for Longer Journeys?
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Good Food Show Winter at the NEC in 2026?
It runs from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham B40 1NT. The organisers now call it the Festive Good Food Show.
Is the Good Food Show Winter the same as the Festive Good Food Show?
Yes. The Festive Good Food Show is the organisers’ current name for their winter show at the NEC. Listings and searches still use “Good Food Show Winter”.
What time does the Good Food Show open and close?
It’s open 9.30am to 5.30pm Thursday to Saturday and 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday. Confirm the times on the show’s website before you travel.
How much are Good Food Show NEC tickets?
Adult tickets cost £25 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday and £26 on Saturday, including a £1.75 fee. Children aged 5 to 17 pay £6.75, and under-5s go free.
Where does a taxi drop you at the NEC?
Pre-booked private hire cars use the Piazza drop-off and pick-up area or the Atrium entrance. Give your driver the entrance nearest your halls, because the postcode only gets you onto the site.
Is it easier to take a taxi, the train or drive to the show?
The train suits solo visitors travelling light, and Birmingham International is linked to the NEC by a covered walkway. A taxi suits tastings, shopping and groups. Driving means paying for parking and joining the shuttle bus.
How much is parking at the Good Food Show NEC?
The show quotes £14.95 if you pre-pay up to the night before, which saves £5 on the day. Parking is run by the NEC, so check its website when you book.
What time should I book my taxi home?
Aim for 20 to 30 minutes after closing, because the roads and pickup areas are busiest as the show empties. That means about 5.50pm to 6pm Thursday to Saturday, and 5.20pm to 5.30pm on Sunday.
Can I take my shopping home in a taxi?
Yes, if it fits safely in the car. Tell the operator what you expect to carry when you book, so they send a suitable vehicle.
Are other events on at the NEC that weekend?
The NEC’s listings show Motorcycle Live on the campus from 21 to 29 November, plus concerts at bp pulse LIVE on Thursday 26 and Saturday 28 November. Allow extra time around closing.
