Motorcycle Live NEC 2026 runs from Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 November, open 10am to 5pm every day. A pre-booked taxi suits riders who’d rather not take the bike on a cold, wet November day. It also suits groups, anyone carrying new helmets and jackets, and anyone staying until closing time. If you do ride, the show offers free undercover bike parking, so a taxi is a choice rather than a necessity.
This guide covers dates, tickets, drop-off, the free Bike Park and car parking costs. It also explains how to get your kit home and which days overlap with other NEC events.
Motorcycle Live NEC 2026: dates, hours and tickets
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 November 2026 |
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm every day |
| Venue | NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT |
| Advance adult (19+) ticket | £27 any day, or £25 Monday to Friday |
| Child (6 to 18) | £5 |
| Under 5s | Free with a ticket-holding adult |
| On the door | £36.50 for adults |
The prices and opening times come from the show’s own pages, including its ticket page. Online bookings carry a £2 fee, and advance tickets are available until 5pm on Friday 20 November. Groups of 10 or more adults get 10% off.
What’s on at Motorcycle Live
The show’s own site lists more than 250 exhibitors, three brand-new displays and a free Learn2Ride Zone. More Bikes reports more than 50 manufacturers, with hundreds of new 2027 models. Visordown adds free test rides, live shows and riding experiences, plus a new Super Stage in Hall 4 for interviews and tech talks.
The ABR Festival Zone is in Hall 3, according to Visordown. That’s a lot of floor to cover, so plan a full day. Decide in advance how you’ll get home, so you aren’t weighing up transport when you’re tired.
Taxi, bike, car or train: which suits you?
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked taxi | Groups, gear shoppers, a late finish | Needs an agreed pickup point and time |
| Riding in | Solo riders on a dry day | Cold, wet roads and parking at your own risk |
| Car | Visitors from further away | Parking fees and the queue to leave |
| Train | Light travellers | Crowded trains at closing time |
Riding your bike
The show’s travel page says secure, undercover bike parking is free in the MCL Bike Park, supported by Honda. It sits in Hall 12 this year, and it’s subject to availability. Motorcycle parking is also free across the NEC site, though bikes are left at your own risk.
Driving
Car parking costs £10 if you book before 23:59 on Thursday 19 November, according to the organisers. On the day, the price is £19.95. The NEC uses number plate recognition, so you choose your visit day when you book. You can amend the booking until midnight the day before.
Riding in and taking a taxi home
Some riders park the bike and travel home another way, particularly after a wet day. Last year’s show FAQ says the Bike Park is manned by NEC security, and you receive a numbered wristband when you leave your bike. Check this year’s FAQ for the same rules before you decide to collect the bike another day.
Taking the train
Birmingham International station is a five-minute covered walk from the show, according to the organisers. From Birmingham New Street, the journey takes 10 to 15 minutes. Avanti West Coast is offering 20% off tickets to the show, with a booking deadline of 14 November.
Where a pre-booked taxi drops you at the NEC
Private hire areas
The NEC directs pre-booked private hire cars to set drop-off and pick-up areas. Our guide to taking a taxi to the NEC explains the Piazza and Atrium areas and how to name one when you book. Tell us which entrance suits your plans, rather than just saying “the NEC”.
Blue Badge holders
The show’s travel page says taxis carrying Blue Badge holders can drop off at the main entrances. It recommends telling the taxi company in advance so access runs smoothly. Mention this when you book, and give us the name of the person holding the badge.
Agree your meeting point
Nine days of busy halls means many pickups happen at once. Agree a meeting point, share a pin and keep your phone charged. A clear plan saves a long search, particularly after dark in late November.
If you’d like a fixed price for your journey, you can get a quote online for your Motorcycle Live taxi.
Getting your kit and purchases home
Use the cloakroom
The show has a cloakroom outside Hall 2 that holds helmets, jackets and similar items for £2 per item. It opens an hour before the show and closes an hour after, according to the organisers. Leaving your riding gear there makes the day easier. The extra hour also helps if your driver is running late.
What fits in a taxi
Our Mercedes E-Class and S-Class carry up to three passengers and three cases. The V-Class carries up to seven passengers with luggage. A helmet, jacket, boots and a few smaller purchases usually fit. Tell us what you expect to buy, and we’ll suggest the right vehicle.
Bigger purchases
Motorcycle Live sells everything from clothing to accessories and exhaust parts. If you buy something large or heavy, ask the trader about delivery before you go. A passenger car isn’t the right vehicle for anything that won’t fit safely, so arrange specialist transport rather than hoping it fits.
Which day to visit: overlaps with other NEC events
Weekdays and weekends
Monday to Friday advance tickets cost £2 less than any-day tickets, and weekdays are usually calmer. The weekends are the show’s busiest days, so expect more traffic and longer queues at pickup time.
Opening weekend and final Sunday
The show opens on Saturday 21 November, which is also a concert night at bp pulse LIVE. Expect the first Saturday to be one of the busiest for roads, and book your outward and return trips early. The final Sunday, 29 November, is also the Festive Good Food Show’s last day, so the campus will be busy again as both shows close.
Evening events at the NEC
Several NEC events fall inside the nine days, according to the NEC’s event listings. Deep Purple play bp pulse LIVE on Saturday 21 November. Bob Dylan plays there on Thursday 26 November, and Phoebe Bridgers on Saturday 28 November. The Festive Good Food Show also runs from 26 to 29 November.
On those days, concert-goers arrive as the motorcycle show closes at 5pm, so roads and pickup areas fill up. Our guide to getting to the Good Food Show Winter by taxi explains the same timing issues for that show.
Timing your day
Arrive before the crowds
The show opens at 10am. Arriving shortly before opening means you miss the main queue, and the cloakroom will have just opened. On a weekend, allow extra time for the approach roads.
Plan your pickup
A 5pm close means dusk has already fallen in late November. If you can wait 20 to 30 minutes after closing, traffic and the pickup queue both ease. Agree a window rather than a fixed minute, and message your driver when you leave the hall.
A sample timeline
This timeline is an illustration for a group of three on a Saturday. It isn’t a timetable.
- 8.45am: Pickup in Solihull.
- 9.30am: Arrive at the NEC.
- 10am: The show opens.
- 12.30pm: Lunch break and a look at the new bikes.
- 5pm: The show closes.
- 5.30pm: Meet your driver at the agreed point.
Adjust the times for your journey, and add more time on concert nights.
Flying in for Motorcycle Live
From the airport to the show
Birmingham Airport is next to the NEC, and the free Air-Rail Link connects the terminal to Birmingham International station. For arrivals with heavy luggage, our Birmingham Airport transfers track your flight, so your pickup moves if you land early or late. Your driver waits inside the terminal with a name board.
Visitors from further away
Riders come from across the UK and Europe, and the organisers promote discounted ferries and flights. If you’re travelling in from Ireland or France, tell us your arrival time and the port or airport you’re using. We’ll plan your onward journey around it.
Winter weather and your plans
Late November brings frost, rain and early darkness, and the roads around the NEC can be slippery. Check the forecast the night before. Poor conditions make a pre-booked taxi a dry, warm option, and you can enjoy the show without worrying about the ride home. Tell us as soon as you can if the weather changes your plans, so we can adjust your booking.
Staying over near the NEC
Many visitors make a weekend of it, particularly those travelling from further away. Hotels near the NEC fill up on show weekends, so book early. Give us the full hotel address when you book your taxi, and tell us what time you want to reach the halls. We can then plan your morning pickup and your return around the show’s 10am to 5pm hours.
Riding gear and your taxi
Many visitors arrive in riding kit, and some arrive wet. Tell us if you’ll be wearing full gear, carrying a helmet or travelling with a rucksack, so we can send a vehicle with enough room. A crowded car makes for an uncomfortable journey, and a short message when you book avoids it.
Is a taxi worth it for you?
The answer depends on who is travelling. A solo rider on a dry weekday can ride in, park free and enjoy the show. For four or five people sharing one fare, with a boot full of kit, a taxi is often simpler than two cars and two parking fees. Compare the whole journey, not just the fare. Add parking, fuel and the time spent in the car park queue, then ask us for a quote.
Clubs and groups
Riding clubs often visit together. Seven passengers fit in the Mercedes V-Class, so a group can share one fare. The show also gives 10% off orders of 10 or more adult tickets, which helps larger clubs. Contact the organisers for the ticket discount, and contact us for the transport.
Accessibility and carers
The show offers a complimentary carer ticket when you buy a full-price ticket and upload the required proof. Blue Badge holders still pay for parking at the NEC, according to the organisers. Taxis carrying Blue Badge holders can use the main entrances. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book, so your driver can plan the closest sensible stop.
Roadworks around the NEC
HS2 construction and works at M42 junction 6 continue around the NEC, so check the NEC’s travel updates before you set off. The weekend M42 closure we found ran from 23 to 26 October and ended before the show. We found no closure announced for 21 to 29 November, but schedules can change.
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
- Which day or days you’re attending
- Your pickup address and the time you want to arrive
- A return pickup time, ideally 20 to 30 minutes after closing
- How many passengers and bags are travelling
- If you expect to buy large items
- Any Blue Badge or mobility needs
- A mobile number that stays on during the show
Book your Motorcycle Live taxi
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 your pickup point and arrange your return before you arrive. Contact us to book your Motorcycle Live journey or a group transfer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Motorcycle Live 2026?
Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 November 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, open 10am to 5pm every day.
Is parking free at Motorcycle Live?
Motorcycle parking is free, with a free Bike Park in Hall 12. Car parking costs £10 if booked before 23:59 on Thursday 19 November, and £19.95 on the day.
How much are Motorcycle Live tickets?
Advance tickets for adults aged 19 and over are £27 for any day or £25 Monday to Friday. Children aged 6 to 18 pay £5, and under 5s are free. Adults pay £36.50 on the door.
Where do taxis drop off at the NEC?
Pre-booked private hire cars use set drop-off and pick-up areas on the NEC site, and taxis carrying Blue Badge holders can use the main entrances. Name your preferred entrance when you book.
How do I get to Motorcycle Live by train?
Take a train to Birmingham International, then walk about five minutes along the covered Bridgelink. From Birmingham New Street the journey takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Can I leave my helmet and jacket at the show?
Yes. The cloakroom outside Hall 2 holds items for £2 each and opens an hour before the show and closes an hour after.
