Which events to look out for in 2026
With 2026 around the corner, here is a round-up of the key watch events to look out for next year:
LVMH Watch Week (January 19-21 in Milan)
It’s hard not to be impressed with the line-up, which will include: TAG Heuer, Hublot, Zenith, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Chaumet, Fred, Daniel Roth, Gérald Genta, L’Épée 1839, Louis Vuitton, and Dior
Inhorgenta (February 20-23 in Munich)
This annual jewellery and watch trade show in Munich, Germany, is the most underrated. The visitor experience is fantastic (convenient local accommodation, free drinks and entertainment after each day of the show, and a genuinely lovely European city a short taxi away), the watch brands exhibiting take up a whole hall of space, and the price of food and drink is nowhere near as exorbitant as in Switzerland. Count us in!
British Watchmakers’ Day (March 7, London)
Despite being a relatively recent addition to the calendar, British Watchmakers’ Day has become an unmissable event for hundreds of watch lovers in the UK and beyond. Featuring over 40 domestic brands, last year’s event saw queues around the block before opening, suggesting that British watchmaking really is enjoying a moment and a half.
Watches & Wonders (April 14-20, Geneva)
Yes, Geneva may be ludicrously overpriced and the visitor experience outside of the show isn’t necessarily up there with the likes of Dubai Watch Week, but there’s no getting away from the fact that this is, in some ways, the only watch show that really matters. Almost every major watch manufacturer on the planet (including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe) will be present, with the last three days being open to the public as well. It’s surely not too much to ask of President Trump that he doesn’t drop any tariff bombs midway through the event for a second year running.
Hands on Horology (June 13, London)
From the team that publishes Oracle Time magazine, Hands on Horology enjoyed a stellar debut last year, and will be looking to build on this strong start with its second edition in the summer.
Geneva Watch Days (September 1-5, Geneva)
This ‘event’ should make no sense. It was a cobbled together, disparate collection of small pop-up appearances by a handful of brands during the dark days of government lockdowns in the midst of the pandemic. And yet, several years down the line, Geneva Watch Days has never felt stronger. The consensus is that it’s a more relaxed and more enjoyable Geneva experience for the visitor than the main event in April, with usually glorious weather and hotel rooms at a fraction of the price. The list of brands that get involved keeps growing and improving, which is why GWD is here to stay.
WatchTime New York/Windup Watch Fair (October TBC, New York)
Two different events that serve slightly different ends of the market, but combined they are as eagerly anticipated as almost any event in the calendar. The passion and enthusiasm among the punters at both shows is quite something, while the backdrop of Midtown Manhattan leaves other destinations in the dust.
