With just 10 days remaining for exhibitors to enter Pitch Live at Autumn Fair 2026, emerging brands are being called to seize the opportunity after previous winners described the competition as “invaluable experience,” “brilliant opportunity” and “unforgettable” and urged newcomers to enter and “go for it”.
Returning for 2026 with a brand-new morning timeslot designed to maximise buyer engagement, Pitch Live, in partnership with Retail Huddle, has become one of Autumn Fair’s most anticipated features, providing exhibitors with a unique platform to pitch directly to an audience of influential retail buyers and expert judges. More than just a competition, Pitch Live has built a reputation for helping young brands gain valuable industry exposure, strengthen their propositions and unlock commercial opportunities that continue long after the show has closed.
This year’s competition will take place at 11am across the first three mornings of Autumn Fair, giving shortlisted brands greater visibility at the start of each day and allowing buyers more time to revisit winning exhibitors, place orders and continue conversations throughout the show.
A host of high profile judges have been confirmed including Fashion designer Jeff Banks from Jeff Banks London; Estella Arroyo, Head of Design, George at Asda; Judy Bendall, Head of Retail at Blenheim Palace; Rebecca Gilligan, Senior Buyer from Elphicks Department Store; Joanne Barker, Founder of Hettie & Sid; Ami Rabheru, Retail Strategist and Founder of Retail Huddle and a former Retail Buyer for M&S, Next & Tesco; and Sharon Good, Founder and Managing Director, Good Results PR.
Matthew Mein, Event Director at Autumn Fair said: “Retail has never been more competitive, particularly for emerging brands trying to get noticed. Pitch Live gives exhibitors something incredibly valuable: the opportunity to put their business in front of a room full of engaged buyers, industry experts and fellow retailers who are actively looking for the next great product. We’ve deliberately moved the competition to the morning this year because we want to give finalists even greater commercial opportunities. Buyers can discover exciting new brands early in the day, visit their stands afterwards, place orders and continue conversations throughout the show. It’s a simple change that we believe will deliver even greater results for participants.”
Previous winners say Pitch Live has delivered far more than a trophy. After winning the Gift category at Autumn Fair 2025, Terence Chung PhD, Founder and Director of FRUU, said the experience fundamentally changed the direction of his business.
“Pitch Live gave us a fantastic opportunity to hone our pitch for our latest collection and validate our products in front of a panel of industry experts. It was a brilliant experience all round. The response was so overwhelming that we’ve gone back to reassess our launch, and instead of a single product range, we’re now launching as an outright brand with an extended product offering. We’re returning to Autumn Fair to fulfil our pre-orders and take on new ones.”
Sophie Eckley, Director, Nudie Jewellery won the Fashion category at Autumn Fair 2025, she said, “Winning Pitch Live was an unforgettable moment in Nudie’s ‘Year Zero’, but looking back, the biggest prize wasn’t the trophy, it was everything that happened afterwards. One potential stockist watched my pitch and came straight over to introduce herself. Another unexpected outcome was meeting judge Ami Rabheru from Retail Huddle, a connection that led to our first pop-up at Westfield London and, ultimately, an invitation to pitch Nudie to Heathrow Airport’s Reserve & Collect team.
“Pitch Live accelerated our journey in ways I couldn’t have predicted. More than anything, it gave me confidence in both the brand and my ability to communicate its story. Since then, Nudie has grown to six UK stockists, exhibited at more than 40 events, launched across multiple marketplaces and continued to build on the momentum that Pitch Live helped create.”
For March Muses, winner of the Gift category at Spring Fair 2026, the benefits extended well beyond the competition itself. Founder Natalie Duvall said: “Pitch Live was an invaluable experience for March Muses. We entered because we wanted the opportunity to share our mission with a room full of retailers, industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs who understand the challenges of growing a consumer brand. Since taking part, we’ve had a dedicated PR session that has opened the door to some exciting opportunities, and we are looking forward to our two-day pop-up this Christmas courtesy of Retail Huddle. The judges also made valuable introductions and shared practical advice that continues to support our growth.
“For anyone considering entering Pitch Live, my advice would be: go for it. Be authentic, know your story, and be open to feedback. The experience is about so much more than the pitch itself, it’s the conversations, connections and opportunities that follow which make it so worthwhile.”
Similarly, Blue Bear & Co., winner of the Kids category at Autumn Fair 2025, found that Pitch Live gave the brand something every young business needs – confidence. Founder Nici Robinson said: “Winning Pitch Live was a real highlight for Blue Bear & Co. As a small purpose-led business, it gave me an incredible opportunity to share the story behind the brand with buyers and industry professionals. Being recognised by the judges gave me confidence that our concept resonated and that there was a place in the retail market for products with genuine meaning and purpose.
“The biggest takeaway for me was the opportunity to tell our story. Blue Bear & Co. is much more than a teddy bear brand, our Bears for Life are thoughtfully designed to celebrate, comfort and remember life’s biggest moments. Pitch Live gave me the platform to communicate that in a way that connected with people and the response during the show was incredibly encouraging. My advice to anyone considering entering would be to go for it. If you have a product with a genuine story and you’re passionate about your business, Pitch Live is a fantastic opportunity to share that passion with the industry and gain valuable exposure.”
Taking place on the Counter Talks Stage, Pitch Live will showcase finalists across three categories:
- Fashion, Accessories & Jewellery – Sunday 6 September, 11:00am
- Home & Gift – Monday 7 September, 11:00am
- Toy, Play & Kids Clothing – Tuesday 8 September, 11:00am
Finalists will pitch their products live to the expert judging panel and audience of retail buyers before winners are announced on stage.
In addition to invaluable industry exposure, winners will receive:
- A place on the Retail Huddle Accelerator Programme OR a 1:1 Retail Mentoring Programme
- A one-hour PR and brand strategy consultation with Sharon Good, CEO of Good Results PR
- A 3m² contribution towards an Autumn Fair or Spring Fair 2027 stand
10 Days to Apply
Applications for Pitch Live close on 14 August, with exhibitors invited to submit their brand story, product information and imagery via the exhibitor portal.
As competition for retail shelf space continues to intensify, Autumn Fair believes Pitch Live offers emerging brands more than just a moment on stage, it provides a platform to accelerate growth, build industry connections and gain the confidence to take their businesses to the next level.
How to Enter
Visit www.autumnfair.com/whats-on/pitch-live for more information and T&Cs and submit your entry by 14th August. You can find the Pitch Live entry form within the exhibitor zone portal.
Interested in exhibiting? Visit https://www.autumnfair.com/exhibit/apply-for-a-stand
Autumn Fair 2026 takes place 6–9 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.
