WTM London 2026 runs from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 November at ExCeL London. World Travel Market is one of the biggest trade shows in travel. In 2025 it welcomed 46,500 attendees from 182 countries and hosted more than 40,000 pre-booked business meetings.
This guide covers tickets, meetings, travel, and accommodation, with practical tips to help tour operators and DMCs get the most from three busy days at ExCeL.
When and where is WTM London 2026?
WTM London 2026 takes place from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 November 2026 at ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL.
- Doors open at 9.30am each day.
- The show closes at 6pm on 3 and 4 November and at 5pm on 5 November. The final day is often quieter, which suits longer conversations.
- Trade visitor tickets start at £79 plus VAT. Qualified buyers attend free.
- The closest station is Prince Regent on the DLR, next to ExCeL's East Entrance.
- Tourwriter is on stand S17-322.
How do you get a ticket for WTM London 2026?
Book online through the official WTM London tickets page. For the first time, WTM London charges for visitor tickets from the day registration opens. Trade visitor tickets start at £79 plus VAT, and the price rises to £99 during show week.
Qualified buyers still attend free. If your business meets WTM's buyer criteria, you are approved automatically and receive a complimentary ticket. Media and ministers can also apply for complimentary badges.
Key ticket points
- Each attendee needs their own email address to receive a badge.
- Badges arrive by email about two weeks before the show. Check your junk folder if yours has not arrived.
- Print your badge before you travel. There is no badge printing at ExCeL.
- Admission is by advance online booking only.
- The exhibition halls are open to visitors aged 16 and over.
Tourwriter customers and anyone considering Tourwriter can contact our team about free badges for WTM London 2026.
In London for the show and need a desk? Tourwriter would love to host you at our office on the Strand, with free-flowing barista coffee and comfortable working space.
How do you book meetings at WTM London?
Pre-booked meetings are where WTM London pays off. In 2025, confirmed business meetings rose 16% to more than 40,000, and organisers credit the show with over £2.2 billion in business deals.
Meetings are booked through WTM Connect Me, the show's meeting platform. Exhibitors, vetted buyers, and media get access with their badge. Trade visitors can add it with the Trade Plus upgrade, which costs from £499 and includes up to 30 meetings and early entry from 9am.
How WTM Connect Me works
- Complete your profile in full.
- Search for contacts by region, product, or service.
- Send meeting requests early, as slots fill fast.
- Build your schedule and sync it to your phone.
- Arrive on time at ExCeL and follow up afterwards.
Tips for booking meetings
- Start requesting meetings as soon as you have access.
- Use a laptop for the portal. Filters are easier to manage on a bigger screen.
- Check your spam folder for meeting invitations.
- Book a meeting with Tourwriter on stand S17-322.
- Leave gaps between meetings for chance conversations, coffee, and lunch.
Some users find the portal clunky, with slow logins and confusing filters. Start early and keep at it. On a standard trade ticket, email the people you want to see before the show and agree a time at their stand.
How do you get to ExCeL London for WTM?
ExCeL London sits on Royal Victoria Dock in east London, between Canary Wharf and London City Airport.
- DLR to Prince Regent, the station WTM recommends. It leads straight to the East Entrance.
- Elizabeth line to Custom House, for the West Entrance.
- Bus and river services also run to the Royal Docks.
Full directions are on the ExCeL London public transport page and in WTM's venue and travel guide. Check TfL service updates before you set off each morning.
Driving? ExCeL's Orange car park is open to pre-booked customers only during WTM. Book parking ahead and allow extra time, as traffic builds quickly in show week.
Where to stay during WTM London
Accommodation. Stay within walking distance of ExCeL if you can. It saves time and energy across three long days. WTM's hotel partner, HotelMap, lists rates near the venue and in central London on the WTM accommodation page.
Food. Start each day with a proper breakfast. ExCeL has food and drink on site, and the Docklands has plenty of restaurants for evening networking. Keep snacks to hand for long days. To treat yourself, take the Elizabeth line one stop to Canary Wharf and head to Roe at Wood Wharf for a Royale with Cheese and a look around one of London's newest neighbourhoods.
What is the WTM London 2026 theme?
The 2026 conference theme is resilience, rebound, and reinvention in the next era of global travel. Sessions run across six tracks in the WTM conference programme.
- Access covers travel connectivity, infrastructure, and barriers to movement.
- Growth looks at economic expansion, new markets, and commercial scale.
- Destination examines how places evolve and how they are managed and marketed.
- Innovation spotlights emerging technology, digital change, and future-facing ideas.
- Trust addresses security, traveller confidence, and ethical standards.
- Resilience explores crisis management, adaptability, and long-term sustainability.
New for 2026 is the WTM Wanderlust Headliner Stage, alongside the Trends Stage, Experience Hub, and Future Stage. WTM also presents its Global Travel Report at the show, and you can download the WTM Global Travel Report in advance.
Align your meetings and sessions with these tracks for more useful conversations at ExCeL.
Networking beyond the show floor
WTM week is full of chances to connect away from the stands. The Adventure Connection hosts its WTM Annual Networking Event on Wednesday 4 November, 6pm to 10pm, at Toca Social, The O2. Plenty of partnerships start over a drink.
On the Tourwriter stand, we are showing our new reporting and business intelligence tool for travel live for the first time, at 11am on Tuesday 3 November and 3pm on Wednesday 4 November. RSVP for a session.
How to make the most of WTM London
Before the show
- Set clear goals, such as meeting five potential partners or finding new technology.
- Study the WTM London floorplan.
- Research who you want to meet.
- Luxury tour operators and DMCs reviewing their technology can see how Tourwriter's tour operator software works, then book a meeting with Tourwriter.
During the show
- Wear comfortable shoes and drink plenty of water.
- Use gaps between meetings to explore the show floor.
- Note one follow-up action after every conversation, while it is fresh.
After the show
- Follow up within 48 hours.
- Connect on LinkedIn with a specific reference to your conversation.
- Log every new contact in your CRM and plan next steps.
For more on turning trade show conversations into bookings, read how to maximise your ROI at your next travel trade show.
Practical essentials for WTM London
Weather. London in early November is cool and often wet. Bring layers and a waterproof, and check the Met Office London forecast before you pack.
Accessibility. ExCeL offers step-free access, assistance points, accessible facilities, and hearing loops in the main theatres. WTM's inclusion and accessibility page has the details.
Entry. Book your badge in advance. Admission to WTM London is by advance online booking only.
Wi-Fi. ExCeL has Wi-Fi, though connections slow when the halls are full. Bring a charged phone and a battery pack.
Why tour operators and DMCs go to WTM London
WTM London keeps growing. The 2025 show was its biggest yet, with 182 countries represented, 5,500 buyers, and exhibitor numbers up 5%. Its Travel Tech region grew by more than half, a clear sign of how much attention technology now gets from the trade.
Each November the global travel trade meets at ExCeL to make deals, spot trends, and build the partnerships that shape the year ahead. Heading to more shows? Read our ITB Berlin planning guide and ILTM Cannes guide, and brush up on trade show terms with our travel trade show glossary.
Your WTM London 2026 action plan
- Book your WTM London ticket.
- Check whether you qualify as a buyer, or add Trade Plus for WTM Connect Me.
- Start booking meetings.
- Plan your travel to ExCeL and book accommodation.
- Set clear goals for the show.
- Arrive with energy and purpose.
- Follow up within 48 hours.
WTM London is where the global travel industry comes together for three days each November. Plan well, book meetings early, and arrive at ExCeL ready to talk.
WTM London 2026 FAQs
When is WTM London 2026?
WTM London 2026 runs from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 November 2026 at ExCeL London. Doors open at 9.30am each day. The show closes at 6pm on 3 and 4 November and at 5pm on 5 November.
Is WTM London free to attend?
WTM London is free for qualified buyers and complimentary for approved media and ministers. Since 2026, trade visitors pay from the day registration opens. Tickets start at £79 plus VAT and rise to £99 during show week.
Can you buy WTM London tickets at the door?
Admission is by advance online booking only, and there is no badge printing at ExCeL. Your badge arrives by email about two weeks before the show. Print it before you travel.
What is WTM Connect Me?
WTM Connect Me is the show's meeting booking platform. Exhibitors, vetted buyers, media, and Trade Plus ticket holders use it to search attendees and book meetings in advance. Trade Plus costs from £499 and includes up to 30 meetings.
What is the nearest station to WTM London?
Prince Regent on the DLR is the closest station for WTM London and leads to ExCeL's East Entrance. Custom House, on the Elizabeth line and DLR, serves the West Entrance.
Can children attend WTM London?
WTM London's exhibition halls are open to visitors aged 16 and over.
Where is Tourwriter at WTM London 2026?
Tourwriter is on stand S17-322. Book a meeting with the Tourwriter team or RSVP for a live session of our new reporting tool.
See you at WTM London. Book a meeting with the Tourwriter team on stand S17-322.
