A new trade show for the kitchen and bathroom design sector, KBX, will launch at the Business Design Centre in Islington on 15–17 September 2027. It was announced on 6 November 2026 and is being set up by the team behind the kitchen and bathroom trade publication designerati, working with the event organiser The Assembly. If you organise or exhibit at design and specification events in London, it adds another three-day show to the September calendar and a new option for brands that want to meet architects and designers rather than only retail buyers.
What KBX is and who it is for
KBX describes itself as a new annual event for the kitchen, bathroom and interior specification sectors. Its own website says it is aimed at architects, interior designers, specifiers, developers and retailers, and the launch announcement adds housebuilders and people working on residential, hospitality and commercial projects. The show’s name on its website is the Kitchen & Bathroom Xpo.
The partner list on the KBX website already includes manufacturers Quooker, Sonas, Blanco, Haier, 1810, Miele, Roman, next125, Schock, Rotpunkt and Kitchen Ex. Industry bodies listed include the Bathroom Association, the KBSA, the British Institute of Fitted Interiors Specialists and the Society of British & International Interior Design, alongside trade media partners such as designerati, KBB Focus and Installerinsight.
A different way of selling to exhibitors
The part most likely to interest other organisers is the commercial model. According to the announcement, KBX will not simply sell stand space. It will work with a limited number of invited brands on 12-month programmes that combine marketing campaigns, editorial content and introductions to specifiers before and after the show. The KBX website describes this as a year-round programme of marketing, content and industry engagement, with the three-day event in the middle of it.
Michael Dynan, co-founder of The Assembly, said: “At The Assembly, we believe the live event should be the pinnacle of a much bigger relationship, not the beginning and end of it.” Dynan has previously worked on Clerkenwell Design Week, UK Construction Week, 100% Design and Grand Designs Live. Clara Perry, publisher of designerati and founder of KBX, said the aim is “to create a relevant, industry-led event that reflects the ambition of the sector and helps move it forward”. The Assembly’s other events include HairCon, The Jewellery Show, CrimeCon UK and Craftworks, according to its own website.
For exhibitors, this means the decision is closer to buying a year-long campaign than a stand, so it is worth asking what audience data, content and introductions are included before comparing the cost with a conventional space-only show.
What will be on at the show
The KBX features page lists:
- The Kitchen of Tomorrow, an installation with Quooker showing emerging technology, robotics, intelligent appliances and new materials
- The FutureKitchen Conference, a research-led conference, also with Quooker
- KBX Wellness, a hands-on showcase of wellness technology for kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces
- KBX Stage, a programme of talks, keynotes and interviews
- The X-Over Bar, a networking space
The Designerati Awards, now in their 26th year, will take place at the show on Thursday 16 September 2027.
Why the Business Design Centre
The Business Design Centre is a 4 minute walk from Angel on the Northern line, close to the Clerkenwell design district, which suits a show built around architects and interior designers. Charlotte Barker, head of venue sales at the Business Design Centre, said the venue looks forward to “building a long-term relationship with the team”.
The venue’s own figures give the Mezzanine, its main hall under the arched glass roof, 2,500 m² and a 1,500 standing capacity, with the Gallery Hall and Atrium adding 1,400 m² and a 500-seat Auditorium for conference sessions. For a launch show, that puts the exhibition, a conference programme and smaller sessions under one roof. The building has been owned by Excel London since 2024. Our Business Design Centre profile has the full room table, loading bay details and travel information.
KBX joins other design and building-sector shows choosing London venues for 2027, including UK Construction Week London, which brings nine shows together at Excel London in May 2027. If you are planning your own event in the capital, compare London conference and exhibition venues and see our guide to choosing a business event venue.
Sources
- KBX tickets and location page, partners page and features page, checked 7 November 2026
- Exhibition News, 6 November 2026, for the launch announcement and quotes
- The Assembly’s website, for its other events
- Business Design Centre spaces pages, via our venue profile
