This year’s Brand Licensing Europe kicks off in just six days, running from Tuesday to Thursday, September 20-22 at ExCeL London. Attendees can register for a free ticket at brandlicensing.eu and immediately start requesting meetings with over 220 exhibiting companies and planning their diary so they don’t miss out.
“BLE is packed with content this year, so here’s my list of 22 things to see and do for BLE ’22, which includes everything from our Fashion Theme to our Sustainability & DEI day on Thursday, 220+ brands, thousands of IPs ready for license, a spotlight on France, daily keynotes, networking drinks and much, much more,” said Anna Knight, SVP Licensing, Informa Markets. “We can’t wait to see everyone at the show next week — please do stop and say hello!”
1. NEW! Culture & Unity Catwalk – Thursday 10:00, Catwalk
BLE’s Culture & Unity catwalk show is an unmissable showstopper with Black and LGBT+ designers, fashion, models and crew — some fresh from London Fashion Week to inspire your new product range to be more inclusive. Don’t miss DJ Longers — DJ to Cardi B and Idris Elba — playing Afro beat and hip hop.
2. NEW! Are you a Barbie girl? – Tuesday 13:00, License Global Theatre
A very special opening day keynote — Barbie x Fashion — delivered by Richard Dickson, President and COO at Mattel.
3. Get in character – Tuesday 15:30 & Wednesday 11:30
The character parade, featuring the likes of The Snowman, Smurfs, Batman, Peter Rabbit, Pip & Posy and The Gruffalo, will hop, skip and plod through the hall for their annual photo opp. Make sure to get a selfie with your favorite characters and tag #BLE2022!
4. NEW! It’s easy going green – all three days
The BLE & POC Sustainability Café will recycle materials from last year’s Sustainability Activation and showcase sustainable consumer products and fashion lines from 12 brands, including Primark, The Eden Project, WasteBuster, Smiley, Wow! Stuff & RSPB, Hasbro & Asda, The Smurfs & Pure Top Table, and Discovery.
5. NEW! Time to be SustainaBLE – Thursday 12:30, Catwalk
Products of Change, with United Nations and Junk Kouture, present an educational and inspiring catwalk show with presentations and performances centered on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Junk Couture will host an exclusive catwalk presenting recycled fashion designed and modelled by 13- to 18-year-old students.
6. NEW! Daily keynotes – 13:00 every day, License Global Theatre
For the first time ever, there’s a BLE keynote on every day!
- Tuesday: Barbie x Fashion: Richard Dickson, President and COO at Mattel
- Wednesday: Leaders Panel: Building a Post-Pandemic Retail & Licensing Strategy
- Thursday: Panel Discussion: The Good Fight: How Purpose Breeds Success
7. Celebrate the licensing rising stars – finale at 10:30-12:00 Thursday, License Global Theatre
8. NEW! Free orientation sessions and show tours – 12:00 Tuesday and 09:30 Wednesday, License Global Theatre
New to BLE and/or licensing? Join the BLE team for free orientation sessions and show tours to help get the most from your visit.
9. NEW! Strike a Pose! – Tuesday 17:30 Mattel / Wednesday 12:30 SEGA
Don’t miss spectacular dedicated catwalk shows, hosted by Mattel and SEGA, showcasing how Barbie and Sonic the Hedgehog have come to life through fashion collaborations.
10. Exclusive retailer competition to win £500 of spa vouchers in the Retail Lounge
An exclusive lounge for retailers to meet, relax and recharge as well as talk to the BLE team about taking part in next year’s popular Retail Mentoring Program. Also — NEW for 2022 — take part in our competition to create a brand licensing program for Carte Blanche’s Tatty Teddy and you could win £500 of Champneys Spa vouchers.
11. Character & entertainment brands and IP
Thousands of brands specializing in character and entertainment IP will be on the show floor, from Warner Bros. with The Batman and Hasbro with Peppa Pig to WildBrain CPLG and Peanuts, Banijay Brands with Peaky Blinders, BBC Studios and Bluey, Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep, IMPS with The Smurfs, Crunchyroll with Dragon Ball Z and many more.
12. NEW! Know it all? – all three days License Global Theatre
This year’s educational program goes way beyond our daily keynotes to touch on topics including creative design, supply chain challenges, the impact of consumer trends on the future of retail, Location Based Experiences, new age consumer spending, sports licensing and a sustainability case study with Hasbro. Arrive early to claim a seat — access is first-come-first-serve and free to attend.
13. Product showcases – every day
Don’t miss the inspiring branded fashion products in showcases next to the BLE Catwalk as well as dressing up this year’s BLE entrances.
14. Free advice from Products of Change – every day in the PoC Lounge
Meet the entire PoC team — Helena, Rob and PoC ambassadors — who will run free drop-in sustainability clinics and member meetups. Stand #F211.
15. Brands & lifestyle – brands and IP
The FA, Transport for London, Tour de France, RSPB, Van Gogh Museum, UEFA Champions League, Marie-Antoinette, The Beatles, Absolut, Billie Eilish, Heinz Beanz, Pringles, Peperami, Federation Francaise de Football and Elton John are just some of the amazing brands to discover in our Brands & Lifestyle zone.
16. NEW! Vive La France! – 2022 country spotlight
BLE is introducing an annual Country Spotlight starting in 2022 with France, where the licensing market is valued at $6.7 billion. Don’t miss the French-themed Opening Night Party and the chance to meet with many exhibiting French brands and agents including Asterix, Tour de France, & Dakar, ChefClub, Ubisoft, Crunchyroll, Sophie La Girafe, Cyber Group Studios, Bandai Namco Europe, Le Petit Prince and many more. And be sure to check out French Community Drinks from 17:30-18:00 on the BLE bar.
17. Art, design and image Licensing Zone brands and IP
Meet the winners of last year’s Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition — Joel Mercer and Sophie Jonas-Hill — plus exciting artists and illustrators including V&A Photography, Frida Kahlo and more.
18. A sporting life!
Don’t miss the huge array of sport brands in our Brands & Lifestyle Zone, including AC Milan, Admiral Sportswear, Chelsea FC, DFB German Football Association, Dorna Sports (Moto GP), FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, FC Porto, Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol, Formula E, Manchester City FC, McLaren, Rugby World Cup 2023, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, The FA, Tour de France, UEFA Club Competitions and WWE.
19. Cheers!
Mix and mingle for a celebratory drink at one of our networking events:
- France Licensing Day Launch: Tuesday, September 20, 17:30, BLE Bar
- Opening Night Drinks: Tuesday, September 20, 18:00-20:00, BLE Bar & Motul Bar
- Exhibitor [only] Drinks: Wednesday, September 21, 18:00-20:00, Novotel
20. Aaaand relax…
The Wellness Lounge returns for attendees to enjoy some quiet space to work or take a break from the show floor. Water refill stations available.
21. The queen of arrivals…
Don’t forget that the Elizabeth line has now opened, making it quicker and easier than ever to get to ExCeL from east, west and central London. For information on travelling to ExCeL, click here.
22. NEW! Reimagined Licensing U program
Brilliant online and in-person content for BLE attendees from Licensing International, plus speed networking and mentoring (note there’s a cap of just 250 tickets for in-person content).
Please note: new show opening hours – 12-6 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday. Find out more and register for a free ticket today at brandlicensing.eu.
