GroundsFest returned for its fourth year in 2026, and has grown into THE industry event!
Brad attended this year on behalf of the GroundsFest Academy, giving him the opportunity to meet people from across the industry and get a first-hand look at how the event has developed.
This year’s visitors came from a wide range of backgrounds, including groundscare, landscaping, parks, facilities management, and sports clubs. There was also a strong presence from high-end sporting venues and facilities.
The event was busy throughout, with a really positive atmosphere across the site. GroundsFest is a practical event, so, as well as speaking directly with manufacturers, suppliers and other industry professionals, visitors could watch live demonstrations and get involved with equipment and products for themselves.
A big part of our time at the GroundsFest Academy stand was spent speaking to visitors about the training and education available through the Academy. We were able to introduce people to the newly launched Pitch Playabilty Inspection Course and explain how it can help grounds professionals build their knowledge and take a more informed approach to assessing playing surfaces.
It was also a good opportunity to raise awareness of the GroundsFest Academy more generally. We spoke to people at different stages of their careers about the training available and how the Academy can support continued learning within the industry.
Feedback from the people we spoke to across the event was extremely positive. Visitors spoke about the range of things to see and do, and exhibitors said GroundsFest had given them a valuable opportunity to engage not only with potential customers, but with fellow exhibitors and other people working across the sector.
After four years of significant growth, GroundsFest is establishing itself as one of the major dates in the industry calendar. With a huge number of people attending in 2026 and such a broad mix of visitors and exhibitors taking part, it has become an event that many people now see as one they don’t want to miss.
For IGFH, it was great to be part of another successful year and to catch up with so many people from across the industry.
You can learn more about GroundsFest Academy here: https://groundsfestacademy.com
GroundsFest 2027 will take place on the 15th and 16th September. Keep an eye out for tickets here: https://groundsfest.com