Aquaculture UK moves to Glasgow
Event says farewell to Aviemore after site is earmarked for construction
Fish farming trade show Aquaculture UK is moving from Aviemore to Glasgow, organiser Diversified Communications announced today.
The next edition of the biennial show will take place on June 16-17, 2026, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Scotland’s biggest city.
“For many years, Aviemore and, in particular, the Macdonald Resort, has been a wonderful host, providing a unique and memorable experience for everyone who has attended the show,” said Diversified Communications.
However, with planned building development taking place on the land Aquaculture UK occupies, an alternative long-term base had to be found, and the overriding feedback received from both exhibitors and visitors in post-event surveys was that Glasgow offered the best location.
More accommodation
The city offers a wider range of accommodation and improved transport links, making it more accessible for national and international attendees and enabling the continued evolution of the show to match the growth of the sector, Diversified said in a press release.
It added that the past two editions of Aquaculture UK in the Scottish Highlands had been stretched to capacity due to the increasing demand for exhibition space and attendance at the popular Aquaculture Awards presentation dinner. As a result, relocating to a bigger venue had become inevitable for the event’s continued success and future growth.
“This decision hasn’t been made lightly. We deeply value our time in Aviemore and are hugely grateful for the warm hospitality and beautiful surroundings that have helped make Aquaculture UK what it is today,” said Aquaculture UK director Cheri Arvonio.
“However, with no guarantee of availability in Aviemore, the move to Glasgow offers an exciting opportunity to welcome more participants, provide an even more enriching experience and strengthen collaboration within the global aquaculture community. The relocation has also allowed us to secure the prestigious Hilton Hotel to host the Aquaculture Awards. Offering a stunning backdrop, the larger venue will accommodate the huge demand for places to join the industry’s most important celebration.”
A great place for business
Tara McGregor-Woodhams, chief sales and marketing officer of regular exhibitor Ace Aquatec, said: “We’ve been a proud supporter of Aquaculture UK for years and we’re delighted that Glasgow has been selected as the host city for 2026. It’s a great place to do business, make new connections with suppliers and vendors, and network with industry peers.”
Martin Winkel Lilleoere, head of fish tech at the Danish Export Association, is also supportive of the move.
“We have organised the Pavilion of Denmark at Aquaculture UK for several years and we are excited about the move to Glasgow, which will help the exhibition evolve further as interest is known to be high, both among visitors and exhibitors,” he said. “We are confident that the team behind Aquaculture UK will do their utmost to ensure many great editions of Aquaculture UK going forward.”
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) features:
- the SEC Centre (previously known as the SECC), which offers five interconnected exhibition and meeting spaces;
- the 3,000-seat SEC Armadillo;
- the OVO Hydro, a 14,300-capacity concert, sporting and special events arena.
It is not the first time Diversified Communications has moved a seafood event. It also owns Seafood Expo Global, which is probably the world's largest seafood trade show and was held in Brussels, Belgium, up to and including 2019.
Diversified successfully transferred the event to Barcelona, Spain, for the same reasons that it has moved Aquaculture UK: more exhibition space, and more accommodation and restaurants in the city for visitors.
