About The Dairy Show
Held on a single day each autumn at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, The Dairy Show is a working event for the dairy farming industry. It is organised by the Royal Bath & West of England Society, whose showground provides both the cattle lines and the trade stand areas.
The format combines cattle showing with a large trade exhibition. Competitive classes bring breeders and their animals to the showground, and they draw farmers who come as much to see the cattle and meet their peers as to talk to suppliers. That mix gives the event a sociable, practical atmosphere that differs from a conventional indoor trade fair.
Visitors are dairy farmers, herd managers, farm staff, vets, nutritionists and advisers, with a strong representation from the South West of England, one of the UK's main dairy regions. Trade stands cover the products and services that dairy businesses buy, from feed and nutrition and milking equipment to animal health, genetics, machinery, buildings and professional services. The organiser cites around 14,800 square metres of trade stand space. An Agri-Forum provides a setting for discussion of issues affecting the industry.
For suppliers, the appeal is the concentration of working farm businesses in one place on one day. Visitors tend to arrive with specific decisions in mind, and many are owners or managers who can act on what they see. A day at the show can therefore do a great deal of relationship building that would otherwise take many farm visits.
Next edition
The Dairy Show 2027: what to expect
The Royal Bath & West of England Society has already set the date for the next Dairy Show: Wednesday 6 October 2027 at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet. The organiser lists show hours of 8.30am to 5pm and says tickets will go on sale in mid 2027. It cites around 14,800 square metres of trade stand space.
Further details, including sponsors and the competition schedule, have not yet been published. Suppliers hoping for a good position should contact the trade stands team early, since a one-day event leaves no room to recover from a late or awkward pitch. Plan for autumn weather on any outdoor element, and keep a sheltered seating area for farmers who want to talk business between cattle classes.