Scale ModelWorld 2026: Dates, Tickets and Travel

Scale ModelWorld, usually called SMW, is the big annual show for scale modellers in the UK. The 2026 show takes place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November at The International Centre in Telford, Shropshire. An adult day ticket costs £25, children under 16 get in free with a paying adult, and members of IPMS UK, the organisation that runs the show, enter free on showing their membership card. As of October 2026, those are the prices and dates published on the show’s website.

Dates and opening times

Day	Public opening hours
Saturday 7 November	10:00 to 18:00
Sunday 8 November	10:00 to 16:00

IPMS members can go in one hour earlier than the public on each day. Sunday closes two hours before Saturday, so if you can only manage one day, Saturday gives you the longer visit.

Ticket prices and who gets in free

Ticket type	Cost	What you need to know
Adult day ticket	£25	Buy online before the day
Under 16s	Free	Two free places for each paying adult, with no ticket needed
Disabled visitors	Free carer place	The show lists one free place for an accompanying carer. Check the current terms before you go
IPMS members	Free	Show your membership card at the door

What is on

The show describes itself as the world’s greatest fine scale model show, and the list of highlights is long:

More than 100 traders
Over 190 displays from model clubs and special interest groups
An overseas area with clubs and traders from abroad
Thousands of models on show
A well-known competition
Talks and demonstrations

The show says the programme is still to be confirmed. Check the official site in late October or early November for the final list of talks and demonstrations, so you can plan your day around them.

If you collect historical figures, it helps to know how figures are sized before you buy. Many 1/32 figures are commonly described as 54mm tall, but manufacturers do not measure in the same way, and a figure’s height can vary by as much as 30 per cent from the scale it is sold as. Wikipedia’s entry on figure scale explains the common sizes and why they differ. When you compare figures from different makers at the show, put them side by side rather than relying on the label.

Getting there by car

The International Centre is at St Quentin Gate, Telford, TF3 4JH, and that postcode works well in a sat nav. The show’s travel page says the venue has over 1,500 car park spaces on site. It does not state the parking charge, so check the current price before you set off, especially if you are arriving on the Saturday morning.

The show’s own estimates for the drive are about 45 minutes from Birmingham, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Manchester and about 2 hours 15 minutes from London. Traffic on the M54 can add time, so leave a margin if you need to be in the hall for the 10:00 opening.

The travel page gives directions from the M6 north, the M6 Toll and the M6 south. Join the M54 at the junction that suits your route, head west to junction 4, take the second exit and follow the signs for the show.

Getting there by train

Regular trains run to Telford from Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. The venue is just over a mile from Telford Central station, which is a few minutes by taxi. The show says a free minibus may run from the station, but it had not been confirmed when the page was last updated, so ask the organisers before you plan to rely on it.

Check journey times and fares on National Rail Enquiries before you travel.

Tips for a first visit

Buy tickets online in advance. Tickets can be bought online, so you can settle the cost before the day.
Bring your membership card if you are an IPMS member, or you will pay the adult price.
Make a shortlist of traders. With more than 100 on the floor, a list of the stalls you want to visit helps you cover the ground without doubling back.
Plan for a long day on your feet. A show of this size means hours of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.

Key points

Scale ModelWorld 2026 runs at The International Centre, Telford, on 7 November (10:00 to 18:00) and 8 November (10:00 to 16:00).
Adult day tickets cost £25. Under-16s go free with a paying adult, and IPMS members enter free with a membership card.
The venue has over 1,500 on-site parking spaces. Check the charge before you go.
Telford Central station is just over a mile away, and a free minibus may run, but this is not confirmed.
The programme of talks and demonstrations is still to be confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

When is Scale ModelWorld 2026? It runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 at The International Centre in Telford.

How much are tickets? An adult day ticket costs £25 as of October 2026. Children under 16 get in free with a paying adult, and IPMS members get in free with their membership card.

What time does the show open? The public can enter from 10:00 on both days. The show closes at 18:00 on Saturday and 16:00 on Sunday. IPMS members can enter one hour earlier.

Is there parking at the venue? Yes. The show says there are over 1,500 spaces on site. The show’s pages do not give the parking charge, so check it before you travel.

Can I get there by train? Yes. Trains run to Telford from Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. Telford Central station is just over a mile from the venue, and a taxi takes a few minutes.

Is the show programme final? Not yet. The show says the programme is still to be confirmed, so check the official site closer to the date.

If you enjoy painting and displaying historical figures, RDG Miniatures makes hand-cast resin figure kits and dioramas in 1/32 and 75mm, and you can get in touch with the team through the website if you want to talk about a particular subject.