Last updated: 29 September 2026

Looking for UK reptile shows, amphibian events, breeders meetings and herpetology conferences in 2026 and 2027?

This guide brings together confirmed UK reptile and amphibian events, scientific meetings and selected crossover events that may also be useful to exotic animal and bioactive vivarium keepers.

We check organiser websites wherever possible rather than relying on estimated dates circulating on social media. Events are added to the 2027 calendar as organisers confirm them.

Important: Dates, venues, opening times and ticket arrangements can change. Always check the linked organiser page before travelling.

UK Reptile & Amphibian Events – Quick Dates

More 2027 dates will be added as organisers publish their calendars. In particular, the main IHS breeders-meeting dates should not be treated as confirmed until published by the organiser.

Remaining UK Reptile & Herpetology Events in 2026

11 October 2026 – BHS / Thames & Chilterns Herpetological Group Joint Meeting

The British Herpetological Society and Thames & Chilterns Herpetological Group joint meeting takes place at the Amersham Community Centre within Chilterns Lifestyle Centre.

• Date: Sunday 11 October 2026
• Time: 1:00 pm–6:00 pm
• Location: Amersham
• Type: Herpetology meeting

This is more of an educational and herpetological meeting than a conventional reptile sales show and is likely to be particularly relevant to keepers interested in reptile and amphibian biology, conservation and responsible husbandry.

Official information: British Herpetological Society upcoming events.

17–18 October 2026 – European Turtle Alliance Conference

The 2026 European Turtle Alliance Conference is being held at Writtle University College.

• Dates: Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2026
• Saturday: 9:30 am onwards
• Location: Writtle University College
• Type: Specialist turtle and tortoise conference

This is a specialist event rather than a general reptile show, but it is particularly relevant to keepers, breeders and professionals interested in chelonian husbandry, welfare and conservation.

Official information: BHS events calendar.

28 November 2026 – ARC / BHS Joint Scientific Meeting

The annual Amphibian and Reptile Conservation / British Herpetological Society Joint Scientific Meeting returns to Bournemouth in November.

• Date: Saturday 28 November 2026
• Time: 10:00 am–4:30 pm
• Venue: Bournemouth Natural Science Society
• Address: 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3NS
• Type: Amphibian and reptile science and conservation meeting

The Joint Scientific Meeting focuses on the biology and ecology of amphibians and reptiles and is useful for anyone interested in evidence-based herpetology rather than simply buying animals or equipment.

Official information: ARC / BHS Joint Scientific Meeting.

12 December 2026 – Venom Day

Venom Day is listed on the British Herpetological Society calendar for December 2026 at Bangor University.

• Date: Saturday 12 December 2026
• Time: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
• Venue: Bangor University
• Type: Specialist venom and herpetology event

This is a specialist educational event rather than a reptile sales show.

Official information: British Herpetological Society upcoming events.

Confirmed UK Reptile & Herpetology Events in 2027

6–7 February 2027 – Herpetofauna Workers Meeting

The Herpetofauna Workers Meeting 2027 will be held at the University of Salford and is organised by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK).

• Dates: Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 February 2027
• Start: Saturday at 9:00 am
• Finish: Sunday at 5:00 pm
• Venue: University of Salford
• Location: Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT
• Type: Talks, workshops, conservation and herpetology conference

The Herpetofauna Workers Meeting has been running for more than 30 years and typically attracts conservationists, researchers, students, volunteer surveyors, academics and members of local amphibian and reptile groups.

Importantly, you do not need to be a professional herpetologist to attend. The organisers describe the meeting as suitable for everyone from novices and students through to experienced researchers.

Official information: Herpetofauna Workers Meeting 2027 – ARC.

20–21 February 2027 – AHH / BHS Drayton Manor Conference

The AHH / BHS Drayton Manor Conference returns in February 2027.

• Dates: Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 February 2027
• Venue: Drayton Manor Park Hotel
• Type: Captive reptile and amphibian husbandry conference

This annual event has a strong focus on the care and husbandry of captive reptiles and amphibians, making it particularly relevant to serious private keepers, breeders, zoological professionals and anyone interested in improving welfare standards.

The event normally combines presentations with practical workshops and opportunities to meet other keepers and professionals.

Official information: British Herpetological Society upcoming events.

IHS Reptile Shows & Breeders Meetings 2027

The International Herpetological Society (IHS) runs some of the best-known reptile and amphibian breeders meetings in the UK.

These are traditional table-style events where visitors can meet private breeders and specialist keepers alongside sellers of equipment and dry goods.

They are therefore quite different from scientific conferences such as the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting.

At the time of this update, we are not publishing 2027 IHS dates until they can be confirmed against the organiser’s current calendar.

Dates sometimes appear on third-party show calendars before the IHS has formally published its programme. Rather than risk sending visitors to Blackpool on the wrong weekend, this page will be updated when the dates are confirmed by the organiser.

Check for new dates: IHS Breeders Meetings / Shows.

What are IHS Breeders Meetings like?

IHS meetings typically attract reptile and amphibian breeders, specialist hobbyists and dry-goods traders.

If you are researching dart frogs, geckos or other exotic species, a breeders meeting can be a useful opportunity to speak directly to keepers before making a decision.

Do not assume that an animal being available at a show means it is suitable for your setup. Research the species and prepare its enclosure and food supply before attending.

British Tarantula Society Exhibition 2027

The British Tarantula Society Exhibition is an invertebrate exhibition rather than a reptile show, but it remains relevant to many bioactive vivarium keepers.

The BTS has announced that its 40th Exhibition will take place at the Warwickshire Event Centre in May 2027.

However, the current organiser page contains inconsistent date information, so we are not publishing an exact May date until the organiser corrects or confirms it.

• Year: 2027
• Edition: 40th BTS Exhibition
• Venue: Warwickshire Event Centre
• Public opening: advertised as 11:00 am–4:00 pm
• Exact date: awaiting clear organiser confirmation

You can expect tarantulas and other invertebrates alongside specialist equipment, books, artwork and trade stands.

Official organiser page: 40th British Tarantula Society Exhibition 2027.

For the much larger calendar of invert-specific events, see our UK Invertebrate Shows & Fairs guide.

What About AQUAH?

AQUAH has previously combined aquatics, reptiles, product displays, aquascaping and specialist trade exhibitors, giving it useful crossover appeal for paludarium and tropical vivarium keepers.

We are not currently adding an unconfirmed 2027 date to this calendar.

Once a future event is clearly published by the organiser, this section will be updated.

Official site: AQUAH.

Reptile Shows vs Herpetology Conferences – What’s the Difference?

Not every event on this page is a reptile show in the traditional sense.

Breeders meetings and reptile shows are generally focused on captive animals, breeders, equipment and hobbyist networking.

Herpetology conferences tend to focus more heavily on research, conservation, welfare, veterinary science and evidence-based husbandry.

For experienced keepers, the latter can sometimes be considerably more valuable than a shopping-focused event. Understanding new research and improving husbandry should always come before acquiring another animal.

Planning to Buy Dart Frogs at a Reptile Show?

Many keepers attend reptile shows intending to buy equipment and leave with animals as well. That is not automatically a problem, but amphibians should never be an impulse purchase.

Before buying dart frogs at a show, you should already have:

• a fully established vivarium
• reliable fruit fly cultures
• a quarantine plan
• appropriate heating, lighting and humidity control
• a proven supplementation routine
• a safe way to transport the animals home

One of the most common mistakes after reptile shows is buying frogs before the food and supplementation routine is ready. Dart frogs need regular access to appropriately sized live foods and consistent vitamin and mineral supplementation.

For keepers looking to simplify supplementation, our All-in-One Vitamin & Mineral Dust is the single-powder system we use at Frogfather for lightly dusting small feeder insects.

You can also browse our captive-bred dart frogs and research different species before attending a show.

Questions to Ask a Frog Breeder at a Show

A good breeder should be happy to answer sensible questions about the animals they are offering.

Useful questions include:

• How old are the frogs?
• Were they captive bred?
• How long have they been feeding independently?
• What are they currently eating?
• What supplements are being used?
• What temperatures are they currently kept at?
• Are the frogs related?
• Is locality or lineage information available?
• Are there any species-specific care requirements I should know about?

Do not feel pressured to buy simply because a species is difficult to find. It is better to go home without an animal than to buy something you are not properly prepared to keep.

Show-Day Biosecurity Tips

Reptile and invert shows are exciting, but they also bring together animals, plants, substrates, equipment and keepers from many different collections.

Basic biosecurity is worth taking seriously.

• Quarantine new animals before adding them to established setups.
• Keep show tubs separate from your main frog-room equipment.
• Do not share transport containers between animals from different sources.
• Inspect plants carefully before adding them to bioactive vivariums.
• Wash your hands between handling animals, tubs, plants and equipment.
• Avoid mixing species or morphs without a proper long-term plan.

If you buy plants at reptile, invert or tropical plant shows, quarantine and clean them before putting them into an established frog enclosure.

For more on enclosure stability, see our guide to why some dart frog vivariums crash after 6–12 months.

Other UK Show Calendars

If you’re planning your show calendar for the year, we also maintain separate guides for specialist events that overlap with the bioactive and exotic-animal hobby:

• UK Invertebrate Shows & Fairs
• UK Orchid Shows & Events

These are maintained separately so that this reptile and amphibian guide does not become overwhelmed by dozens of invert, plant and orchid events.

Related Frogfather Guides

• Where Not to Buy Frogs in the UK: Red Flags, Risks and Common Scams
• Frogs for Sale in the UK: How to Buy Responsibly and What to Avoid
• What to Expect When You Receive Dart Frogs by Courier
• How to Quarantine Dart Frogs Properly in the UK
• Dart Frog Supplementation Guide
• The Real Difference Between Cheap and Premium Dart Frog Vivariums

UK Reptile & Amphibian Shows – Frequently Asked Questions

When are the next UK reptile and amphibian events?

From 29 September 2026, confirmed forthcoming events include the BHS / Thames & Chilterns joint meeting on 11 October, the European Turtle Alliance Conference on 17–18 October, the ARC / BHS Joint Scientific Meeting on 28 November and Venom Day on 12 December. Confirmed 2027 events already include the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting on 6–7 February and the AHH / BHS Drayton Manor Conference on 20–21 February.

Are there UK reptile shows in 2027?

Yes. UK herpetology events are already being announced for 2027. Some major breeders-meeting calendars are still awaiting publication, so this guide only adds exact dates once they can be checked against a reliable organiser source.

Are live reptiles and amphibians sold at UK reptile shows?

Some breeders meetings and reptile events allow captive-bred reptiles and amphibians to be offered by exhibitors. Scientific conferences and specialist educational meetings generally do not operate as animal sales events. Always check the rules for the individual event.

Can you buy dart frogs at UK reptile shows?

Sometimes. Availability depends on the event and the breeders attending. Research the species beforehand and make sure the vivarium, food cultures, quarantine arrangements and supplementation routine are ready before buying frogs.

Are dart frogs legal to keep in the UK?

Many captive-bred dart frog species are legally kept in the UK. Documentation and regulatory requirements can vary by species and circumstances, so buy from a responsible source and check any requirements relevant to the particular species.

Are invertebrates included in this calendar?

Only selected crossover events are included. Frogfather maintains a separate UK invertebrate show calendar because there are enough dedicated invert events to justify their own guide.

Do I need to book reptile-show tickets in advance?

It depends on the organiser. Some events use advance ticketing, while others accept payment at the door. Check the official organiser website immediately before travelling.

What should I bring if I plan to buy an animal?

Take suitable secure transport containers and consider the temperature during your journey. If conditions are too hot or too cold to transport an animal safely, do not buy one simply because it is available.

Where should I check for last-minute changes?

Always check the organiser’s official website, social-media account or ticket page before setting off. Dates, venues, entry arrangements and event rules can change.