Spring Fair, the UK’s definitive showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, today unveils The Hidden Forum, a brand-new, executive stage launching at Spring Fair 2026, with confirmed speakers including TV Dragon and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis; Ray Clacher, CEO of Morleys Department Stores; and Koreen Fader, CEO of QVC UK. Designed for candid, high-level dialogue, The Hidden Forum creates a rare space for senior retail leaders to speak openly, think deeply and shape the future of the industry away from the noise of the show floor.

Situated at the back of Hall 5 and deliberately intimate and editorial in format, The Hidden Forum strips content back to its most powerful form: one leader, one interviewer, one meaningful conversation. Each day, a single Power Talk will take place behind closed doors, offering audiences unparalleled access to the thinking, experience and strategic insight of retail’s most influential figures.

This new stage marks a bold evolution of Spring Fair’s content programme, introducing a level of exclusivity and depth never before seen at the show. Created for decision-makers, founders and C-suite leaders, The Hidden Forum is where retail’s biggest questions are explored with honesty, nuance and authority, and where conversations don’t just reflect the industry, but help move it forward.

“With The Hidden Forum, we wanted to create something fundamentally different,” says Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director, Spring Fair. “Retail leaders are navigating extraordinary levels of change, and the conversations that matter most require focus, depth and honesty. The Hidden Forum has been created to elevate those conversations, giving senior leaders a space to challenge thinking, share real-world experience and explore the decisions shaping retail right now. It’s about moving beyond surface-level insight and bringing meaningful, executive-level dialogue to the heart of Spring Fair.”

Power Talks at The Hidden Forum

Over three days, The Hidden Forum will host a series of exclusive Power Talks, each offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how some of retail’s most influential leaders are navigating transformation, growth and long-term relevance.