Wednesday was one of those days that reminded me exactly why I love this industry.
Andy Candler rocked up to Learning Technologies 2026 wearing two hats — consultant by morning, community builder by afternoon. Here’s what he noticed when the dust settled.
I arrived at the Learning Technologies Show, at ExCeL London, figuratively wearing two hats, Aprendido and L&D Free Spirits, and physically wearing my Free Spirits cap.
Learning Technologies is not my go-to exhibition and, in fact, I had decided not to go this year, but a client wanted to meet me there, so I changed my mind the week before.
I always find the size and the noise overpowering, especially when I walk through the doors for the first time. I much prefer World of Learning where I feel it’s more about business and less about razzmatazz. But I think the organisers had heard this feedback as this time felt different.
The Morning: Guide Mode On
I spent the entire morning taking my new clients around the show. If you’ve never been to Learning Technologies before, it can be genuinely overwhelming. The dozens of vendors all competing for your attention. For a first-timer, it’s a lot.
So we went steady. I introduced them to the LMS companies worth speaking to, steered them away from the ones that wouldn’t be a good fit, and just generally helped them find their footing. What was really lovely to see was how quickly they grew in confidence. By the time we’d had the first couple of conversations together, they were off having their own discussions with providers independently. That’s the best possible outcome. My job was done and they left at lunchtime happy and in control of their learning destiny.
What I Noticed on the Floor
This year felt different. Quieter than usual. Some of the traditional “big-stand” vendors had noticeably smaller footprints, there was less crowding, seats were available to sit and have a coffee, and I didn’t see one Storm Trooper or robot. If I’m honest, I actually enjoyed it as a visitor for the first time.
In saying that, Kallidus went bigger than big. Their stand was one of the most eye-catching on the floor, themed around the “activity trap.” Arcade machines with big screens, finger traps as giveaways, a hook the rubber duck stand, and maybe 30 people looking after visitors. It was bright, busy, fun, and a smart way to get people actually engaging with the product rather than just listening to a pitch.
The freelancer ticket situation
This was a new one for me. People kept asking me “Did you pay for a ticket?” I overheard other conversations about people struggling to get free tickets and being asked to pay. When I tried to get my L&D Free Spirits ticket I had received exactly that email from the organisers, asking me to pay. Kim fixed this by getting me a ticket with an official email account.
As the day went on, it became clearer that the show had tightened up on freelancer access, with some people being charged £200 for entry. But the exhibitors all told me the same thing; the crowds were smaller, but the engagement was the same as usual, and the conversations were just as valuable. So maybe this change had made a big improvement for them. “Filtering out the wheat from the chaff” was a quote from one vendor I will not name, for obvious reasons.
My read is that maybe with fewer exhibitors and smaller stands, the organisers may have been under more financial pressure than usual. Or maybe they have purposely tried to get a different focus at the show for the benefit of the exhibitors. This is worth watching, for us freelancers, as a trend.
The Afternoon: Community Mode On
After my clients headed off, I switched my brain off a little and focussed on what I wanted to do. I spent some time networking with The Learning Network, wandered over to say hello to friends on various stands, and generally enjoyed the show at a slightly slower pace.
Kim always tells people to wear comfy shoes and socks. She’s right by the way, although even the best footwear only goes so far when you’re clocking up 9,000 steps in a day.
3pm: The Free Spirits Afternoon Tea
When I decided I was going to attend the show, I knew that by 3pm I was going to need a seat for a long rest. So I offered to host the Free Spirits Afternoon Tea on Kim’s behalf.
This was the highlight of the day, as far as I’m concerned. We gathered at Costa, I got there early and commandeered some tables as best I could in the crowds. Distributed a big bag of biscuits on the tables and waited for people to arrive. And they promptly did with 8 to 10 members and friends people pulling up a chair or standing around chatting.
We talked about what we all do, shared thoughts on the show, and caught up with each other. It was warm, relaxed, and genuinely enjoyable. And yes, sitting down for a good stretch after 4 miles of walking felt absolutely wonderful.
After a few of us put the World to rights, politically, we wrapped up at around 5:10. I’d had a plan to spend the late afternoon browsing the HR section of the show. I always enjoy it over there. It sits at enough of a distance from my own corner of the industry that the conversations feel fresher, and you often stumble across technologies and businesses you wouldn’t otherwise encounter. But at 5:10, the show was winding down and the moment had passed.
So I collected my suitcase from the cloakroom and headed to the local pub, where The Learning Network were holding their end-of-day social. I didn’t stay long, but it was a genuinely lovely way to close out the day. A chance to catch up with fellow members, and also to finally say hello to a few people who’d been stuck on stands all day and who I hadn’t managed to meet on the exhibition floor.
By 6:30 my body was sending a fairly clear message. I had just enough energy left to get myself home, which meant three tube trains, then the train down to Woking and a bus (thankfully) to nearly my doorstep. I was right to leave when I did. I got through the door at 8pm with my body battery sitting at roughly 5%.
The Takeaway
Learning Technologies 2026 felt like a show in transition. Smaller, quieter, yet more valuable. But the community side of it? As good as ever. The conversations, the connections. That’s what keeps bringing me back, if you’ve never made it to the show before, come and find us at the next one. We’ll save you a biscuit.
