With just 36 days to go until Executive Hire Show returns on 11 & 12 February at the CBS Arena, Coventry, attention across the hire sector is already turning beyond the year ahead and towards the pressures shaping 2026.
While construction activity has continued to vary by sector and region through 2025, demand for hired equipment has increased in several parts of the market, particularly where infrastructure, energy and major earthmoving programmes are underway. In response, hire is increasingly being used as a strategic tool, helping contractors manage uncertainty, control capital exposure and remain flexible as programmes shift.
Blended fleet strategies are now commonplace. Contractors are deploying owned machines on long-term programmes while relying on hire to fill gaps elsewhere, creating a faster-moving, more responsive rental market. Availability, logistics and support are becoming just as critical as the equipment itself.
Productivity pressures continue to influence demand. With skills shortages persisting and programmes running in parallel, contractors are looking to maximise output per operator, increasing interest in larger machines capable of delivering more work per cycle on major projects.
Safety expectations have also moved firmly into baseline territory. Systems such as 360-degree cameras, human form detection and collision warning technology are now widely expected on major sites, with hired machines increasingly required to meet site standards from day one.
Sustainability remains high on the agenda, but approaches across the heavy equipment sector remain pragmatic. While alternative power solutions continue to develop, modern Stage V diesel machines currently play a central role in balancing emissions reduction with the productivity projects demand.
Across all of these themes, one priority cuts through: reducing risk. Availability, reliability and compliance are now central to procurement decisions as the sector looks ahead to 2026.
With 148 exhibitors confirmed, the Executive Hire Show brings together hire companies, OEMs and contractors at a timely moment for the industry. As Chris Moore, Publishing and Event Director, explains: “The conversations taking place across the hire sector right now are about readiness — making sure businesses have the right equipment, the right support and the right information in place. The Executive Hire Show provides a practical forum for those discussions, bringing the industry together at exactly the right time.”
Executive Hire Show
11 & 12 February | CBS Arena, Coventry
Register here: https://forms.reg.buzz/executive-hire-show-2026
For a complete visitor list visit : Executive Hire Show 2026: Exhibitor List - Executive Hire Show 2026
This insight is based on analysis provided by Stevens Equipment Rental.
