International Beading Week (IBW) 2026 - Emblems may have ended, but the beading party continues with its hosts, The Beadworkers Guild - see upcoming events below!
If you are planning a special IBW 2027 event or have a special offer you would like to share, we would love to hear from you by clicking here. This FREE service is brought to you by The Beadworkers Guild, to bring buyers and sellers together during our event from Saturday 24th July to Sunday 1st August 2027.
For more information on how you can take part in our annual event, please email us.
IBW Year-long Rainbow Project
The Beadworkers Guild invite you to take part in our IBW Year-long Rainbow Challenge.
Anybody can take part, from beginner to advanced, non-designer to professional - it's just a fun to do event via Facebook to keep your beading fingers busy during the year.
How does it work?
Each month from the end of July to mid-July the following year, we encourage beaders from all around the world to bead either a single component or part of a continuous piece, using the twelve colours of the IBW logo, and post a progress picture on our IBW Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/internationalbeadingweek/. You can choose to let people know what you are making or reveal all at the end of the year, the choice is yours.
At the end of the year we publish all the finished projects on our IBW Year-long Project Gallery to showcase your work and to encourage other beaders to take part the following year.
To download a copy of the event guidelines click here!
Happy beading!
The Beadworkers Guild - Meet, Mingle & Make - Chatelaines
Date: Saturday 22nd August
Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00 - 7.00pm (UK Time)
Price: £20.00
The Beadworkers Guild beady fun doesn't stop at IBW.
If you enjoyed your week and would like to join us for some more online beading, we are hosting a Meet, Mingle & Make event, Saturday 22nd August to make beaded chatelaine items.
Our fun packed day includes a booklet of varied designs kindly donated to the Guild by a group of talented designers from the UK, that cover all beading levels. A list of requirements will be sent ahead of the event via email outlining the type of beads you will need for the day. Your instruction booklet (which includes 6 designs) and Zoom link will be sent to you via email the evening prior to our day of beady fun and not before.
N.B. Email messages from ‘btinternet’ addresses bounce back, so it’s best to use an alternative if you have one, if not please email: sylviafairhurst@beadworkersguild.com
This event is just £20.00 per person and you don't need to be a member of the Guild to join in the fun. There are two time slots to choose from and bookings close at noon on Monday 17th August. Whether you are a member of the Guild or a guest you are welcome, so don't be shy, make your booking today by clicking here!
For further information about this event please contact: events@beadworkersguild.com
The Beadworkers Guild - FREE Monthly Drop-in Sessions
Date: The last Saturday of each month
Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00 - 7.00pm (UK Time)
Price: FREE
Our FREE to attend, online monthly Drop-In's, offers beaders from all around the globe the opportunity to bead, chat, and share their beading knowledge in good company.
To be sure of a place, please make your booking before 12.00 noon, on the Thursday prior to the event (UK time). You don't need to be a member of the Guild to enjoy this event, so why not invite a friend to join you by clicking here!
If you are new to the Guild and would like more information, please email: events@beadworkersguild.com
The Beadworkers Guild - Meet, Mingle & Make - Xmas Gifts
Date: Sunday 8th November & Saturday 5th December
Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00 - 7.00pm (UK Time)
Level: All levels welcome
Availability: Members only!
Price: £20.00
Beading celebrations run throughout the whole year with The Beadworkers Guild, but we do enjoy a bit of Christmas gift making.
For those of you looking to make some beady gifts for family and/or friends, we are hosting four online Zoom sessions over two days, Sunday 8th November and Saturday 5th December.
Our fun packed day includes a booklet of varied designs kindly donated to the Guild by a group of talented designers from the UK, that cover all beading levels. A list of requirements will be sent ahead of the event via email outlining the type of beads you will need for the day. Your instruction booklet (which includes 6 designs) and Zoom link will be sent to you via email the evening prior to our day of beady fun and not before.
N.B. Email messages from ‘btinternet’ addresses bounce back, so it’s best to use an alternative if you have one, if not please email: sylviafairhurst@beadworkersguild.com
This event is just £20.00 per person and is for members only! There are two time slots to choose from and bookings close at 12.00 noon on the Monday before each event. Bookings are now open in the Guild shop, so to secure a spot book today!
For further information about this event please contact: events@beadworkersguild.com
The Beadworkers Guild - Great British Bead Show 2027
Date: Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th May 2027
Venue: Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, Daventry Road, Daventry, NN11 6JT
Join us for a fun packed few days of beading, guest speakers and retail therapy at the Great British Bead Show 2027.
The show begins on Thursday 6th with a stunning Masterclass for those who like a challenge, alongside which, there is a fabulous selection of additional workshops. Whilst the workshops are in progress the members’ Annual Challenge competition is judged followed by socialising starts and pre-dinner drinks where you can meet and mingle with friends new and old, then enjoy more of the same after dinner.
The excitement builds on Friday 7th with more people arriving to enjoy our amazing workshops, the chance to catch up with friends, then after dinner enjoy an evening of entertainment with our invited guest speaker, followed by a drink or two at the bar.
There will be yet more fantastic workshops and socialising to enjoy on Saturday 8th, leading up to the Guilds’ AGM (which is more entertaining than you might think!), followed by presentations to the winners of our Annual Challenge competition and a nightcap or bed if we’ve worn you out.
The BWG Bead Bazaar rounds off our event nicely. You can start your day by feasting your eyes on our amazing display of members’ work and be inspired by the exhibition of our Challenge competition entries, before purchasing your raffle tickets for a chance to win some fabulous beady prizes.
The Bead Bazaar is open to the public, with free entry for BWG members (by showing your current membership card). This is your opportunity to shop until you drop with traders from the UK and Europe, to stock up on beads, crystals, kits and other must have essentials!
The workshop itinerary will be available in the October 2026 Journal and Guild member priority bookings will be available at the same time. Bookings for non Guild members will be released early 2027.
For more information about this event, please contact: events@beadworkersguild.com
IBW 2027 - save the date!
Saturday 24th July to Sunday 1st August
Until the next time... happy beading!
