In an era when most kit is bought with a couple of clicks, Canon is making a point of championing the shops where you can actually pick a camera up before you buy it. Camera Store Week returns for its fifth year, running as a two-week celebration from 14 to 27 September 2026 across the UK and Ireland. Full details and registration are on the official Camera Store Week page.
The format brings together local stores, Canon experts, creators and photography accessory brands for hands-on events, demonstrations, photo walks and offers. Participating retailers across the UK and Ireland will host in-store expert days alongside offsite experiences, giving photographers and content creators the chance to try current Canon kit, learn from specialists and meet people locally who shoot.
The planned activities are more interesting than the usual in-store demo. Canon lists wildlife photo walks, motorsport experiences, capture-to-print workshops and RF lens tutorials — practical sessions aimed at every level rather than a sales pitch with a camera attached. New for 2026 are creator-led sessions and a social photography competition, which open the campaign up to people who cannot easily get to a shop.
There is a serious point beneath the promotion. Specialist camera shops have had a torrid decade, and the ones still trading survive on exactly what an online listing cannot offer: putting a body in your hands, telling you honestly that the lens you fancy is the wrong one, and knowing which local spots are good at this time of year. Neale Conroy, Marketing Director at Canon UK & Ireland, describes specialist stores as an essential part of the photography community, pointing to trusted advice and the chance to try products first-hand as what keeps them relevant.
We would go further: for anyone starting out, a good camera shop is worth more than any amount of online research, and the ones that have adapted — running workshops, building communities, offering trade-ins — are the ones still here. A manufacturer putting its marketing budget behind that is worth acknowledging.
Whether you are looking to buy or simply want to try something you have been curious about, it is worth checking which of your local stores are taking part.
Canon Camera Store Week 2026: what to know
Dates: 14 to 27 September 2026, a two-week campaign marking the fifth anniversary. Where: participating specialist retailers across the UK and Ireland. Activities: in-store expert days, offsite experiences, wildlife photo walks, motorsport experiences, capture-to-print workshops and RF lens-focused tutorials. New for 2026: creator-led sessions and a social photography competition, plus collaborations with selected accessory brands. Offers: exclusive promotions available through participating retailers.
How to take part
The full schedule of events, the list of participating retailers and registration details are available on the Canon Camera Store Week website.
