BETT 2026 Wrap up Reflections

I'm finally getting around to writing about my experiences last week attending BETT (one of the world's largest Education and Technology exhibitions, annually held in London); volunteering at the Minecraft Education booth. Now, I'm rather a bit introverted, so it typically takes me a week or more to decompress and process everything after the fact. 

I attend BETT purely for two reasons: one, to volunteer at the Minecraft Education booth, sharing my love and passion for Minecraft, and helping others along their respective Minecraft journeys. Two, to connect with the Minecraft friends and associates I've met along my own journey, and make new connections. We really have the most awesome people in the best professional community I've ever been fortunate enough to be part of, and the positive energy really sustains me through the exhibition's three days. Minecraft Education and it's worldwide community is a positive force for good in a world that desperately needs it, and it's truly an amazing experience teaming up with others for a few days to share this. 

While we did have some challenges this year (we had a rather noisy exhibition neighbor that had set their volume to 11 and after a time, just sounded like a bunch of agitated cats tied together with some tin buckets), so having conversations could be quite difficult. Despite this, I think everyone volunteering at the booth managed, and we had another successful year at BETT all sharing our passion for Minecraft with the constant train of interested and enthusiastic visitors to the booth. 

Lot's of highlights to share this year, and too many for one posting, but here's a quick wee summary: 

Top of the list were the students and teachers that came through, either excited to learn more or anxious to share their own Minecraft experiences. One group provided me with my very own "Beatle" moment where it dawned on me that I'm a little bit internet famous: "We watch your YouTube videos!"

 That was pretty darned cool. 

Shapescape who produce amazing Minecraft experiences were on hand (I'm a big fan), and it was amazing to reconnect, talk a little shop, just hang out, grab a coffee and chat with Bram Wulteputte, Luigi Belli, and Fabrizio La Rosa for a few days. I look forward to popping across the channel and coming for a visit hopefully sometime soon! I'll be needing a picture with the Chicken and Agent in their new home. 

Kim Niebauer and I have had many virtual Minecraft chats over the years, and I've even been invited virtually into her classroom to demonstrate Blockbench, so it was really great to finally meet and just hangout in person. 

Ellie Finch, creative force behind the Minecraft Sandtray Therapy World (I may have helped a wee bit, wink, wink) was about on Thursday and after an epic chase through Canning Town trying to find each other, we managed to grab a quick kebab and have a good blether. 

Gemma Cariva-Meadows and I have been having lots of wonderful Minecraft chats this year, and it was lovely to finally meet in person, grab a coffee and have a wee chat. 

Alex Gold from Arcademy was in attendance and it was great to sit down over a coffee, catch up and hear about all the great progress his company is making. 

I drank A LOT of coffee over the three days! 

I'm very fortunate to do a lot of work with Logics Academy in Canada, so it was a nice surprise to learn that Logic's CEO, Ramy Ghattas was attending again this year, and having the opportunity to sit down and re-connect in person. 

Wesley Raymaekers, Steven Juchtmans, I only got a couple of minutes with after rescuing them from some student griefing during a Minecraft eSports event (the students thought it would be fun to bump their competitor teachers into survival mode and spawn Ender Dragons on top of them!), but lovely to meet in person and thank-you for the mini-chicken. He will be cherished and will be accompanying me on future trips for photo ops along with my Minecraft Education hats! 

It was my first time meeting Beverly Kim Bailey, but I have to say our conversations, particularly as our time at BETT drew to an end were wonderfully helpful in sustaining my energy level and getting me across the finish line!

Tamara Grigore, Kate Whyles, Meg Brough, Daniel Marchant, Amanda Brougham-Pickard, Beyanca Struwig, Walberto Alexis Flores Fuentes, Aaron Parsons: I only had a few quick words with you all, but it was wonderful to see you all, and I hope to see you again next year and spend more time with you. 

And of course it wouldn't have been a Minecraft Education event without reconnecting and having great conversations with the amazing and supportive members of the Minecraft Education team, Justin Edwards, Sara Cornish, Michael Barrett and Barrett Livingstone.

My only regret (as it is every year), is that there just isn't enough time to spend with everyone as much as I would like. I think we need to organize some sort after hours Minecraft get together!

If I've missed anyone, apologies, there's a lot of experiences to cover, and I truly enjoyed and appreciated all the interactions I had with everyone!

Cheers, everyone and peace, love and happy crafting!