High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is an exhibition centre in Solihull, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 628 acres (2.54 km2). It is the busiest and seventh largest exhibition centre in Europe. Even though it is called the N.E.C Birmingham officially the complex is in neighbouring Solihull. Opened by Elizabeth II in February 1976, the first event to be staged at the venue was International Spring Fair and has returned every year since. Growing annually, the event now occupies all of The NEC's 20 halls, the LG Arena (formerly The NEC Arena) and is the largest single exhibition staged at the venue.