Two in three (64%) people in the UK say they have spent around £277 a year replacing items they think could have been repaired, according to new research published ahead of Repair Week 2026. Across the UK this rises to £15 billion spent on replacing items. The research, commissioned by ReLondon, has also revealed that 335 million items (6 items per person) which could have been repaired are being thrown away every year, with textiles and electricals topping the chart for most commonly binned items. The research, has also revealed that 46.27 million items (6.45 items per person) which could have been repaired by Londoners are being thrown away every year, with textiles and electricals topping the chart for most commonly binned items.

Repair Week, which began in London but has now taken off in cities across the UK, will take place from 2-8 March this year, with hundreds of repair events planned across London, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, County Durham, Belfast and Cardiff. People can pick up new repair skills at bike fixing workshops, sewing classes and basic phone fixing courses, as well as upholstery and furniture mending sessions. Courses range from absolute beginner classes to more advanced workshops – so there’s something for everyone.

As in previous years, ReLondon is shining a spotlight on three London-based Repair Heroes during the week, and this year they are:

· Make Mee Studio – a Lewisham-based social enterprise, hosting sewing classes and community projects from their friendly sewing studio, including a repair hack on how to do blanket stich darning
· Community Cycleworks – a social enterprise on a mission to teach people bike repair skills, such as testing and fixing brakes
· Fixing Factory – tackling e-waste head-on with a mix of hands-on repair sessions including simple fixes such as changing a fuse

First launched in 2020 in London with just 20 events, Repair Week is now in its sixth year – with 2026 featuring its very own Scouts badge for the first time. And it’s not just the Scouts who are repairing more – the popularity of repairing has seen a significant revival and is on the rise, driven by concerns over the cost of living and what people feel is an increasingly “throwaway” culture. Repair Week’s new research found that people in the UK had repaired around 14 items each in the last year.

Katie Moriyama, campaign manager for Repair Week, said:
“We want to make fixing the norm, which is why we run Repair Week every year, making it easier for people to learn skills and access affordable, professional repair. From hands-on workshops with repair experts to online hacks, Repair Week is all about giving you the confidence to fix, mend, and make things last.”

Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said:
“Repair Week highlights an important message around sustainability and shows how much money we can save if we take a little time to fix a repairable item instead of just binning it.

“We are proud Repair Week started here in the capital six years ago and has now taken off in cities across the UK, as we work to build a better, greener London for everyone.”

Jaime Greenly, Co-Owner / Director, Make Mee Studio said:
“Giving people the knowledge and encouragement to repair something themselves is so powerful. It’s an act of love for your community. Repair Week shines such an important light on repair, the more people see it the more they will be encouraged to join in. Each act of repair is a tiny step in changing the world, one little stich at a time!”

The research found that most people are ready to have a go at a whole range of repairs, from changing a plug (48%) to replacing a button (49%). Mending clothes and other textiles is also one of the most popular forms of repair (45%):

3.4 billion repairs are done to mend clothing or textiles, from sewing a button on to mending a seam
66 million plugs have been changed
42 million broken headphone ports have been fixed

For those who say they don’t repair their stuff, it’s the lack of skills that are getting in the way. Lots of people learnt to repair from their parents (47%), with online tutorials, TikTok and YouTube also proving very popular (30%). Attending a repair workshop was also considered a great way of learning a new skill and an opportunity to meet new people (52% of those surveyed).

Events already confirmed to take place through the week include:

Japan House London – Repairing with gold: Kintsugi workshop with maki-e artist Hakose Junichi
2, 3 & 6 March, afternoon and evening sessions
Repair a cherished broken object from your home using kintsugi-inspired techniques in a hands-on workshop led by Hakose Junichi, master urushi lacquer and maki-e artist from Wajima.

Decathlon – Textile and tent repair workshop
7 & 8 March, 2-4pm
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn basic mending skills like patching holes, sewing seams, replacing buttons, and applying simple waterproof treatments. Whether it’s outdoor gear or everyday clothing, we’ll help you extend its life.

Revive_All @ Save The World Club – Learning to Repair Electricals: 1. Wiring the Plug
Saturday 7 March, 3-5pm
Learn the basics of how to repair household electricals. This session teaches you how to wire a plug safely – the first step to repairing household electricals.

City of London Corporation – Fix it for free
Saturday 7 March, 10am–3pm
Whether you’re looking to fix your faulty electronics or mend your old and worn clothes, this event is all about reducing waste by keeping items in use for longer and giving you the confidence to attempt repairs yourself.