Five iconic British institutions will be exhibiting at Licensing Expo this year for the first time including The Royal Ballet and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The new exhibitors include:

"Having exhibited successfully at Brand Licensing Europe this year we realized there is a big opportunity for our brand to be exposed to a larger market, and look forward to working with U.S. and global licensees in all categories," says Giles Gould, head of commercial services, National Museum of the Royal Navy.

“America has a tradition of Shakespearean theater-making that leaves the rest of the world standing and a real affinity with the world’s best-known playwright," says Philippa Rawlinson, director of operations, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. "Today Americans account for one in eight of the 820,000 visitors we welcome each year to the Shakespeare family homes. This is the first time we have opened our brand licensing to the U.S., and we’re looking forward to meeting potential partners for our Shakespeare Inspired brand at Licensing Expo.”

The five institutions will exhibit together at Licensing Expo, June 9-11 in Las Vegas, Nev., in the new British Heritage Pavilion. The British Heritage Pavilion will join a series of other country-based areas on the show floor, including zones dedicated to Mexico and China.

"As the former director of Brand Licensing Europe and a Brit myself, I've grown up with these brands," says Jessica Blue, vice president, Licensing Expo. "I am thrilled that licensees from the U.S. and around the world will be introduced to these truly unique institutions and the breadth of opportunities they present. We've been working for years with the heritage sector to develop their presence at BLE in London, and now is a great time to do the same at the Licensing Expo and on the world stage."