Spielwarenmesse postponed to summer 2021 (update)

Rising Covid-19 infection rates and increasing travel restrictions have lead to the decision. 

Spielwarenmesse 2021, which was due to take place from 27th-31st January 2021, has been postponed until summer amidst the ongoing coronavirus disruption.

In an email sent to exhibitors, which Toy World has seen, Spielwarenmesse said: " Our plan was to send out the stand confirmation for Spielwarenmesse in mid-October.

Today, we regret to inform you that Spielwarenmesse 2021 will not take place in January. Instead, the fair will be held in summer 2021. The increasing number of infections and further travel restrictions have led to this decision. The significantly changed framework and the concern for the health of all involved parties mean that it will be difficult to hold Spielwarenmesse at the end of January with the quality you are used to. Developments in recent weeks have led to major concerns among exhibitors and visitors about taking part in an international fair - this uncertainty was also clear in discussions with the Spielwarenmesse team.

If you have already made payments for Spielwarenmesse 2021 to us, we will of course refund them or transfer them to the next event. You do not have to take any action in this regard. We will contact you in the coming weeks.

In addition, we will inform you about the date and registration for the planned summer event 2021 and about an accompanying digital offer in due course."

In a subsequent release, Ernst Kick, CEO of Spielwarenmesse eG, stated: “We very much regret the decision to postpone the Spielwarenmesse 2021. Preparations for the 72nd event in January were already well under way. Based on the guidelines of the Bavarian State Government, the Health & Hygiene Concept, drawn up in collaboration with the local health authorities and venue operator NürnbergMesse, was well received by all participants. I’d like to thank everyone who joined us on this path, and I feel sure that the improvements we have made will benefit all future events and appearances.”

Spielwarenmesse eG is currently in talks with NürnbergMesse to find a suitable date for the Spielwarenmesse 2021. In the meantime, the website at www.spielwarenmesse.de will continue to provide exhibitors, retailers and buyers, as well as media representatives with a large offering and a plethora of information about the toy industry. The digital platform is continually being expanded as an extra service and a complement to the physical exhibition experience.

Kind + Jugend 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus concerns

Organiser Koelnmesse has announced the cancellation of all its trade fairs due to run before the end of October, including Kind + Jugend.  

Kind + Jugend cancelledFollowing in the footsteps of a number of other trade events, Koelnmesse has announced the cancellation of all its 2020 trade fairs due to take place before the end of October. This means that Kind + Jugend, the international trade fair for children, toddler and baby equipment, has been cancelled.

The international trade fair organiser has worked hard to allay the concerns of exhibitors and visitors, but notes that, ultimately, restarting the Cologne trade fair scene isn’t possible without their participation and full support. A statement on its website says: “We take seriously the difficult situation of our customers – and their concern for the health of their employees. However, we remain firmly convinced that, if all parties involved behave prudently, trade fairs can be held safely and successfully under new circumstances and subject to appropriate conditions. As event professionals, we see ourselves in a position to create framework conditions suitable to trade fairs, even in times such as these.”

The statement goes on to list a raft of reasons why trade fairs should be allowed to recommence, including the role they will play in helping businesses get back on their feet and their professional nature, which Koelnmesse notes is different from sporting events or ‘funfairs’.  The trade fair organiser is aiming to restart its own events from November.

Kind + Jugend 2020, which was due to take place 17th-20th September, is slated to return in 2021, 16th-19th September.