It’s confirmed—just three weeks after announcing everything was set to go on as scheduled, Photokina 2020 has been canceled. In an email sent to DPReview, Koelnmesse GmbH, the organizers of the international trade show, announced the event won't be taking place this year, due to ongoing concerns and restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors.
While the writing was on the wall for Photokina 2020, with CP+ being canceled and The Photography Show being postponed, Koelnmesse notes the recent restrictions put in place by the German federal government to shut down trade fairs and exhibitions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic sealed its fate. Koelnmesse says the next iteration of Photokina will take place in May 2022 and lists the following factors as the rationale for canceling this year’s event:
'Even before the appearance of the coronavirus, the imaging market was already subject to strongly dynamic movements. This trend will now gain momentum and must be factored into plans for the upcoming photokina. Added to this is the fact that our customers’ resources are already under heavy strain in 2021 – as a result of general economic trends as well as rescheduled events on the global trade fair calendar. The orientation towards 2022 gives everyone involved time enough to design the next photokina with an eye to the needs of the market, and of our exhibitors and visitors. '
Below is the full statement from Koelnmesse GmbH:
Photokina 2020 is cancelled
After intensive consultation, Koelnmesse GmbH has decided to cancel photokina 2020, originally planned to be held 27 to 30 May 2020. The next instalment of the leading international trade fair for photography, video and imaging will be presented from 18 to 21 May 2022. The Imaging Innovation Conference will not be celebrating its premi
In general the management team of Koelnmesse has decided not to organise any own events on the part of Koelnmesse until the end of June 2020. This decision is supported by the crisis management team of the City of Cologne, which also recommended in its meeting on 18. 03. 2020 to cancel the trade fairs during this period.
This also happens against the background of the agreement reached on 16. 03. 2020 between the German federal government and the governments of the German states – laying down common guidelines for dealing with the coronavirus epidemic and explicitly including the general closure of trade fairs and exhibitions. This impairs the planning security for Koelnmesse and the participants of the trade fairs in Cologne far beyond the scope of the current scenarios. With this early announcement, Koelnmesse wants to give its exhibitors and visitors planning security.
The decision not to host the next edition of photokina until May 2022 was made with in view of several factors: Even before the appearance of the coronavirus, the imaging market was already subject to strongly dynamic movements. This trend will now gain momentum and must be factored into plans for the upcoming photokina. Added to this is the fact that our customers’ resources are already under heavy strain in 2021 – as a result of general economic trends as well as rescheduled events on the global trade fair calendar. The orientation towards 2022 gives everyone involved time enough to design the next photokina with an eye to the needs of the market, and of our exhibitors and visitors.
Kai Hillebrandt, Chairman of the Photo Industry Association [Photoindustrie-Verband e. V. (PIV)]: “It goes without saying that PIV completely stands behind the decision taken by Koelnmesse to cancel photokina 2020. The health of exhibitors and visitors is top priority at the moment. As the conceptual sponsor of photokina, we will do our utmost to assist the Koelnmesse with the planning of the next edition of photokina. ”
Koelnmesse – Global Competence in Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility: Koelnmesse is an international leader in organising trade fairs in the Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility segments. Trade fairs like photokina, DMEXCO, gamescom, gamescom asia, INTERMOT and THE TIRE COLOGNE are established as leading international trade fairs. Koelnmesse not only organises trade fairs in these areas in Cologne, but also in other growth markets like, for example, China, Singapore and Thailand, which have different areas of focus and content. These global activities offer customers of Koelnmesse tailor-made events in different markets, which guarantee sustainable and international business.
Note for editorial offices:
photokina photos are available in our image database on the Internet at www. photokina. com in the “News” section. Press information is available at: www. photokina. com/Pressinformation
2020-3-19 23:07