Organisers of the Nuremberg toy fair, Spielwarenmesse have confirmed the cancellation of the show’s first Summer Edition, a postponed edition of this year’s show that was scheduled to take place this July.
The fair had been moved from its traditional January slot in order to beat the restrictions in place at the hands of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Spielwarenmesse eG had pulled out all the stops to provide the industry with a suitable networking platform this year.
However, following the unrelenting uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic both on a national and international level, the organisers have decided to pull the plug on the event to to focus on Spielwarenmesse’s 2022 show.
The resolution was passed at the supervisory board meeting on March 25th.
Ernst Kick, CEO Spielwarenmesse eG, stated: “Initially, we received excellent feedback about the Summer Edition from both exhibitors and visitors. In recent weeks, however, the disappointingly slow improvement in the pandemic has been fuelling uncertainty across the industry.
“Our top priority remains the health and safety of all our participants.”
The lack of political perspective with regard to trade fairs has had a considerable impact on the ability of exhibition organisers to make firm plans and for international manufacturers and buyers to schedule and book their travel and accommodation.
‘Despite the measures already set in motion, it would be impossible to stage the Spielwarenmesse Summer Edition successfully without having the all-important run-up to the fair clearly mapped out,’ read a statement from the organisation.
The group has stated that from now on, all energy will be channeled into the regular Spielwarenmesse which is scheduled to run from February 2nd to 6th next year and will take place in conjunction with Spielwarenmesse Digital, a platform that – for the first time in the show’s history – will link the experience of the live show in Nuremberg with the virtual world.
“We’re receiving such a positive response from across the board. The market players cannot wait to get together again in February. And we’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Nuremberg for the 72nd Spielwarenmesse,” concluded Kick.
