FESPA postponed the FESPA Global Print Expo 2020, the leading event in the global printing industry, once again due to Covid-19 pandemic, and changed its location. The new date for FESPA Global Print Expo, which is planned to be held in Madrid in March 2020, but postponed to October due to the pandemic, is set as 2021. It was announced that this decision was taken due to the ongoing public health risks and business disruptions. FESPA Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo and Sportswear Pro, held simultaneously with it, will be held at the RAI Exhibition Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on March 9-21, 2021.
Making a statement on the subject, FESPA CEO Neil Felton reminded that they decided to delay the fair in March 2020 for six months in order to prevent the spread epidemic and its effects on exhibitors and visitors. Noting that Covid-19 is following a dynamic and unpredictable development, Felton; “While many regions are now gradually emerging from lockdown; at this point in time we cannot be confident that we could match exhibitor and visitor expectations of a FESPA event if we were to go ahead in October this year”.
Felton said that they offered the strongest alternative with the March 2021 period; and that during this time, participants and visitors were given time for recovery; and that they gained time to fully prepare for new operational requirements. Felton continued his words as follows; “Feedback from the market indicates that, having faced the considerable commercial challenges of 2020; our community will welcome FESPA Global Print Expo in March 2021; as an important platform for business recovery and forward progress early next year”.
The new location
Amsterdam hosted successful fairs in 2006, 2009 and 2016, and is a popular and proven city for FESPA events. Road and rail accessibility from many regions of northern and central Europe will be an advantage for several visitors.
The new March 2021 edition of the event will replace the originally planned event in Munich, Germany. However, FESPA has not removed Munich from its program. FESPA will return to Munich for events in 2022.