Countries and states are reopening and some areas, recognizing the importance of large professional events to the global economy, have authorized them again.
Some event organizers are betting on this not being reversed, and are moving forward with large conferences and trade shows. A few of these events will offer both a live and a virtual experience, and some have already shared safety measures regarding Covid-19. September seems to be the first period considered safe for really large events attracting several thousands of attendees.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of major professional events that are scheduled for the third and fourth quarters in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.
Please note: As countries update their policies constantly and planners might have to reconsider holding their events, check back for more updates. Help us make this guide better by submitting updates and inaccuracies to meetings@skift.com.
Tech
BLACKHAT ASIA 2020
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 29 – October 2, 2020
Location: Singapore
Typical Turnout: 2,800
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
CES
Type: Trade show
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: January 6-9, 2021
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Typical Turnout: 175,000
International/Local: International
Measures:
- Regularly clean and sanitize spaces, provide sanitization stations throughout
- Enable social distancing by widening aisles in exhibit areas and providing more space between seats in conference programs
- Issue best practices for attendees, such as wearing masks and avoiding handshakes
- Limit touchpoints, e.g. through cashless systems for purchases and transactions
- Evaluate solutions for contactless thermal scans at key venue entry points
- Provide enhanced on-site access to health services and medical aid.
Hybrid: Yes
CLOUD SUMMIT
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: May 4-6, 2021
Location: Miami Beach, USA
Typical Turnout: 2,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 15-18, 2020
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Typical Turnout: 4,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Partnership with the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), a state-run facility with advanced practices and procedures on how to maintain a safe and secure trade show environment.
Hybrid: Not specified
NTERPRISE CONNECT 2021
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: March 22-25, 2021
Location: Orlando, USA
Typical Turnout: 6,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
GARTNER IT SYMPOSIUM/XPO
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: October 18 – 22, 2020
Location: Orlando, USA
Typical Turnout: 9,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
IFA
Type: Trade show
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 3-5, 2020
Location: Berlin, Germany
Typical Turnout: 4,000 max (usually open to the general public, with 245,000 attendees)
International/Local: International
Measures: New safety protocols, not open to the general public this year. Divided into four stand-alone events that will house no more than 1,000 participants for each event per day.
Hybrid: Yes
MSP EXPO
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: February 9-12, 2021
Location: Miami, USA
Typical Turnout: 3,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
PARIS BLOCKCHAIN WEEK SUMMIT
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: December 9-10, 2020
Location: Paris, France
Typical Turnout: 2,500
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
TNW CONFERENCE
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: October 1-2, 2020
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Typical Turnout: 20,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Increased cleaning and disinfection, medical team doubled to monitor the situation, emergency medical phone number for assistance during the week of the event, no-handshake policy, increased signage to inform attendees of basic hygiene measures.
Hybrid: Not specified
WEB SUMMIT
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: November 2-5, 2020
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Typical Turnout: 70,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
ABC Convention 2020
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: August 17-19, 2020
Location: Nashville, USA
Typical Turnout: 2,000
International/Local: National
Measures: Enhanced health and safety measures
Hybrid: Not specified
FOAM EXPO NORTH AMERICA
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: March 23-25, 2021
Location: Novi, USA
Typical Turnout: 8,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW
Type: Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 1-3, 2020
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Typical Turnout: 25,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Enhanced health and wellness measures
Hybrid: Not specified
NFMT FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: March 23-25, 2021
Location: Baltimore, USA
Typical Turnout: 20,000 – 50,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
FOOD & BEVERAGE
FOOD AUTOMATION AND MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 13-16, 2020
Location: Miami, USA
Typical Turnout: Hundreds
International/Local: National
Measures: Social distancing, safe food handling, clean sleeping rooms, and meeting spaces
Hybrid: Not specified
SEAFOOD EXPO NORTH AMERICA
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 22-24, 2020
Location: Boston, USA
Typical Turnout: 22,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
Miscellaneous
BIOMEDEVICE BOSTON
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: September 16–17, 2020
Location: Boston, USA
Typical Turnout: 2,200
International/Local: National
Measures: Compliance with health and government operating procedures
Hybrid: Not specified
Category: Medical & Pharma
THE MEETINGS SHOW
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: October 19-20, 2020
Location: London, England
Typical Turnout: 5,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Yes
Category: Meetings, events and incentives
X4 SUMMIT
Type: Conference
Status: Scheduled
Prospective Date: Early Fall 2020
Location: Salt Lake City, USA
Typical Turnout: 16,000
International/Local: International
Measures: Nothing specific yet
Hybrid: Not specified
Category: Experience management
IN CONCLUSION
Some organizations are moving ahead despite uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of large live events.
However, another ban of large mass gatherings is still very much in the cards if there is a sudden spike in Covid-19 infections or an increase in cases can be associated with professional events being allowed again.
Hopefully, as we continue to learn more about the virus and what might trigger it, some of the uncertainties will be removed and event planners will be reassured that they can indeed start planning large in-person events.