Goodbye, IFA 2021

It was announced on May 19, 2021, that there will be no IFA 2021 in Berlin in September 2021.

The decision was made after talks with public health experts. The emergence of new strains of covid-19, the slow speed of vaccination – all this does not give a clear picture of how things will develop in the world. In such a situation, it is difficult to plan trips and participation in trade fairs.

In addition, part of Messe Berlin’s exhibition space has been transformed into a vaccination center and an emergency hospital. They will probably last longer than originally anticipated.

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Innovation needs a platform it needs the focus of global attention. This is why brands and manufacturers from the technology industry were very keen to come to IFA Berlin 2021. Unfortunately, recent public health developments have led to too much risk in planning this event

, – said Kai Hillebrandt, chairman of the supervisory board of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH. –

There are just too many uncertainties right now. So it’s almost impossible to responsibly plan your participation in any trade show

“.

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We did not take this decision lightly. IFA Berlin is probably the most important event of the year for brands and retailers alike. IFA Berlin like no other event connects our industry with trade visitors, the media and real consumers. Every person’s needs must be absolutely paramount. Efforts to contain this pandemic – from rolling out vaccination programs to resuming international travel – have not been implemented at the pace we had hoped for. Given these developments, this difficult and frustrating decision was inevitable.

” said Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin.

IFA organizers are now working with their industry, trade, and media partners to get everything ready for IFA 2022, which is planned as a full-scale, vibrant event.