As the evolving COVID-19 pandemic continues to limit the global itinerary, the design world’s annual trade shows and expos are cautiously planning their eventual return. While the early months of 2020 saw events across the planet swiftly cancelled, postponed schedules and modified programs — with additional safety measures — now set the agenda. This month Salone del Mobile, Coverings and IMM Cologne are the latest marquee shows to announce their plans for 2021 and 2022.

The 60th edition of Milan’s marquee Salone del Mobile will take place on September 5-10, 2021. Following extensive consultation with public health experts and the global design community, the furniture fair was postponed from its traditional April date. It will be the first time the show has been held in autumn since 1989.

According to Salone del Mobile President Claudio Luti, the new dates were also chosen to best accomodate Salone’s many related Milan Design Week events. “Moving the dates of the Salone del Mobile is not just a matter of rejigging the calendar, it also has to consider the many days needed to set up and dismantle the various pavilions, which in turn have to fit in with the demands of many other fairs held in the Fiera Milano spaces,” said Luti in today’s press release. While new dates for the independent furiosalone design activations have not yet been formally announced, it is likely that the event will also be officially moved to September.

Coverings, North America’s largest tile and stone exhibition and conference, is now set to take place in Orlando, Florida from July 7-9, 2021. Initially scheduled for April of next year, the new dates were chosen after “feedback from the Coverings community included overwhelming, positive sentiment that rescheduling the event would yield the best possible platform for everyone involved and minimize risk to event participants,” reads a recent press release.

Registration to attend Coverings 2021 and reservations for official Coverings hotels will be open and available at coverings.com in mid-January 2021. 

IMM Cologne, too, will skip its 2021 edition. One of Europe’s leading furniture shows, the annual German expo typically takes place in January. Though forgoing this year’s showing, preparations for 2022 already underway. More information about the following iteration is expected to come online in the coming months.

“The fact that IMM Cologne 2021 can’t take place because of the pandemic is extremely regrettable for our industry,” said Elmar Duffner, president of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM). “But in view of the worsening corona situation in Germany and many other countries, it’s the right decision. As IMM Cologne’s conceptual sponsor, we support the decision to cancel the event.”

Meanwhile, the next edition of Frankfurt’s Heimtextil — which usually takes place alongside IMM Cologne — has been postponed until May 4-7, 2021.

The German and American trade shows represent some of the latest announcements in a global shake-up of postponements and cancellations. Toronto’s IDS21 is now scheduled for May 13-16, 2021, while Chicago’s NeoCon is set to take place October 4 to 6, 2021 in lieu of its usual June dates. Similarly, next year’s edition of Valencia’s Cevisama tile show will run from May 24-28, 2021.

According to a recent press release, New York’s next edition of LightFair has also been pushed to October 27-29, 2021, while Manhattan’s annual ICFF is now scheduled for November 14-15, 2021.

The ongoing global response to COVID-19 is likely to spur further announcements in the weeks and months ahead. We will keep you updated as new announcements continue to be made.