IBC Convention Shifts from September to December 3-6

IBC has confirmed that IBC 2021 will take place on December 3-6 at The RAI in Amsterdam, moving back from its usual September date in the interest of maximizing safety for attendees and exhibitors. “Our conclusion is based on the results of the recent IBC exhibitor and visitor surveys and macro evidence of Europe opening up for business,” says Michael Crimp, Chief Executive of IBC.

IBC says key factors behind the decision include health & safety as two-thirds of survey respondents said assurance of robust onsite health and safety protocols would encourage them to attend; vaccination passport entry was by far the most popular measure.

Two-thirds of respondents already feel they are ready to travel, and a vast majority expect any corporate travel restriction policies to be updated by the end of the summer. In addition, 86% of survey respondents expect to be vaccinated by December with another 13% very likely.

The survey also found that nine in 10 respondents desire to attend a live, in-person show.

“IBC’s primary focus is to deliver a safe and valuable event, and we believe the best way for us to achieve that is to take advantage of our opportunity to move the event to December,” continues Crimp. “We did not shift from September lightly. However, as the evidence was gathered and considered, there was a shifting sentiment towards December from both exhibitors and visitors. Clearly, IBC will be safest when attendees are vaccinated, and shifting to December allows us to implement the most appropriate safety protocols. In turn, this will enable us to maximize the audience. We also had to consider the ability of the supply chain to deliver a high quality event. We believe that key services such as airports and airlines, and hotels will have established smooth operations and be able to provide a more streamlined service by December.”

IBC2021 will bring the content and technology industry together again to discover the future of media and do business face-to-face. IBC2021 will lead the way in a new era of hybrid events. Whether onsite in Amsterdam or onscreen at home, the 250,000 strong IBC community will be able to engage and enjoy the insights, innovation and interaction of the event through IBC Digital. This hybrid digital platform will create a compelling hybrid event that combines the best of the show floor with state of the art online interaction, and delivers new opportunities for exhibitors, speakers and show attendees to share information and experiences. More details regarding IBC2021 show features and IBC Digital will be announced in the coming weeks.