COVID-19 pandemic causing widespread event cancellations and postponements

The COVID-10 pandemic has disrupted events worldwide in the past week. Close to home, the Pro Imaging CONNECT and Pro Imaging Golf events, scheduled for next week, have been postponed until the fall. Other significant cancellations are listed below:

drupa

The every-five-year mega printing trade event drupa has been postponed until April 20-30, 2021. According to a statement:

The drupa trade fair scheduled for 16-26 June 2020 will be postponed to 20-30 April 2021. In doing so, Messe Düsseldorf is following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German Federal Government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when assessing the risk of major events. Based on this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of people infected with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. In addition, there is the general ruling issued by the city of Düsseldorf on 11 March 2020, in which major events with more than 1,000 participants present at the same time are generally prohibited.

The Photography Show and The Video Show

The U.K.’s largest photo and video equipment show, The Photography Show and The Video Show 2020, will now take place Sept. 19-22, 2020, at the NEC, Birmingham, instead of Mar 14 – Mar 17, 2020. All existing tickets will be transferred to the new dates. The show draws about 32,000 attendees.

Apple World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC)

Apple’s worldwide developers’ conference, which serves as a launching point for Apple technology and products, will move its June conference to an online format. Officials cited the “current health situation” as the reason. No specific date was announced.

Apple today announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Now in its 31st year, WWDC 2020 will take on an entirely new online format packed with content for consumers, press and developers alike. The online event will be an opportunity for millions of creative and innovative developers to get early access to the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS, and engage with Apple engineers as they work to build app experiences that enrich the lives of Apple customers around the globe…Apple also announced it will commit $1 million to local San Jose organizations to offset associated revenue loss as a result of WWDC 2020’s new online format.

NAB Show

The National Association of Broadcasters convention, which has emerged as the favored trade show of photo/video gear dealers, has canceled its April show; major exhibitors like Nikon Inc., Apple and Adobe Inc. had previously announced they are not going to attend due to concerns about employee safety.

Digital Signage Expo

Digital Signage Expo, which was to be at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 31-April 3 will now be postponed until late summer/early fall due to the Coronavirus, according to Exponation CEO Angelo Varrone.

World Press Photo Foundation awards show and festival

The World Press Photo Foundation has announced it is canceling its awards show and festival, originally planned to take place in Amsterdam from April 16–18, due to COVID-19 (the coronavirus):

We have decided, after intense deliberations, that the global situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus, requires us to cancel the World Press Photo Awards Show 2020 and the World Press Photo Festival 2020, due to be held in Amsterdam on 16-18 April.

CP+, Mobile World Congress and more

Previously announced industry cancellations include: CP+, Mobile World Congress, FESPA Global Print Expo and Dscoop Edge, have either been canceled or postponed. The PRO Spring Convention, scheduled for March 12-13 in Lincolnshire, Ill., is canceled. Also, Leica Akademie workshops, Leica Gallery openings and Leica Store events scheduled through May 5, 2020 have been postponed.

Supply chain woes

Supply chains around the world are experiencing disruptions, too. Reuters has reported Samsung and LG Innotek have closed South Korea plants after confirmed virus cases. Nikkei reports Canon Co., Inc. announced it will suspend operations at five plants in Kyushu that produce cameras and related products for about two weeks from March 2 to 13. Nikon also reported its much-anticipated Nikon D6 DSLR has been delayed from its March 2020, debut due to “delays in the procurement of parts and components from a third-party cooperating company due to measures implemented in response to the spread of COVID-19. Nikon plans to release the Nikon D6 in May.