The annual PhotoPlus 2021 trade show in the US has been officially canceled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The announcement follows the decision by major brands to pull out of the show, as well as this year’s NAB trade show in Las Vegas. In a statement on the PhotoPlus expo website, Show Director Joseph Kowalsky said:
Since 1983, PHOTOPLUS has brought the photography and video communities together each fall to connect, share ideas, and experience the newest imaging technology. Our goal is always to support, inspire and celebrate this remarkable community. That said, it is with great difficulty that we announce that we have decided to cancel our in-person event at the Javits Convention Center in New York, NY, scheduled for September 30-October 2, 2021.
The cancellation of the live event is due to developments regarding the ongoing progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and related company-imposed travel restrictions affecting customers’ ability to gather in New York for PHOTOPLUS. While the decision to cancel is a disappointing one, we recognize the extreme demands that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on establishments, and particularly small businesses, in this industry..
It is of the utmost importance to our entire team that we deliver an incredible event experience to our attendees when we are once again able to meet in person. Our team is already laying plans for a revamped and revitalized PHOTOPLUS, all the while bringing back your favorite brands, the energy you expect from a live event, and exciting new elements. When asked about PHOTOPLUS 2021, Show Director Joe Kowalsky stated,
“The decision to not move forward with a live PHOTOPLUS in 2021 was not an easy decision to make nor one that our team enjoyed making. Bringing together visual storytellers to learn and be inspired is at the core of what our team loves to do. However, as an optimist, I find a silver lining on every dark cloud. Looking ahead to 2022, our team is poised to provide greater value to our audience than we ever had before, while being given the opportunity to imagine a new dynamic experience reflective of what visual storytelling is today. So, stay tuned in and be ready, it’s going to be fun!”
While we will not be able to gather in person this year, we are still going full steam ahead with our brand new premiere educational platform, PHOTOPLUS Learning Lens. We’ve already held our first two live sessions and will be rolling out fresh, new content year-round that you asked for, presented by the industry speakers you love. Register & view for free at photoplus.plus.
PHOTOPLUS looks forward to uniting with the photography and video communities at the next full-scale and in-person show in 2022. PHOTOPLUS will provide more information, dates, and plans for next year as they become available over the coming months. Every decision made for the in-person event will ensure we host a successful, safe, and healthy event for our exhibitors and attendees.
The cancellation of PhotoPlus 2021 also follows news that major brands like Canon, Sony and Panasonic have pulled out of the NAB 2021 show due to concerns around Covid-19, which is seeing a resurgence in the United States.