Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group announces its 2021 calendar of events, kicking off with August’s Licensing Expo. This will now be a fully virtual experience, enabling the broadest cross-section of attendees from retail, manufacturers and brands from around the world to come together to make deals, network, learn and discover new IP.

Licensing Expo Virtual will include:

• Curated matchmaking, enabling brands, manufacturers and retailers to connect.
• Digital Brand Roadshows, which will bring brand discovery to the forefront, highlighting new, innovative and compelling IP by category.
• The Licensing University program, offering education on the foundations of licensing, the most up-to-date issues facing the business of licensing, and more.
• World-renowned keynotes.
• Licensing International’s Licensing Excellence Awards. The awards, which honour the best licensing programs, retailers and licensees in the business, will stream live on day one of licensing’s biggest week, 24 August.

 

 

Commenting is Anna Knight, vice president, Licensing, Informa Markets.

“We’ve heard from our industry, and the best way to serve the international market in 2021 is to provide in-person experiences later this year, as well as a rich online experience that everyone can be a part of this summer.

“We’ve all felt the impact of not being able to gather in-person in 2020. While the speed of recovery is promising, we serve a truly global market. Feedback from Licensing Expo customers and partners indicates that August is still too soon for the majority of the licensing community to properly plan and execute participation in an in-person event of this size and magnitude with continued restrictions on international and corporate travel.

“Our mission remains to create the most valuable platforms for our industry to connect and grow. Therefore, we have decided to focus our efforts on our virtual experience in August, followed by in-person events in Q4 and beyond.”

Licensing Expo Virtual on 24-26 August 2021 is a free-to-attend event.

Supporting the event, meanwhile, is a robust online platform that allows exhibitors and visitors to schedule and host meetings. They can also enjoy on-demand content and thought leadership. Plus, search and discover the widest range of properties available for license from anywhere in the world.

Maura Regan, president, Licensing International, adds; “Licensing International’s mission is to serve the licensing industry, help advance our member’s business, and celebrate our successes as an industry. Licensing Expo Virtual does all of that and we are proud to be the exclusive sponsor.”

Following Licensing Expo Virtual will be the inaugural Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) U.S. on 27-28 October 2021.

This will take place live and in-person in New York City at Convene Liberty Street. Following the European launch this June, and set to welcome 300-400 licensing and brand executives, B&LIS will provide trends and forecasts and retailer insights. This is alongside spotlights on growth categories. Plus, deep dives into digital and content innovation to help navigate the ever-changing retail, content and consumer landscape.

In November, Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) will take place live and in-person at ExCeL London on 17-19 November 2021.

An online event will follow two weeks later (30 November-1 December 2021). To make online participation and navigation seamless, BLE will also use the same platform as Licensing Expo Virtual.

B&LIS and BLE in-person events will be organized following Informa’s AllSecure health and safety standards. This is designed to ensure all participants can attend safely and with confidence. Licensing Expo will return to Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on 24-26 May 2022.

For further information about Licensing Expo, to exhibit, or register to attend for free, please click here.