Brand Licensing Europe 2020 goes virtual as part of four-week Festival of Brands event

Brand Licensing Europe 2020 will be a virtual event this year.

The show will kick off the first-ever Festival of Brands, a four-week virtual gathering that its organiser, Informa Markets, is calling ‘the most inclusive global licensing event to-date’.

Festival of Licensing will comprise of four regionally tailored events in key licensing territories:

Week 1: 6-8 October – Europe, powered by Brand Licensing Europe
Week 2: 14-15 October – Asia, powered by Licensing Expo China and Licensing Expo Japan
Week 3: 20-22 October – North America and Latin America, powered by Licensing Expo
Week 4: 28-29 October – Global C-suite virtual conference – Licensing Leadership Summit

The first three events will boast exclusive brand and property showcases from up to 300 exhibitors, live License This! and Pitch the Brands competition finals as well as live keynote headline talks and panels.

The shows will also feature a retailer-only space with exclusive educational content and expert Q&A sessions as well as ‘Fully Licensed!’, a programme of live daily evening entertainment and experiences in each region.

“We are incredibly excited to announce Festival of Licensing and proud of the opportunities and experiences it offers to the global licensing industry,” said Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group Vice President, Anna Knight.

“Although the decision to transition Brand Licensing Europe to an all-virtual event was a difficult one and we will miss seeing everyone at ExCeL this year, I’m proud that we have a comprehensive offering in its place and look forward to the European event kicking off Festival of Licensing.

“We have had great feedback from June’s Licensing Week Virtual, so we know that there is huge potential and appetite for industry connection during this challenging time when meeting face-to-face is difficult. Our partners are telling us that driving domestic and international connections, discovering new IP and brands and learning how to navigate the new consumer landscape are paramount to the health of forward-planning for the business of brand licensing, and Festival of Licensing will support all of these needs.

“We also want Festival of Licensing to offer amazing experiences for everyone who joins us. One of the joys of virtual is that it can make the previously impossible possible, and we plan to use the power of the platform to fuel the imagination, delight and inspire in a fitting celebration of this industry and the people within it.”

Maura Regan, President, Licensing International, added: “This global virtual event is an exciting platform to provide our members and the broader industry with the connections and tools to continue to move their business forward.

“Our industry is truly global, and this event promises to bring us all together (while apart) designed expressly to engage and facilitate smart business in real time, regardless of where in the world you may be.”

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