Four-week global Festival of Licensing will run online from October 6-29, Informa Markets confirms.
The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets has this morning (July 22) confirmed that Brand Licensing Europe will be transitioning to an all-virtual event for 2020.
In its place will be the Festival of Licensing – a four-week large scale virtual gathering which GLG is aiming to make the most inclusive global licensing event to date.
Running from October 6-29 2020, Festival of Licensing aims to build on the momentum of the Global Licensing Group’s Licensing Week Virtual event, which exceeded expectations in its inaugural launch in June. It will be organised by Global Licensing Group, in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International.
It will comprise four regionally tailored events in key licensing territories.
- Week 1: October 6-8 – Europe (powered by Brand Licensing Europe)
- Week 2: October 14-15 – Asia (powered by Licensing Expo China and Licensing Expo Japan)
- Week 3: October 20-22 – North America and Latin America (powered by Licensing Expo)
- Week 4: October 28-29 – Global C-suite virtual conference, Licensing Leadership Summit.
The first three events will be time-zoned around the territories they serve and deliver the following:
IP discovery – exclusive brand and property showcases from up to 300 exhibitors, live License This and Pitch the Brands competition finals.
Content – live keynote headliners from influential brands, addressing pressing topics of the current and ever changing business environment, 100+ hours of live and on-demand territory and category specific content and a retailer only space.
Networking – opportunities to meet, do business and strike deals through the Festival Matchmaking Service, enabling both pre-planned online video meetings and impromptu exhibitor booth drop-ins.
Experiences – Fully Licensed, a programme of live daily evening entertainment and experiences in each region, plus community and wellbeing featuring a celebration of the industry, a wide range of business/career advice and mentoring, a major industry fundraiser and wellbeing workshops.
The Festival will conclude with the Licensing Leadership Summit (which was originally due to take place as an in-person event back in March in New York).
“We are incredibly excited to announce Festival of Licensing and proud of the opportunities and experiences it offers to the global licensing industry,” said Anna Knight, Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group vice president. “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.”
Anna continued: “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 of 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.”
Brands who are interested in exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities should visit www.festivaloflicensing.com.
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