FIBO postponed again due to COVID and now scheduled for April 2022

The organisers of Germany's FIBO, the international fitness and wellness trade show, have advised that the event originally planned for 4th to 7th November 2021, will be suspended due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and global uncertainities. FIBO will return to its usual spring schedule next year in 2022, on a rotational basis and take place in Cologne from 7th to 10th April 2022. 

This suspension follows the event having originally been scheduled to run from 8th to 11th April 2021, then postponed to take place from 24th to 27th June, then rescheduled to run in Cologne from 4th to 7th November.

Exhibitors and visitors from all over the world make FIBO the leading trade show and driver for the entire fitness industry. At present, however, many companies in the global fitness industry continue to suffer and are affected by the ongoing travel restrictions.

Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH Chief Executive, Benedikt Binder-Krieglstein notes "an international event like FIBO is simply not feasible under these current circumstances. The expectations that our exhibitors, visitors, partners and we have of a world-leading trade show cannot be met under these conditions in autumn.

"We have therefore decided, together with our exhibitors and partners, to postpone the event to April 2022."

Silke Frank, Event Director of the show adds "we like to say that if it’s called FIBO, it had better be FIBO. For an event like this at an international level, we and our customers still see too many uncertainties in the fitness industry in 2021. That's why it's now a matter of looking to the future and restarting at full strength and energy next year."

Positive conditions for FIBO 2022
Fitness is at the centre of lifestyles. In addition to the worldwide efforts for more health through exercise, many other major topics such as digitalisation, inclusion and diversity are on the industry's agenda. At FIBO 2022, the participants will have the unique opportunity to be the first to test innovations in the market and to exchange views on the topics of the future, at a global level.

Great commitment on the part of the fitness industry
For FIBO in April 2022, there are already many commitments from the industry. For example, Aciso Fitness & Health, Core Health + Fitness, Johnson Health Tech./ Matrix, Sports Art, True Fitness Technology, Keiser Corporation, BioTech USA, Panatta, orilla Wear and M.A.C. Centercom will be taking part. With its proven structure, the fair will occupy seven halls next year and cover all relevant industry topics such as ‘Training Equipment’, ‘Cardio & Strength’, ‘Wellness & Spa’, ‘Health Training Equipment’ or ‘Healthy Sports Nutrition’ and integrate new areas such as ‘Mixed Reality Sports’ and the innovations of the future, for example in the areas of health, digitalisation and nutrition.

FIBO Partner Events by EuropeActive and Sibec Europe
The events planned in parallel to FIBO will be held digitally or live, depending on size of the audience. The European Health & Fitness Forum (EHFF) with its high-calibre speakers will be held digitally on 3rd November, as will the other EuropeActive events such as the European Fitness Associations Forum (EFAF) and the International Standards Meeting (ISM). The President's Council Summit is expected to be held with a physical on-site inspirational, educational and networking program. Sibec Europe, the leading hosted buyer event for suppliers and operators, which was originally planned to run parallel to FIBO in Cologne, is working closely with EuropeActive on plans to host the exclusive events from 2nd-5th November. Sibec will soon communicate about its event.