NORWALK, Conn. –  Citing the continued impact of COVID-19 on customers and on the global hardware and home improvement industry, the National Hardware Show (NHS) has canceled its 2020 event. A virtual trade show is instead being planned for later this year.

Originally scheduled for May in Las Vegas, the 75th annual show was postponed to September. The 2019 event included more than 2,700 exhibitors and an estimated 19,000 attendees.

“The hardware industry has been greatly impacted by the global pandemic and hundreds of our international exhibitors have been forced to cancel their plans to participate in NHS due to market conditions and continued travel restrictions,” said Randy Field, Group vice president at Reed Exhibitions, the show's organizer.

 "Following the May postponement, we prioritized making NHS Connects the place for the hardware and home improvement community to come together to source information.  It will soon be where connections, direct appointment setting, and virtual product showcases will debut. We will also be adding a virtual tradeshow component to this digital platform that enables networking and we look forward to utilizing that platform to allow business to continue," Field added. "We seek to encourage attendees, exhibitors and all of the NHS community to explore the platform and utilize it until we meet again in person in 2021.”

The 2021 NHS is scheduled to take place May 11-13 in Las Vegas.

Rich Russo, Industry vice president, National Hardware Show said, “Our entire team is dedicated to supporting all of our customers and partners.  We are passionate about providing new options such as NHS Connects and look forward to continuing business virtually and creating innovative experiences for when we can hold an in-person event in 2021.  We are re-imagining the entire physical trade show, so look forward to new initiatives, new pavilions and neighborhoods, and a complete transformation of NHS for 2021.”

For information about the 2020 National Hardware Show Virtual Event, visit nationalhardwareshow.com or call 888-425-9377 or 203-840-5622.