The organisers of furniture and interiors fair IMM Cologne have postponed the next event until 2023 after concerns about coronavirus made planning "almost impossible".
IMM Cologne was due to take place in the German city this January but has now been pushed back to January 2023, amidst a surge in cases of Covid-19 across Europe.
It is the second year in a row that the event has been cancelled as a result of the pandemic, after the January 2021 edition of the fair was called off in November last year.
IMM success "extremely endangered"
Trade fair organiser Koelnmesse made the decision on the advice of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM), which is IMM's industry sponsor.
VDM CEO Jan Kurth believes the economic success of a 2022 event is "extremely endangered", with many exhibitors and attendees likely to withdraw. "Following consultation with numerous exhibitors, industry representatives and trading partners, there is either no question of participation on the part of German exhibitors or exhibitors from the German-speaking region, or this is very much in doubt," said Kurth.

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Koelnmesse said that a successful event is "not realisable in the current situation", with other industry partners echoing the advice of the VDM.
"The current special basic conditions in the interior desig...