National Hardware Show cancels 2020 Las Vegas show

The National Hardware Show on Wednesday canceled its September event in Las Vegas.

Originally scheduled for May, the show was postponed until Sept. 1-3 because of the coronavirus pandemic and is now canceled altogether. Roughly 37,000 people were expected to fill the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Instead of an in-person experience, the trade show plans to host a virtual event later this year, the group said.

The virtual event will allow the hardware and home improvement community to continue networking.

“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,” said Randy Field, group vice president, Reed Exhibitions.

Although various organizers and attendees say in-person meetings are irreplaceable, some experts say the pandemic is sure to change the future of Las Vegas’ $10.5 billion convention industry and make it difficult to match pre-COVID attendance levels.

“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,” Rich Russo, industry vice president, National Hardware Show, said in a statement.

“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.”

Contact Jannelle Calderon at jcalderon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @NewsyJan on Twitter.