BookExpo postponed to July

BookExpo, UnBound and BookCon have been postponed, organisers Reedpop has announced, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The New York event was scheduled to take place from 27th to 31st May, but officials have now pushed it back to take place from 22nd to 26th July at the Javits Center. All attendee registration and tickets for the May events will be automatically transferred over to the July dates.

New York state has requested large gathering be postponed as a result of the outbreak. Event director Jenny Martin did not rule out a further delay, saying if the situation changes between now and July "we will run with it".

“We are committed to running a show for this industry and the fans this year. What will that show look like? We are not exactly sure yet. But we believe we will be on the other side of this and ready to get together and do what we love to do: discover, discuss, celebrate and connect through books,” said Martin. “If the situation changes again between now and July, we will change along with it. We run events, we pivot proudly. Right now, we remain focused on the goal of serving our community this summer with those who want to do the same.”

Martin wrote a letter to attendees explaining the delay.

To our BookExpo, UnBound & BookCon community,

Booksellers, librarians, authors, publishers, fans and everyone passionate about this industry are what make these events so special. At every step and with every decision, we have you in mind, so it’s our responsibility to make sure that your health and safety come first at all times.

After many hours of conversation, we have decided to postpone BookExpo, UnBound and BookCon from May to July 22-26 at the Javits Center. We have been closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York and around the country. Following the guidance of health officials, we are now complying with the State’s request that large gatherings be postponed to ensure the well-being of everyone involved with our event.

Our hearts go out to our entire community, every individual person and business impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and all of you who rely on and look forward to this event each year. From authors who have had to cancel book tours, to bookstores who have made difficult and courageous choices to keep their customers and employees safe. We stand with you and we will do everything we can in the coming weeks to highlight your work, so that as a community we can come together and support you.

Please note that all attendee registration and tickets for the May events will be automatically transferred over to the July dates, no action is required on your part. If you have questions, please reach out to our customer service team.

To all of our fans and customers ‚Äì we are committed to giving you the best BookExpo, UnBound and BookCon you’ve ever seen this summer.