Pizza Expo cancels June 2020 physical event and launches Virtual Pizza Expo

Las Vegas, NV – Pizza Expo organizers have formally cancelled Pizza Expo 2020 amid growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched its first Virtual Pizza Expo in April featuring free education sessions.

A message on the Expo website reads in part as follows:

During these difficult and uncertain times, we are continually reminded what an important role the Pizza Expo community plays in each of our lives. While the original reason for our coming together was to conduct business, over the years, the transactional nature of our business has been transcended by a genuine sense of friendship, community and a shared appreciation of baking the world’s finest pizzas. This commonality permeates our daily lives throughout the year, and not just in the 4 days we spend together in Las Vegas.

Maintaining the health and safety of every member of this incredible community, as well as that of the Pizza Expo team, is paramount to us. With that said, amidst growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and after having extensive discussions with many of you on the viability of our tentative postponement dates, which were June 26-28, 2020, we have been forced to formally cancel Pizza Expo 2020.

This is due to recent developments regarding COVID-19, that include, but are not limited to, the declaration of a National State of Emergency by President Trump; the various statewide states of emergency declared across the nation; the latest federal measures, including travel restrictions placed on foreign nationals traveling to the United States from certain EU member states and other places; the declaration by the WHO of COVID-19 as a pandemic; the accelerating pace of confirmed cases worldwide and domestically; the current quarantines, containment areas and restrictions on congregating and large gatherings imposed by states and other government and public health authorities; various company-imposed travel restrictions on employees affecting attendees and participating companies; and an internal validation exercise with our customers partners and speakers.  These developments have made it impossible to effectively execute a live, June event that delivers the level of education, connection and value that our community expects and at a time that satisfies the needs of the pizzeria operators, given the tumultuous year for our industry.

We are focused on continuing to serve this community, creating ways to connect and working closely with each of our partners, to provide the necessary support and information to enhance your businesses throughout the year.

A Virtual Pizza Expo will take place April 6-10, 2020. Organizers’ next industry gathering will be at Pizza & Pasta Northeast, Oct. 7-8, 2020, in Atlantic City, N.J. The 2021 edition of Pizza Expo is scheduled for March 16-18, 2021.

Read the full announcement by organizers.