The decision to cancel the fair was taken by Messe Essen in close consultation with the partner associations. The next Security Essen will take place at Messe Essen from September 20 to 23, 2022.

No other choice
Security Essen is a biennial event, taking place every two years.

"The anticipation of this year's edition and the new concept of Security Essen was great among all those involved, and so all the more difficult for us to decide to cancel the fair", explains Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Messe Essen. "However, the current dynamic situation and the continuing global travel restrictions unfortunately do not permit serious preparations for the fair. As a result, our exhibitors and visitors and also we as the organisers lack the planning perspective which would have been a prerequisite for the customary professional staging of Security Essen this September.”

"The cancellation of Security Essen 2020 is the result of a prudent and careful evaluation of the current situation which we have undertaken together", adds Norbert Schaaf, Chairman of the Management Board of the Federal Association of Safety Engineering (BHE) and Chairman of the Security Essen Advisory Board. "Since the majority of our fair participants come to Essen from abroad, we had to act with particular prudence. Due to the unclear worldwide development of the Coronavirus pandemic and the associated uncertain travel planning, there was unfortunately no alternative in the end.”

International show
Dr. Christian Endreß, Managing Director of the Federal Association for Security in Industry and Commerce (ASW) and member of the Security Essen Advisory Board, comments also on the decision to cancel the event.

“ Security Essen as an important international fair of the security industry is an absolute highlight for our association every second year. The cancellation of this year's edition is hitting the industry and the security associations hard. We regret this decision, but we also fully understand it and look forward to the security year 2022 with confidence," he says.

Enormous economic challenge
Dr. Harald Olschok, General Manager of the Federal Association of the Security Industry (BDSW) and member of the Security Essen Advisory Board agrees:

"From the perspective of our member companies, the decision to cancel Security Essen is fully understandable. Personally, I regret this very much, because it would have been my 15th and last Security Essen as Chief Executive of BDSW and BDGW. But for the security service providers, the Corona crisis represents an enormous economic challenge. I am sure that the management and the entire team of BDSW and BDGW with their affiliated member companies are looking forward to Security Essen 2022 – then under better economic conditions.”

The next Security Essen will take place at Messe Essen from September 20 to 23, 2022. Messe Essen and its cooperation partners are already working on the next edition and the further development of the new, innovative fair concept.