The MIDO Management Board announce that the next edition of the fair will take place from 6-8th February 2021 and not in July 2020 as previously anticipated.

In a statement released on 2nd April 2020, MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni said: “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in Italy and its swift spread to the rest of the world, along with doubts about when the crisis will normalize globally, have forced us to make the painful, but crucial, decision to safeguard exhibitors and visitors, buyers and stakeholders, staff and everyone involved in the organization, management and operation of the show.”

“The 50th anniversary edition is being moved to 2021 and we are convinced it will bring a new lease of life to the eyewear industry in Italy and abroad. Our focus, and that of all industry professionals, is to inject new vitality into a healthy economic system that – although slowed by the public health crisis – has never lost its driving force.”
The 50th edition of MIDO will take place approximately three weeks earlier than the usual dates, from 6th to 8th February  2021 at Fiera Milano Rho in Italy.“This is a significant change, and one we had planned to announce during the 2020 edition,” continues Vitaloni. By moving the date forward several weeks, we can give an additional boost to the eyewear business globally and in Italy.
“During these perplexing times, in an ongoing scenario of diminishing revenues and increasing costs, national and international businesses are struggling to strike a balance between the need to keep working and the essential task of ensuring the safety of their employees. This is why we must make certain that, once the pandemic has peaked, businesses know they can count on MIDO to showcase their collections, machinery, ophthalmic innovations, tech inventions and, each in their own field of specialization, get back to doing business. By fostering an alliance between exhibitors and visitors, in a climate of restored confidence, MIDO can play a crucial role in the recovery,” he added.

While awaiting MIDO 2021, the exhibition organisers have created the MIDO4U digital platform, a resource that connects exhibitors (who choose to do so) with international buyers. “The digital platform cannot replace an actual fair,” says Vitaloni, “where people can mingle and talk business, but it is an accessible means of real, albeit virtual, interaction that ensures the industry a viable way to continue to build business relationships.