Milan's Salone del Mobile furniture fair has confirmed that its 60th-anniversary edition will be postponed until 7 to 12 June "to ensure a strong presence of foreign exhibitors and professionals".

As predicted by Dezeen last week, the fair announced today that the fair will be moved from April due to the latest Covid-19 wave.

The 60th edition of Salone del Mobile, the world's largest and most important furniture fair,  will now be held at the Fiera Milano fairground in early June.

June anniversary edition to focus on sustainability

According to the fair, which was cancelled in 2020 and postponed in 2021, the decision to move this year's edition was due to safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The decision to postpone the event will enable exhibitors, visitors, journalists and the entire international furnishing and design community to make the very most of an event that promises to be packed with new things, in total safety," said Salone del Mobile president Maria Porro.

"As well as celebrating a major anniversary, the event will focus on the theme of sustainability, acting as a showcase for the progress made in this regard by creatives, designers and companies."

By moving the fair to the summer, Salone del Mobile hopes to attract more international attendees.

"Moving the event to June will ensure a strong presence of foreign exhibitors and professionals, which has always been one of the Salone's strong points, and it will also give the participating companies time to plan their presence at the fair as thoroughly as possible given that, as we know, the progression from concept to final installation takes months of preparation," Porro said.

"The desire for a Salone is increasingly strong, which is why we are working towards an event that will give everyone an opportunity to enjoy a unique, concrete and exciting experience. We are all really longing for a Salone."

Salone del Mobile latest in line of cancelled or postponed events 

Last year saw the trade show move to September from its traditional April slot, also due to the pandemic.

It was held in a more scaled-down version called Supersalone and a number of visitors to Milan design week, which runs in tandem with the trade show, told Dezeen the event showed that "less is better."

Several other Milan trade fairs have also moved their dates due to the pandemic, including transport fair Transpotec, eyewear show Mido and travel exhibition Bit.

Globally, design events that have been cancelled or postponed as a result of the ongoing health crisis include Germany's IMM Cologne, France's Maison&Objet and the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in Sweden.

We recently published a guide to 25 key design fairs coming up in 2022, including many that feature revised dates due to the pandemic.

Salone del Mobile will take place from 7 to 12 June in Milan. See Dezeen Events Guide for up-to-date details of architecture and design events around the world.