The Booksellers Association and Gardners have today confirmed the dates for the annual BA conference and Gardners Trade Show, which will take place on 12th – 13th September 2021 at Jurys Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, Hinckley Island. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference and Trade Show had previously been moved to November 2020 and then provisionally to next spring, but following discussions both internally and with members, the event has now been confirmed for September 2021.  

Meryl Halls, Managing Director of the Bookseller’s Association said: “We are delighted to announce the dates for next year’s BA Conference. It has been a difficult year for booksellers, who have had to adapt to changing circumstances and restrictions, and we look forward to coming together with our members at the Conference next September to celebrate their incredible hard work, creativity and perseverance.”

Nigel Wyman, Sales and Marketing Director at Gardners said “We are pleased to confirm our date for the 2021 Trade Show, and are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the BA to host a combined event. We have very much missed being able to gather with our bookseller friends this year, so next year will be all the more special and a true celebration of resilience. We will be working towards a packed show, with more publishers than ever before!”

The Gardners Trade Show will take place on Sunday 12th September, after which the conference activities will get underway, including a conference dinner and party for all delegates sponsored by The Independent Alliance. The conference on Monday 13th September will be chaired by Cathy Rentzenbrink.

Further details of the BA conference and Gardners Trade Show will be released in Spring next year.