What no one thought possible, has become a reality in just a few weeks time. What initially looked like a pause, has turned out to be a bigger-than-anticipated reset. “The impact of the Coronavirus is immense,” says Jo Libeer, CEO of the Biennale Interieur. “Uncertainty reigns and investments big and small are being postponed. As an organization, we have to take up responsibility both towards our exhibitors as towards our visitors. Since we want to guarantee our known level of quality, we have decided to postpone the 27th edition of the Biennale Interieur by one year”.

In any case, 2020 will remain a unique year for the Biennale Interieur. This year marks the 15th time we will honour and select a Belgian designer of the year. This prize will be awarded in the autumn, in collaboration with Knack Weekend and Le Vif Weekend. The Biennale Interieur took its first steps towards a new model a few years ago, a renewal which will continue. The development of a city festival and the targeted development of an intense and more professional programme met the demands of the market. This process of change is now being further elaborated. “We know the market through and through, and our team stays informed and up to date on a daily basis, staying in contact with international furniture manufacturers, leading designers and thought leaders. We cannot ignore the signals that reach us, and will deal with the situation in a flexible, open way,” concludes Jo Libeer. “We remain hopeful for the future and will use this extra year to work on a strong, content-driven Biennial for 2021.

By postponing the 5-day event to 2021, the Biennale Interieur changes timing, and changes from even years to odd years. The world will look different in a post-covid era.