Originally slated to be in New Orleans in January, NADA Show 2021 now will be held Feb. 9-11 as an all-virtual event experience, the National Automobile Dealers Association announced Oct. 12.

The event will offer more than 60 educational workshops and sessions, franchise meetings with OEM partners, an online NADA Expo, and more. 

The auto industry’s "event of the year" also will feature NADA Academy instructors, legislative and regulatory experts and other top industry professionals with a full program of class-leading education, best practices and new tools to adapt to a changing business landscape — all in a virtual environment.

"Dealers are both incredibly resilient and incredibly optimistic. Their resiliency has been proven time and again this year. So too has their optimism, because throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we remained optimistic and hopeful that we would be able to gather together in person in New Orleans for the most important NADA Show," said NADA Chairman Rhett Ricart. 

"But the coronavirus has been persistent, a second wave is predicted to coincide with flu season, and, as things stand, public health controls remain too restrictive to allow our show to go forward in person." 

Peter Welch, the NADA’s president and chief executive, added: "While we are disappointed we cannot be together in New Orleans, we are excited about what a virtual show will mean for dealers and the entire auto industry.

"And without any of the travel costs associated with attending an in-person show, we’re very hopeful that a far greater number of dealership employees will be able to attend virtually and get all the benefits our show has to offer. This indeed could be the first NADA Show that many dealership employees are able to attend."

"The importance of this year’s NADA Show simply cannot be overstated," Ricart said. "Dealers have been adjusting their operations, business plans and balance sheets during the coronavirus environment. 

"NADA Show 2021 is a vital time for dealers to come together and learn from the experts and from each other, and the NADA will provide a fabulous forum to do precisely that."

Show registration will open in the coming weeks. Information on all aspects of NADA Show 2021 will be available at nadashow.org.