Licensing Expo Wraps with Record-High Retail Attendance and Nearly 12,000 Attendees

Licensing Expo, the premier global event for licensing, IP, collaborations and brand extension, organized by Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group and sponsored by industry association Licensing International, concluded on June 15 with nearly 12,000 unique attendees, a 13% increase in 2022’s total attendance and returning to numbers close to 2019’s pre-pandemic edition.    

The annual event also recorded the highest quality attendance to date, with 60% of visitors being C-suite or director-level executives, alongside a record-high retail attendance, coming in at +47% vs. 2019. More than 1,150 retailers attended, including buyers from Walmart, Forever 21, PacSun, Tilly’s, Toys ‘R’ Us, Ross, Rue 21, Hot Topic, Inditex, Dollar General, Bershka, Burger King, Hallmark, Macy’s, Amazon, Kohl’s, Target, Fanatics, TJX Companies, Home Depot, Lush, Coach, Primark and Pottery Barn.   

The show also saw more than 6,800 meetings booked and hosted through Licensing Expo’s official online matchmaking platform, empowering conversations between thousands of brands across entertainment, sports, gaming, publishing, automotive, toys, corporate brands, art, non-profit and more, to make connections and strike deals, bringing new trends and innovative products to life.    

“Licensing Expo continues to be the meeting point for the entire licensing industry and host to the most influential and recognizable brands on the market today,” says Anna Clarke, senior vice president, Global Licensing Group, Informa Markets. “It is the place where new and emerging brands come to be discovered, future trends are identified and the next ‘must have’ products are launched. Through interactive fashion showrooms, industry education, and an expo floor hosting companies from all corners of the industry, the engagement and buzz from attendees on this year’s show floor exceeded all expectations.”    

With Fashion as this year’s show theme, Licensing Expo hosted a new perspective of trend-driven apparel and drove the conversation of what licensing means in the fashion world. More than 60 brands were displayed in the fashion showrooms, including Emporio Armani, Crocs, Vans, kathy ireland Worldwide, Butter Goods, Burberry and Lacoste, highlighting fashion products and new brand collaborations.     

“Amid increased attendance and a strong retailer presence, we saw significant business being done at this year’s Licensing Expo,” says Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “Once again, we saw first-hand how important it is for professionals from around the world to gather together as Expo served as an opportunity to celebrate the power of brands, discuss strategies for the year ahead, and continue to expand the business of global brand licensing.”

Licensing Expo 2023 also saw a 15% increase in new-to-show attendance and increased international attendance from Asian, South American and European companies, with some markets doubling their attendance vs 2022. Latin American attendees represented nearly 7% of total attendance at the event.   

Licensing Expo will return to Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on May 21-23, 2024. Brand Licensing Europe will be held this October 4-6 at ExCeL in London with a show theme of Location Based Entertainment (LBE).     

Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) North America takes place November 2 and 3 in New York, with an opening day-focused retail tour for the first half day and a full content program on the second day.   

To stay updated on all upcoming events from Global Licensing Group, please visit thegloballicensinggroup.com.