By Jason Snell

Macworld Expo is over

It’s a year of milestones. IDG has announced that it’s putting Macworld/iWorld on hiatus. (The MacIT event, previously an adjunct to Macworld, will remain.) Paul Kent of IDG World Expo sent me this statement this morning:

“We are announcing today that Macworld/iWorld is going on hiatus, and will not be taking place as planned in 2015. Our MacIT event, the world’s premiere event for deploying Apple in the enterprise, will continue next year with details to be announced in the coming weeks. Since 1985, Macworld events have brought together a community to celebrate the incredible innovations that Apple has brought into the world, shining a spotlight on the developers who add value to the user’s experience in infinite ways. As Apple products and the related ecosystem have changed, so has the marketplace, and we are proud to have played a part in that evolution. Literally thousands of companies and hundreds of products have come to market at Macworld, and countless professional relationships have been forged. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Apple community for allowing us to host these events and be a part of the incredible story that is the Apple market. We are committed via our MacIT event to bringing together the product developers innovating with enterprise iOS and OS X based solutions, and the growing legion of professionals empowering their organizations through these tools. We are exploring exciting new partnerships, venues and delivery opportunities through which MacIT can continue to serve this market, and we look forward to announcing our plans for this event within the next few months.”

It’s a sad moment, just as the Macworld layoffs and announcement of Macworld print going away were sad. But time marches on.

While technically this is a “hiatus,” I think it’s safe to assume that the Macworld Expo as we knew it won’t come back. Maybe it will take some other form—there are lots of amazing Apple-themed events out there—but I’ve got my doubts. The MacIT conference is a good one, and I’m glad it will be continuing.

All my best to everyone at IDG World Expo who worked on this event over the years, and most especially to Paul Kent, who stewarded the event through some really difficult years.

If you appreciate articles like this one, support us by becoming a Six Colors subscriber. Subscribers get access to an exclusive podcast, members-only stories, and a special community.