From the long-awaited Summer Olympics in Rio and a milestone South Beach Food & Wine Festival to the Republican and Democratic national conventions, here's what's on tap for some of the biggest events next year.
Consumer Electronics Show 2016
The world's largest electronics and technology event is known as the setting for major reveals and announcements. Highlights are expected to include emotive robots, virtual reality, and flexible electronics. But this year's hottest tech item won't be present: The Consumer Technology Association recently banned hoverboards because of fire hazard risks. There will also be enhanced security measures and bag restrictions, including a two bag limit, bans on luggage and roller bags, and armored police officers and explosive protection dogs as precaution. More than 3,600 exhibitors are expected to attend the event, which takes place January 6 to 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, and the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Super Bowl 50
Dubbed the Golden Super Bowl, the 50th edition of the N.F.L. championship game will take place February 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and there are numerous changes to the event—aside from that fact its title is using an Arabic instead of Roman numeral. For the first time, CBS will live-stream all the commercials that air, recognizing the importance of viewers who watch the game on devices other than televisions. Coldplay will headline the halftime show and Super Bowl Media Day—which in the past has been broadcast through short clips on SportsCenter—is expected to become a prime-time event with live coverage across a variety of networks.
New York Fashion Week
Fashion designers are beginning to question the value of New York Fashion Week in the age of social media. Designs debuted at splashy shows and breathlessly posted to Instagram seem passé once they’re finally available for sale six months later. The Council of Fashion Designers retained Boston Consulting Group to explore potential changes, including whether Fashion Week should switch from an industry affair to a consumer event. Any changes to the IMG-owned show would not affect the February shows, set for February 11 to 18, but potentially could affect the September edition.
TED2016: Dream
The theme for next year's TED Conference, taking place February 15 to 19 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, will be "Dream." The event's theme is inspired by President John F. Kennedy's moon speech and will be dedicated to pioneers of innovation, invention, and imagination. The five-day event will feature everything from its signature 18-minute stage talks and tech demos to art exhibits and evening events at various Vancouver venues.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The massive South Beach Wine & Food Festival celebrates a milestone next year with its 15th anniversary. In its first year, the event drew some 7,000 people but had already identified some key elements: a massive Grand Tasting Village and a lineup of dinners, seminars, and other ticketed events. The crowds have grown to more than 60,000 people who come to see favorite chefs and personalities from sponsors the Food Network and Cooking Channel and attend signature events like Burger Bash. As the event has expanded, so has its footprint. The 2016 edition will feature a new Taste Fort Lauderdale Series with dinners at local restaurants and a Bloody Mary Brunch by the cast of Chopped. The event takes place February 24 to 28.
Academy Awards
The 88th Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC on February 28 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Comedian and actor Chris Rock will return to host next year's ceremony, a move that producers think will curb the ratings dip and address complaints of the event's lack of diversity. There are still no clear frontrunners in any of the major categories, but Carol, Spotlight, The Martian, and Mad Max: Fury Road have all garnered Golden Globes and Critics' Choice award nominations.
RSA Conference 2016
The information technology security conference, which is held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, banned overly sexualized "booth babes" by implementing a dress code at last year's show. The event takes place earlier in 2016—from February 29 to March 4—and will have increased Expo hours, expanded session times, and brand new programs including early breakfast discussions called Birds of a Feather sessions.
South by Southwest
South by Southwest 2016 already made headlines when it canceled two panels focused on gamer culture after receiving threats of on-site violence, only to add a daylong, live-streamed online harassment summit after facing immediate backlash. Austin's music, film, and tech fest will take place March 11 to 20, and certain acts and screenings have already been announced. Richard Linklater's comedy Everybody Wants Some will have its world premiere on opening night, and showcasing artists include Ra Ra Riot, White Denim, and Kevin Gates. The festival will have its third major schedule announcement in January.
C2 Montréal
The three-day advertising and marketing event, which blends commerce and creativity with lectures, workshops, and exhibits, will celebrate its fifth anniversary May 24 to 26 at Arsenal. The theme for next year's event is "The Many," focusing on how influence is shifting from corporate heads to consumers, entrepreneurs, and collaborative organizations. Speakers will include Martha Stewart and Chip Conley, head of global hospitality at Airbnb.
Political Conventions
The national conventions for Republicans and Democrats promise serious political drama, particularly on the Republican side where it’s possible delegates could arrive in Cleveland without a clear frontrunner for the presidential nomination. The Republicans meet first, July 18 to 21, followed by the Democrats, who are headed to Philadelphia July 25 to 28. The conventions will be held earlier than they were in 2012, with the hopes of giving their candidate more time to campaign before the general election in November.
Comic-Con International: San Diego 2016
San Diego reached a new deal this year that will keep the entertainment and comic convention at the San Diego Convention Center through 2018. The programs and speakers for the 47th annual event, which takes place July 21 to 24, haven't been announced, but shows and films including Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Captain America: Civil War, and Suicide Squad will likely have a major presence.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is celebrating its 25th birthday next year by expanding to four days. The music festival's founder, Perry Farrell, says the change was made as a gift for fans and to accommodate more artists, but it's unclear whether the expansion is permanent or a one-year change. The festival will take place July 28 to 31 in Chicago's Grant Park and the lineup has yet to be announced.
Rio 2016 Summer Olympics
The highly anticipated Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will run from August 5 to 21. NBC began an extensive marketing effort last August to generate buzz for the games, with email blasts, a one-year-out celebration in New York's Rockefeller Plaza, and Olympic-theme editorial content on the network's sports websites. Lately, the games have been in the spotlight for unsavory reasons: Tests over a five-month period found bacteria and viruses from raw sewage are contaminating waters that are supposed to be used for water sports events at the games. NBC Universal also plans to study the viewing habits of those who tune on television, mobile, and digital platforms this summer, as it contemplates how to program Olympics content and sell it to sponsors. TiVo and RealityMine will partner to collect the information.
