Coronavirus: A list of major festivals and entertainment events cancelled around the world

As the outbreak spreads globally, entertainment events are either cancelling or migrating online, here's a list of key events affected

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 25:  David Guetta performs on stage at Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park on March 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida.  (Photo by Sergi Alexander/Getty Images)
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The coronavirus continues to disrupt international entertainment and cultural events, with a growing list of key events cancelled, postponed or migrating online.

Already, major US festivals, such as Ultra Music Festival, Miami and South by Southwest, have called off upcoming editions, with next month's Coachella festival in California set to make a decision soon.

Here's a list of updated statements from international entertainment organisers:

Cancelled: St Patrick's Day parades, New York City, Chicago and Boston, USA 

Like Ireland, St Patrick's Day parades have been cancelled across cities in the USA.

On March 10, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh cancelled the city's annual St Patrick's Day Parade. Boston has a large Irish-American population.

"While the risk in Boston remains low, this situation is changing very quickly and we are closely monitoring any local cases," said Walsh in a statement.

Chicago followed suit on March 11, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced in a press conference: "This was not an easy decision and we don’t take it lightly."

New York City’s St Patrick’s Day Parade has also been postponed following advice from Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo. “We thank Governor Cuomo for his decisive leadership in this challenging time. We look forward to celebrating the 259th St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the entire city of New York at a later date,” said the organiser.

Cancelled: St Patrick's Day parades, across Ireland 

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced that St Patrick's Day parades and festivals in the Republic of Ireland will not go ahead. It has also been confirmed that the parade in Belfast, Northern Ireland will not take place. The week of festivities typically start around March 13 each year, ahead of the festivities celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, which take place on March 17.

"Due to the unique nature and scale of the St Patrick's Day festivities, in terms of size, the mass gathering of local and international travellers, and the continued progression of community transmission in some European countries, along with the emergence of a small number of cases of local transmission in Ireland, the Government has decided that St Patrick's Day parades, including the Dublin parade, will not proceed," the Irish government said in a statement.

Cancelled: Madonna's 'Madame X' tour dates, Paris, France 

The Material Girl singer has cancelled her final two tour dates, which were scheduled in Paris, France on March 10 and 11.

"Following official notification from the Office of the Police this morning prohibiting all events with an audience attendance of over 1000, Live Nation regrets to announce the final two Madame X performances previously re-scheduled to March 10 and March 11 are forced to be cancelled," a statement released on behalf of the artist reads.

Closed: Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman

The performance venue in the Omani capital has stopped remaining events of its performance program. Also postponed indefinitely are guided tours of the venue and the adjacent House of Musical Arts.
"Due to our ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of our patrons, we would like to announce the cancellation of all activities for the remainder of the 2019/2020 season. This is due to the public health and travel measures which have been put in place to address the threat of Covid-19," a spokesperson for the opera house said in a statement.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Closed: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy 

Milan's famed opera house cancelled all performances as part of a region-wide quarantine instigated by the Italian government. Some of the anticipated events now scrapped include a new production of Rossini's Ill Turco in Italia and recitals by Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and pianist Maurizio Pollini.

Cancelled: Tomorrowland Winter, France 

Set to run from March 14 to 21, the event is a seasonal offshoot of Belgium's massive Tomorrowland Festival and was to be held in the French ski resort town of Alpe d’Huez. Organisers called off the event in response to the French government banning all large scale gatherings.

Streaming: Spring Festival in Tokyo, Japan 

The shows will go on for one of Japan's most popular classical music festival. After shuttering its gates as a health precaution, the festival decided run concerts from March 14 to 16, featuring performances by the Berline Philharoniker and soprano Michiko Hayashi, in an empty hall and streamed live for free.
To catch these engagements go to www.tokyo-harusai.com.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Postponed (new date unknown): Beat Hotel, Morocco 

The buzz worthy Moroccan dance music festival was set to return for its second year, featuring performances and workshops by influential acts from the electronic music scene.
The festival was set to take from March 19 to 22. No new date has been announced. 
 "It's with a heavy heart and much reluctance that we announce this year's Beat Hotel Marrakech will be postponed, following the decision of the Moroccan Government earlier today (Thursday, March 5) to ban events over 1000 people, due to the escalation of the Covid-19 Coronavirus," organisers said in a statement on Instagram. 
"The safety of our guests is our number one priority for The Beat Hotel Marrakech, and we work closely with Moroccan and international partners all year round to plan an enjoyable and safe event ... Despite our best intentions to make the event happen safely, the Moroccan Government has ruled it cannot go ahead, as part of a nationwide ban on mass gatherings, until at least the end of March."

Cancelled: Ultra Music Festival, Miami, Florida, USA 

The popular electronic music festival plays an influential role in the EDM scene and hosts crowds of over 170,000 over three days. Set to run from March 20 to 22, a statement was released on social media saying this year's festival has been called off under direction from The City of Miami and will return in 2021 from March 26 to 28.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  Cancelled: South by Southwest, Austin, Texas, USA 

Slated to kick off from March 17 to 23, this is the first time the festival won't run in its 34-year history. The move was ordered by the Austin mayor Steve Adler, due to the escalating situation in the US and declared it "a local disaster".
"'The show must go on' is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place," organisers said in a statement. 
"We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation."

Postponed (new date unknown): Korea Times Music Festival, Los Angeles, California, USA

Los Angeles's The Korea Times Music Festival 2020 was due run on April 25, however, organisers have announced the postponement of the event, which was set to showcase popular acts Momoland, Ha Sung Woon and No Brain.
Those attending are urged to hold on to their tickets while a new date is being organised, however refund options are also available.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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