Coronavirus Update: More Event Cancellations Amid COVID-19 Fears, No Refunds, Changed Dates

Cancellations continue for festivals, tradeshows, and music events as the SXSW in Austin closes its doors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Along with this event, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival has been canceled, and music festivals Coachella and Stagecoach have announced rescheduled dates.

As the events have canceled, some are not offering refunds to ticket holders. SXSW canceled its event for the first time amid COVID-19 fears and has reportedly offered registrants the choice to use their registration for the 2021, 2022, or 2023 event.

A SXSW spokesperson told EW, "We are also working on other ways to add value to their deferred registration so not only will they be able to take advantage of a future SXSW but there will be extra benefits included, as well.”

The loss to canceling the SXSW event could reach tens of millions of dollars, CEO Ronald Swenson told the Wall Street Journal, in addition to laying off 175 employees.

“I am most worried about my people and what this means for their future, and I don’t know what that is yet,” Swenson told the news outlet. “We are planning to carry on and do another event in 2021, but how we’re going to do that I’m not entirely sure.”

The Ultra Music Festival has seemed to have followed suit as it is also not offering refunds instead, giving ticket holders 30 days to decide if they want to attend 2021 or 2022 event. In an email to Ultra attendees, organizers have promised additional benefits that include discounts on merchandise and a free ticket to another Ultra event, EW reported.

Coachella and Stagecoach were reportedly rescheduled from April to dates in October. In addition, the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Denver, Pittsburgh, and Chicago, have also been canceled.

Over 118,000 people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, with over 4,200 deaths reported, according to the World Health Organization.