When the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, some musicians and festivals began rescheduling for early 2021, in the hopes that things would be under control by then. But with COVID-19 still raging around the world and the vaccine rollout going slower than anticipated, even those rescheduled shows are being delayed once more.
Billboard has compiled an ongoing list of 2021 tours and festivals that have been postponed or canceled due to the ongoing global health crisis. Here they are in alphabetical order.
Boston Calling
The festival called off its 2021 event on Feb. 22. “The health and safety of our entire community is always our top priority, and there was no appropriate scenario under which we could provide the Boston Calling experience you love and deserve,” the event shared on its website and social media.
“While we are sad to go another year without the festival, we have set our sights on 2022 – mark your calendar for Memorial Day weekend.” Ticketholders who want refunds must request them by March 8, 5 p.m. ET; tickets will otherwise be honored for the 2022 festival.
Cincinnati Music Festival
Organizers announced on March 8 that the 2021 summer event would not be happening due to the pandemic, but that it would return July 21-22, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium. For information on tickets to next year’s event and/or refunds, visit CincyMusicFestival.com.
CMA Fest
The Country Music Association canceled its annual festival for the second year in a row on March 2, but noted that they were planning a 2022 comeback. Per the statement: “We still face several challenges that prevent us from bringing our fans around the world the CMA Fest experience they have come to expect. But rest assured, we have already started planning what will be the most epic celebration of country music next summer.”
Coachella
The annual festival had originally planned to return in April after canceling the 2020 festival, but announced Jan. 29 that it was off this year as well. New dates were not announced.
Glastonbury
“In spite of our efforts to move Heaven & Earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the Festival happen this year,” organizers announced Jan. 21. The annual summertime fest was also canceled in 2020.
Halsey
The popstar officially called off her already postponed Manic World Tour on Jan. 22, citing COVID-19 as the reason. “Safety is the priority. I wish things were different,” she tweeted. The North American leg had been set to kick off in June prior to the tour’s cancellation.
Houston Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced Feb. 3 it has canceled all of its entertainment events for 2021. That includes the RODEOHOUSTON competitions, concerts and entertainment, carnival, and other attractions and activities, which were recently rescheduled for May 4-23 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Ultra
The festival’s organizers unofficially canceled this year’s event when they sent a letter to the City of Miami requesting that the event be rescheduled for March 26-27, 2022.
Ultra had been scheduled for March 26-28 after canceling in 2020.
Lightning in a Bottle
Festival organizers The Do Lab announced Mar. 1 that the longstanding California festival, which takes place annually on Memorial Day weekend, would not be happening in 2021. See what they had to say in their interview with Billboard.
Movement
The festival’s organizers announced in mid February that the Memorial Day weekend event for 2021 was nixed due to the ongoing pandemic.
Primavera Sound
The Barcelona festival had announced an ambitious lineup for this year’s festival back in June, but with the pandemic still raging, announced on March 2 that the 2021 event is officially off.
“We will make it doubly good in 2022. Because yes, really, we will dance together again… and like never before,” Primavera Sound tweeted.
Stagecoach
The popular country music festival — which was scheduled for late April — announced in January that the dates were canceled.
Source: billboard.com