Apr 06, 2020

CORONA CRISIS: WHICH FESTIVALS WILL TAKE PLACE?

 

2020 has begun under unprecedented circumstances: most of the European countries have decided to prevent the coronavirus epidemic by banning crowded events. Which means that most of the European festivals are getting either cancelled or postponed. Worldwide, over 300 festivals are now affected by the coronavirus. Sad news for the live music business, but better be safe than sorry! 

Which Festivals Will Take Place?

The situation is hopefully temporary and most of the festivals have decided to opt for postponements rather than cancellations and even for new digital forms in some cases! Here you will find a list of gig opportunities published on gigmit and their current status. Which festivals will take place? (last updated 6 April 2020 11:00)

Mastering the Music Business (RO) – INES#festival

The festival was supposed to take place from 17-19 March 2020 in Bucharest. Organizers have decided to cancel the festival. The next edition will take place from 9-11 March 2021. Last updates here

m4music (CH) – INES#festival

The 23rd edition of the Swiss festival will not take place. Originally, organizers had decided to hold the festival via digital channels and to offer a mix of music, conferences and of the Demotape Clinic but recent developments have made Live Stream recordings impossible as 50 team members and guests were supposed to take part in the project. Read more here.

m4music

Kontakt Belgrade (SR) – INES#festival

Contact Belgrade should have been held this year from 19-21 March. However, organisers had to postpone the event. Get the latest updates here

Tallinn Music Week (EE)

The event was scheduled for 25-29 March 2020. Organisers have decided to postpone the festival and to reschedule it from 26 to 30 August 2020. Find out more info here.

Impulse Festival (HR)

Organisers have decided to postpone the 7th edition of the festival supposed to take place in Rijeka from 30 March – 5 April 2020. The team is actively working on finding new dates for this year. Find more info here.

Musikmesse (DE)

It has been decided that both Musikmesse Plaza (3-4 April) and Musikmesse Festival (31 March – 4 April) will be cancelled. Organizers have communicated “As it cannot be expected that the situation will change soon enough to schedule an adequate catch-up event, the organisers announce that the international trade show Musikmesse will not take place in 2020.

Westway LAB (PT) – INES#festival

Portuguese festival Westway LAB has been postponed to 14-17 October 2020. “So, nurtured by music’s driving force, we set the goal to keep the original programming but transferring it to October when weather in Portugal is still nice” says Rui Torrinha.  Find out more here.

Sharpe Festival (SK) – INES#festival

The festival was supposed to be held from 24-25 April but has been postponed to 4-5 September 2020. More Information here“[…] because we believe that Sharpe festival has its special place and is important for the music community too, we decided to postpone the festival to September 4-5 2020.”

℅ Pop (DE) – INES#festival

The festival was supposed to be held from 22 to 26 April but has to be cancelled. The promoters are currently trying to postpone parts of the c/o pop festival to October 2020: “Our team is working hard on finding new days – both for the shows and for the other events planned.” Follow updates here.

c/o pop festival in Cologne

ENEA Spring Break (PL) – INES#festival

Festival organizers have communicated that the festival scheduled originally for 23-25 April will be postponed until 10-12 September 2020. Find out more here.

Liverpool Sound City (UK) – INES#festival

Liverpool Sound City was supposed to be held this year from 1-3 May. Organizers have decided to postpone until 25th-27th September 2020. “In light of the crisis, we have developed a brand new online resource “Guest House” that will allow struggling artists and performers to continue to showcase their talent and generate money from the comfort of their own homes. It is an opportunity for artists to showcase their festival sets as well as entertain their fans in innovative ways from the privacy of their own bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, back garden or bedroom!”. Get more news here.

FOCUS Wales (UK) – INES#festival

The festival scheduled for 7 to 9 May 2020 has been postponed to 7-10 October. “[…] we’ve made the decision to postpone FOCUS Wales 2020 until 7th–10th October. Feels like the right move. Some good news… we’ve already re-booked 90% of the lineup! communicated festival organizer Andy Jones (18.03).

FOCUS Wales festival 2020 poster

Fans Out Festival (IT)

Italian festival is particularly impacted by the COVID19 situation at the moment and organizers have communicated that they will take any cancellation or postponement decision will be taken later on, once the situation gets clearer. So far, the festival is supposed to be held from 5-7 June 2020. Find out more here

Peace & Love Festival (SE)

Swedish festival was scheduled for 2-4 July 2020 but organizers had to cancel the event. Find out more here.

MIMO Festival Amarante (PT)

Festival organizers have decided to suspend the disclosure of the dates of the Mimo Festival 2020. More info here.

Unfortunately, it can still happen that festivals that are still planning to take place at this time have to be cancelled. We have to understand this and wait and see. There are festivals like the SXSW having a strict no-refund policy. In view of the threatening financial losses and existential hardship for artists and promoters, this policy is plausible. Therefore, we would like to ask you once again: if you can still afford it, please do not ask for a refund for festival or club events. Stay healthy! And support your live music!


Here you can still find gigs comfortably from home.
You can create future gigs easily and safely here.