Coronavirus Cancellations: Here’s the List
From a public health perspective, canceling events is actually be a good thing.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced waves of cancellations for everything from major sports games (even full seasons) to parades and political events. It’s a lot to keep up with, so we broke down a list of everything we know so far.
From a public health perspective, canceling events can actually be a good thing. Many experts have been encouraging “social distancing,” as the CDC says the virus can be transmitted between people in close contact (within about 6 feet). Most colleges and universities have called off classes or switched to online meetings, and various corporations and offices are rolling out work-from-home policies. Elected officials have also banned large gatherings in cities including New York and California.
But experts continue to emphasize: It is important to stay calm.
Below is a list of major events and occasions that have been canceled because of the concerns over the spread of coronavirus.
Sporting events
- The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have been postponed until 2021.
- The National Basketball Association suspended the 2020 season “until further notice”
- The National Hockey League joined the NBA on March 12 and has paused its 2019 season
- Major League Baseball said it would delay opening day by at least two weeks and cancel the remainder of spring training as of 4 p.m. on March 12
- Major League Soccer suspended its season for 30 days on March 12
- Men's college basketball tournaments that are canceled: Big Ten, SEC (Southeastern), Big East, ACC, Big 12, and Pac 12
- NASCAR postponed all its races until May 3. Previously they were being held without fans in attendance
- NCAA winter & spring championships are canceled
- March Madness canceled.
- The XFL canceled the rest of its season
- PGA canceled The Masters, The Players Championship, and all tour events through Valero Texas Open.
- The Boston Marathon postponed to Sept. 14
- Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women's Tennis Association suspended all tennis tours.
- Euro 2020 soccer championship postponed for next year.
- The Kentucky Derby postponed until Sept. 5.
- The French open postponed until Sept. 20.
Arts & Culture
- Austin’s SXSW Conference & Festivals announced on March 6 that its March dates were canceled
Coachella Arts & Music Festival postponed dates to October - The StageCoach Festival was also postponed to October
- (All tickets for the April events will be honored for the October dates, and people will be told by March 13 how to get a refund if they can't make the new dates.)
- New York City’s Broadway theaters is closed until April 12
- All Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., and New York City, as well as the National Zoo, closed starting March 14.
- The Louvre museum in Paris is closed until further notice.
- Live Nation and AEG Presents suspended all tours in North America.
- MGM Grand, Wynn and Venetian postponednightclub operations and residency shows.
- Miami's Ultra Music Festival canceled.
- Tribeca Film Festival is postponed (originally scheduled for April 15 - 26).
- Movie releases delayed: F9, No Time to Die, A Quiet Place Part II, Mulan, The New Mutants, and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.
- E3 Gaming Convention scheduled for June 9-11 has been canceled.
- LA Pride scheduled for June 12-14 is canceled
- Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, and Empire State Building observatory temporarily closed.
- The MET Gala scheduled for May 4 is postponed indefinitely.
- The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 is canceled.
- Glastonbury in the UK, originally set for June 24-28, has been canceled.
- New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival scheduled for April and May, postponed.
- The Rolling Stones postponed their tour indefinitely.
- The 2020 Tony Awards postponed, originally scheduled for June 7.
- The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh is canceled.
Politics & Government
- The Democratic National Committee’s debate on March 15 was not held for a live audience.
- The Supreme Court also be closed as of 5 p.m. ET on March 12
- The Supreme Court postponed oral arguments scheduled for March, including subpoenas for President Trump's financial records.
- White House Easter Egg Roll scheduled for April 13 has been canceled.
- G20 Summit to was held virtually
Theme Parks
Parades
- St. Patrick’s Festivals in Dublin, Boston, New York City, and Chicago are canceled
Live-audience TV shows suspending production/ Taping without an audience
- “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” suspending production and plans to return March 30
- “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
- “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” suspending production.
- “The View”
- “Live with Kelly and Ryan”
- “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”
- “Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen”
- “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
- "Dr. Phil"
- "Jeopardy"
- "Wheel of Fortune"
- “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” have suspended all production at least through March 30.
- Los Angeles-based shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Late Late Show with James Corden” have not announced their plans on whether they’ll go audience-free yet.
- NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” will suspend production for three weeks.