Coronavirus Cancellations: Here’s the List

From a public health perspective, canceling events is actually be a good thing.

Getty Images
Getty Images

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

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

  • Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, and Disneyland Paris Resort will be closed. Disney Cruise Lines also closed.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles closed effective March 14.
  • SeaWorld closed effective March 16

Parades

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.