• Confetti falls on the crowd as Australian band Tame Impala performs on stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio near Palm Spring, California, USA, late 20 April 2019. The two festivals had already been postponed in April 2020 during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
    Confetti falls on the crowd as Australian band Tame Impala performs on stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio near Palm Spring, California, USA, late 20 April 2019. The two festivals had already been postponed in April 2020 during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
  • Sofi of US duo Sofi Tukker jumps into the crowd while performing during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, near Palm Springs, California, USA, 21 April 2019. The two festivals had already been postponed in April 2020 during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
    Sofi of US duo Sofi Tukker jumps into the crowd while performing during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, near Palm Springs, California, USA, 21 April 2019. The two festivals had already been postponed in April 2020 during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
  • Dennis Lloyd, left, performs at Mojave Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in Indio, California. AFP
    Dennis Lloyd, left, performs at Mojave Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in Indio, California. AFP
  • Festival atmosphere at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - in Indio, California. AFP
    Festival atmosphere at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - in Indio, California. AFP
  • The sunsets over the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been cancelled for 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. AP
    The sunsets over the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been cancelled for 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. AP
  • Lauren Alaina performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
    Lauren Alaina performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
  • Danielle Bradbery performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
    Danielle Bradbery performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
  • Jason Aldean performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
    Jason Aldean performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. AFP
  • Dash Berlin performs at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida. AFP
    Dash Berlin performs at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida. AFP
  • Guests attend Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida. AFP
    Guests attend Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida. AFP
  • Fans take in The Flaming Lips performance at Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tenn. The Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis have been postponed because of the new coronavirus outbreak. Memphis in May officials said in a statement. AP Photo
    Fans take in The Flaming Lips performance at Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tenn. The Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis have been postponed because of the new coronavirus outbreak. Memphis in May officials said in a statement. AP Photo
  • Paul Simon performs on stage at the Beale Street Music Festival n Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images
    Paul Simon performs on stage at the Beale Street Music Festival n Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images

Music

From Coachella to Ultra Music: major US music festivals face cancellation due to Covid-19

For the second year, big music events have been forced to push their dates over coronavirus concerns

Samia Badih
Samia Badih

January 31, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The coronavirus pandemic continues to put the live music industry on pause, as two of America's most popular music festivals are once again cancelled.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Festival have been cancelled under a local county order in California.

Coachella was due to take place on two weekends in April, while Stagecoach was scheduled from April 23 to 25. No new dates have been announced for either event.

This announcement comes after a string of music festivals have faced cancellation and postponement this year, including the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis and, internationally, the Glastonbury Festival in the UK.

Other festivals have shifted to an autumn date instead, such as Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee, The Governors Ball Music Festival in New York and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. However many of these big festivals are yet to announce their line-up of performances.

One festival, Austin’s SXSW, has chosen to go ahead with an online event in March. Other festivals, such as Burning Man in Nevada and the Lollapalooza in Chicago, are yet to announce their 2021 plans.

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