Roskilde Festival 2020 cancelled over coronavirus crisis

Roskilde Festival has announced the cancellation of its 2020 event in response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Organisers had been planning to stage the 50th edition of the Danish festival this summer from June 27–July 4, with the four main days of music falling between July 1 and July 4.

• Read more: Coronavirus: every cancelled gig, festival and tour – and how to get your ticket refund

The likes of Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator and The Strokes were all set to headline on an impressive bill.

Roskilde’s organisers have now had to take the difficult decision to cancel their 2020 festival as a result of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus worldwide.

In a statement issued on Instagram last night (April 6), organisers pointed to instructions recently issued by the Danish authorities prohibiting large gatherings in the country until August 31 in a bid to tackle the spread of the virus.

“Though we feared it would happen, we kept the hope high that it wouldn’t end this way,” the statement, which you can read below, continues. “However, the risk of getting infected with the COVID-19 virus is too large when many people are gathered, and that consideration is by far the most important.

View this post on Instagram

A sad message. There will be no Roskilde Festival this summer. It is with a heavy heart that we’re writing this. The Danish authorities have just prolonged its prohibition against larger assemblies until August 31st. The prohibition also goes for this year’s Roskilde Festival. Though we feared it would happen, we kept the hope high that it wouldn’t end this way. However, the risk of getting infected with the COVID-19 virus is too large when many people are gathered, and that consideration is by far the most important. Roskilde Festival no. 50 was meant to be something very special. We were looking forward to celebrating it with you. We have worked hard and made an extraordinary effort. We know that your expectations have been sky high too. Together we have crossed our fingers and held our breaths in the hope that the situation would change for the better and in due time for us to meet this summer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t supposed to happen after all. Roskilde Festival no. 50 must now wait until 2021. If you have bought a ticket for the festival in 2020, you will be able to transfer it to Roskilde Festival 2021. Should you not wish to transfer your ticket can be reimbursed. We will get back to you about the specific conditions regarding both transfer and reimbursement, as soon as the solution is ready. We kindly ask for your understanding regarding this. But most of all we ask for your support. You can make a huge difference for us by saying yes to being part of Roskilde Festival already now. By that, you will help secure the very foundation of the festival and get us through the difficult times that we are now facing. Right now, we need to recover from the news. Then we will back. Thank you for your support and love. Take good care of yourselves and each other. More info: http://roskil.de/eiCXz

A post shared by Roskilde Festival (@roskildefestival) on Apr 6, 2020 at 12:04pm PDT

“Roskilde Festival no. 50 was meant to be something very special. We were looking forward to celebrating it with you. We have worked hard and made an extraordinary effort. We know that your expectations have been sky high too.

“Together we have crossed our fingers and held our breaths in the hope that the situation would change for the better and in due time for us to meet this summer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t supposed to happen after all.

“Roskilde Festival no. 50 must now wait until 2021.”

Ticketholders for 2020 will be able to transfer their ticket to Roskilde Festival 2021, while refunds are also available. Roskilde say that they will announce details of that scheme “as soon as the solution is ready. We kindly ask for your understanding regarding this.”

You can find out more information about Roskilde’s cancellation here.

Roskilde 2020 is the latest major festival to be cancelled or rescheduled as a result of coronavirus, with the likes of Coachella, Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight Festival all being affected by this year’s outbreak.