As people across Europe adapt to self-isolation to combat the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), it has been confirmed that both the Eurovision Song Contest and Glastonbury Festival will not occur this year.
A statement by Michael and Emily Eavis was posted on Glastonbury’s official accounts today announcing the decision, just six days after the line-up for 2020 was unveiled. “Clearly, this was not a course of action we hoped to take for our 50th anniversary event, but following the new government measures announced this week – and in times of such unprecedented uncertainty – this is now our only viable option,” the statement read. The organizers expressed hope that the situation in the UK would improve significantly by June when the 200,000-person festival was scheduled to occur, yet they had to make the difficult decision nonetheless.
For those who managed to secure a ticket with a £50 deposit, they have been offered a spot at next year’s festival, with refunds also available. The impressive line-up featured artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross, Primal Scream, Rufus Wainwright, Imelda May, and Caribou, among many others.
The beloved Eurovision Song Contest also announced its cancellation this year, marking the first time this iconic event has ever been suspended since 1956. The final was set to take place in Rotterdam on May 16, with 41 countries anticipated to compete in front of a crowd at the 16,000 capacity Ahoy Arena. The event would have generated significant tourism and economic benefits for the city, which has struggled amid rising coronavirus cases.
“We are immensely proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years, and we, like the millions of fans worldwide, are extremely saddened that it cannot proceed in May,” an official statement noted.
Philly McMahon, creative director of THISISPOPBABY, the team behind Ireland’s performance by Lesley Roy, remarked, “the whole team is devastated by the news that Eurovision is canceled this year. Over the past few months, we have assembled an inspiring group of creatives who were prepared to showcase beautiful talent for Ireland at the contest. Though this was not meant to be, we step back knowing that Irish creativity is at an all-time high. Naturally, this pandemic outweighs any single event, so we completely understand that our collective health is paramount.”
San Marino’s Senhit expressed her feelings about the cancellation as “a painful yet inevitable choice for our own health. However, the music stays, and these days, it can provide us with the strength to move forward.”
