South by Southwest 2020 has been canceled, according to an announcement from Austin mayor Steve Adler. “I’ve issued an order that effectively cancels South by Southwest,” Adler said during a press conference today. “There was no path forward that would mitigate the risk enough to protect our community.” The press conference, which also includes officials from the city of Austin and the surrounding county, is ongoing. Find it below.
SXSW has also issued an official statement to confirm the cancellation. “We are devastated to share this news with you,” it reads. “‘The show must go on’ is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place.” Find the full statement below.
Over the past several days, multiple companies and artists have pulled out of participating in SXSW 2020 due to concerns surrounding coronavirus.