On Wednesday the organizers of the Coachella and Stagecoach announced that they were canceling the music festivals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday they issued a statement on the future of the popular events.
Riverside County Public Health announced on Wednesday that Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser signed the order canceling the popular festivals. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival were originally scheduled for April, but they were postponed until October after Kaiser issued a similar order.
“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” said Kaiser. “In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward."
Goldenvoice, which operates both the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival 2020, said in their statement" "This is not the future any of us hoped to confront, but our main focus remains the well-being of our fans, staff, artists, desert partners and everyone involved in the festival."
However, the organizers plan on continuing the events next year.
"A year without Coachella and Stagecoach is hard for us to comprehend, but we have every intention of returning in 2021," the statement read. "As of now, Coachella weekend one will take place April 9-11, 2021 and weekend two will be April 16-18, 2021. Stagecoach is set for April 23-25, 2021. We look forward to sharing our new lineups and more information. We can't wait to be together in the desert again when it's safe."
The organizers said that all 2020 passes will be honored in 2021.
