Austin Officials Force Cancellation of SXSW Over Coronavirus Fears
Austin's mayor declares a local disaster, officially cancelling the SXSW tech and music conference over coronavirus concerns despite zero local cases. Organizers explore rescheduling options and a virtual experience as thousands had petitioned for the event's cancellation.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler officially cancels the annual SXSW tech and music conference due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The mayor declares a local disaster and issues an order that effectively shuts down the event, which originally runs from March 13th to the 22nd. SXSW states that it complies with the city's order and looks into potential ways to reschedule the massive gathering.
Local health authorities defend the proactive cancellation as a necessary measure to protect the community, even though Travis County currently reports zero confirmed cases of COVID-19. Because attendees from international and domestic areas with known virus exposure plan to spend long periods of time together at panels and concerts, officials determine that cancelling the festival is the right move to prevent a potential outbreak.
The decision comes just days after the mayor insists there is no evidence that cancelling SXSW makes the city safer, reflecting a rapid shift in the face of growing public pressure. A petition demanding the event's cancellation gathers over 54,000 signatures, and several high-profile companies and influencers pull out of the festival. It remains unclear whether attendees and sponsors will receive refunds for their expensive badges and trade show booths.