Glastonbury cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

The legendary music festival announced a stellar line-up for the 50th anniversary just last week - but has now enforced a fallow year.

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Taking to social media, Michael and Emily Eavis announced: "We are so sorry to announce this, but Glastonbury 2020 will have to be cancelled, and this will be an enforced fallow year for the Festival.

"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.

"We very much hope that the situation in the UK will have improved enormously by the end of June.

"But even if it has, we are no longer able to spend the next three months with thousands of crew here on the farm, helping us with the enormous job of building the infrastructure and attractions needed to welcome more than 200,000 people to a temporary city in these fields.

"We would like to send our sincere apologies to the 135,000 people who have already paid a deposit for a Glastonbury 2020 ticket.

"The balance payments on those tickets were due at the beginning of April and we wanted to make a firm decision before then.

"We understand that it is not always easy to secure a Glastonbury ticket, which is why we would like to offer all those people the chance to roll their £50 deposit over to next year, and guarantee the opportunity to buy a ticket for Glastonbury 2021.

"Those who would prefer a refund of that £50 will be able to contact See Tickets in the coming days in order to secure that.

"This option will remain available until September this year.

"For those who are happy to roll their deposit over, that will happen automatically.

"Further information – including details on rolling over coach packages, official accommodation bookings and local Sunday tickets – will be added to our website in the coming days.

"The cancellation of this year’s Festival will no doubt come as a terrible blow to our incredible crew and volunteers who work so hard to make this event happen.

"There will also inevitably be severe financial implications as a result of this cancellation – not just for us, but also the Festival’s charity partners, suppliers, traders, local landowners and our community.

"We were so looking forward to welcoming you all for our 50th anniversary with a line-up full of fantastic artists and performers that we were incredibly proud to have booked.

"Again, we’re so sorry that this decision has been made.

"It was not through choice. But we look forward to welcoming you back to these fields next year and until then, we send our love and support to all of you."

Festival fans have taken to Twitter to share their relief about the decision to roll over tickets.

One tweeted: "Glad that they’re rolling over tickets. right decision. stay safe, everyone!"

Another added: "I know it’s sad it’s cancelled but I am so happy you have rolled tickets over you legends!"

A third wrote: "Absolutely heart broken, Thank you for rolling over the tickets."

Some people were not so happy about the cancellation and vented their anger online.

"No Glastonbury. No Euros. No summer really. Hard to stay positive at the moment," wrote one Twitter user.

Another tweeted: "Now #Glastonbury is cancelled I am so f***ing done with this virus."

While a third wrote: "nahhhh this corona bastard has gone too far now what's his @ I want words."

More information about accommodation and coach packages will follow.

This year's festival, set to run from June 24 - 28 had Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar as headline acts.

Festival organiser Emily Eavis last week reassured fans she was doing everything she could to prepare for business as usual amid the coronavirus crisis.

"So, after much consideration given the current circumstances, and with the best of intentions, here is the first list of musical acts for Glastonbury 2020," she wrote on Instagram.

"As things stand we are still working hard to deliver our 50th anniversary Festival in June and we are very proud of the bill that we have put together over the last year or so.

"No one has a crystal ball to see exactly where we will all be 15 weeks from now, but we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that it will be here at Worthy Farm for the greatest show on Earth!⁣"

Diana Ross was already revealed to be performing in the coveted legend's slot on Sunday afternoon.

Other acts revealed include Dua Lipa, Camilla Cabello, Sam Fender and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
A cancellation or postponement of Glastonbury seemed inevitable as major events around the world are stopping due to coronavirus.

The US music festival Coachella was postponed until September, while The Who, Pearl Jam, BTS and Madonna have all postponed tours as virus rates continue to soar.

The festival – held at Worthy Farm in Somerset –is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The cancellation comes after PM Boris Johnson warned everyone to avoid unnecessary social contact.

He said "drastic action" was needed to curb the spread of the deadly virus and described the UK as being only three weeks behind Italy, one of the worse affected countries.

The PM warned people should work from home, stay indoors, avoid non-essential travel and avoid crowded places such as pubs, restaurants or cinemas.

The UK currently has 1,950 cases of coronavirus and 71 reported deaths.

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