The city of Austin today announced that South by Southwest (SXSW) – The annual event featuring music and film festivals, conferences, and more – has been canceled. The event was scheduled to take place from March 13 to March 22.
The city of Austin has declared a health emergency, and SXSW has been canceled on the advice of local health experts that have earned the event could cause the COVID-19 coronavirus to spread.
Event organizers say they’re exploring rescheduling options, and “are working to provide a virtual SXSW online experience as soon as possible for 2020 participants, starting with SXSW EDU.”
The City of Austin has cancelled the March dates for SXSW and SXSW EDU. SXSW will faithfully follow the City’s directions.
We are devastated to share this news with you. “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. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation.
As recently as Wednesday, Austin Public Health stated that “there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer.” However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.
We are exploring options to reschedule the event and are working to provide a virtual SXSW online experience as soon as possible for 2020 participants, starting with SXSW EDU. For our registrants, clients, and participants we will be in touch as soon as possible and will publish an FAQ.
Apple’s on Thursday announced that its plans to participate in the SXSW 2020 Film Festival to premiere new original Apple TV+ content had been dropped due to concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in the United States and other countries.
Apple had been planning to premiere three new Apple TV Plus originals at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival, including Spike Jonze’s documentary film “Beastie Boys Story.” Also was scheduled was a discussion of Apple’s “Little America,” with docuseries creators Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. Those have now been canceled.
Apple was only the latest company to pull out of SXSW. Other companies that had pulled out of the festival included Amazon Studios, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Panasonic, SAP, Mashable and Intel.