Montreux Jazz Festival 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

For the first time in 53 years, Montreux Jazz Festival has been called off. The 2020 event was due to run from 3-18 July, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced organisers to cancel the event for this year.

In a statement, organisers write, "This Thursday 16 April, the Swiss Federal Council announced that it would be gradually easing some of the protective measures against the coronavirus, but keeping the majority of the necessary hygiene and social distancing measures in place. As such, it is now impossible for us to consider holding an event on the scale of Montreux Jazz Festival in July, just as it is for our fellow organisers of other summer festivals in Switzerland and around the world. Public health concerns naturally take precedence over all other considerations."

Organisers are also planning to try and reschedule some of this year's events to 2021. They add, "The Festival is working on rescheduling the concerts that have already been announced – Lionel Richie and Brittany Howard on 8 July 2020, and Lenny Kravitz and Black Pumas on 13 July – to next year, and will keep all ticket holders informed."

We had been prepared for this for several days, but that takes nothing away from the sadness we feel today. It is with deep regret that the organisers of the Montreux Jazz Festival must announce that this year’s event will not take place. More info https://t.co/gY1IUhiUly pic.twitter.com/mDCxMhZyqH

— Montreux Jazz Festival (@MontreuxJazz) April 17, 2020