Here's What Has Been Cancelled, Postponed and Suspended Across Australia Due to COVID-19
From the Royal Easter Show to Vivid and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, here's where the industry has been hit.
The COVID-19 situation in Australia is changing every day, with the federal government first implementing a ban on non-essential events with more than 500 people and then mandating that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days. In response to the first restriction, events and venues around the country are cancelling and postponing their 2020 plans.
This is having devastating impacts on the local hospitality, arts and music industries, with I Lost My Gig Australia reporting that, as of midday on Monday, March 16, 20,000 events have been cancelled, which has impacted 190,000 Australians and equated to $47 million in lost income. And those numbers are continuing to climb.
While going out might not be at the top of your to-do list right now, you can continue to support these industries and businesses by buying from artists who've had their shows cancelled, ordering gift cards and merch from venues that are struggling or just booking in a dinner for that birthday a few months away.
To keep you abreast of what's been cancelled, postponed and suspended, here's our live list, updated as it happens.
Sydney Royal Easter Show.
SYDNEY
All ANZAC Day commemoration services across NSW (April 25): cancelled
All City of Sydney aquatic and fitness centres: closed until at least April 3
All non-essential indoor venues, including casinos, gyms, cinemas, places of worship, clubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes (can offer takeaway and delivery only): temporarily closed
Alliance Francaise Film Festival (March 10–April 8): postponed from March 19
Art Gallery of NSW: temporarily closed
Biennale of Sydney: cancelled
Bluesfest (April 9–14): cancelled
Carriageworks: temporarily closed (Saturday farmers markets will proceed)
Comedy Steps Up for Bushfire Relief (March 16): cancelled
Download Festival (March 21): cancelled
Festival of Dangerous Ideas (April 3–5): cancelled
Handa Opera (March 27–April 26): cancelled
Happy Place (until May 3): postponed
Momo Fest (April 18): postponed
No Coal Zone (March 14): postponed
Opera Australia's Carmen, Atilla and Great Opera Hits: cancelled until March 28
Palace Cinemas: all locations closed from March 19
Royal Easter Show (April 3–14): cancelled
So Pop 2020 (April 25): cancelled
Spanish Film Festival (April–May): postponed until August, with new dates TBC
Splendour in the Grass (July 24–26): postponed until October 23–25
Sydney Film Festival (June 3–14): cancelled
Sydney Writers' Festival (April 27–May 3): cancelled
Sydney Opera House: all performances cancelled until June 17
Taronga Zoo: temporarily closed
The Other Air Fair (March 20–23): postponed
Vivid Sydney (May 22–June 13): cancelled
Ability Fest by Alex Drewniak
MELBOURNE
Ability Fest (April 4): cancelled
All ANZAC Day Commemorative services across Victoria (April 25): public cannot attend
All City of Melbourne libraries, recreation centres and cultural and arts centres: temporarily closed
All non-essential indoor venues, including casinos, gyms, cinemas, places of worship, clubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes (can offer takeaway and delivery only): temporarily closed
Alliance Francaise Film Festival (March 11–April 8): postponed from March 19
Arts Centre Melbourne: closed until April 13
Cirque du Soleil Kurios: suspended until further notice
Download Festival (March 21): cancelled
Fromage a Trois (March 22): cancelled
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: suspended until April 12
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (March 19–29): postponed until spring
Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March 25–April 19): cancelled
Melbourne Queer Film Festival (March 12–23): postponed
Melbourne Museum: closed until further notice
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: postponed until April 13 (but it is live-streaming select shows)
Momo Fest (April 4–5): postponed
National Gallery of Victoria: closed until April 13
Open Weekend (March 21–22): cancelled
Palace Cinemas: all locations closed from March 19
So Pop 2020 (May 1): cancelled
Spanish Film Festival (April–May): postponed until August, with new dates TBC
State Library Victoria: closed until further notice
Sweetstock (March 28–29): cancelled
The Other Art Fair (May 21–24): postponed
Wine Machine (March 28): postponed until October 31
World Tour Bushfire Relief (March 13): cancelled
Wall to Wall Festival (April 3–5): postponed
Westpac OpenAir
BRISBANE
All non-essential indoor venues, including casinos, gyms, cinemas, places of worship, clubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes (can offer takeaway and delivery only): closed
All ANZAC Day commemoration services across Qld (April 25): cancelled
Alliance Francaise Film Festival (March 18–April 14): postponed
The Big Pineapple Music Festival (May 30): postponed until early October — new date TBC
Boho Luxe Market (April 17–19): postponed until September 25–27
Brisbane Comedy Festival: cancelled from March 16 onwards
Brisbane Gin Festival (April 4): postponed until September 19
Brisbane Night Market (weekly on Fridays): closed until further notice, with all events cancelled
Buddha Birthday Festival (May 1–3): cancelled
Burgers and Beers (March 21+27): cancelled
Cat Cuddle Twilight Market (March 27): postponed — new date TBC
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (March 18–April 19): cancelled
Curiocity Brisbane (March 20–April 5): cancelled
The Drop Festival Coolangatta (March 28): cancelled
Eat Street Northshore: closed until further notice
Fish Lane Festival (May 9): postponed until September 5
The Foundry: closed until further notice, with all events cancelled
Gigs & Picnics (March 28, April 25, May 30): monthly events postponed until June 27
Gold Coast Film Festival (April 15–26): cancelled
Greener Pastures (May 3): cancelled
Green Jam Sessions (weekly on Fridays): all sessions cancelled until at least April 30
HOTA, Home of the Arts: closed until March 31
James St Up Late (March 26): cancelled
Momo Fest (April 12): postponed — new date TBC
Mould: A Cheese Festival (March 20–21): postponed — new date TBC
Mov'In Bed Cinema (March 27–May 17): postponed until the last quarter of 2020 — new dates TBC
Netherworld: closed from Wednesday, March 18 until at least the end of March, with all events cancelled
Noosa Eat & Drink Festival (May 14–17): cancelled
Not On Your Rider (March 26 and April 30): cancelled, with events likely to restart in October
Palace Cinemas: all locations closed from March 19
The Planting Festival (May 1–3): cancelled
The Plant Market (March 29): postponed — new date TBC
Puppies and Pints (April 5): cancelled
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: both galleries remain open, including GOMA's Australian Cinemathque, but all public programs, events and tours have been cancelled
Queensland Performing Arts Centre: all theatres closed until at least April 30
Queensland Symphony Orchestra: all performances cancelled until April 30
Stones Corner Festival (May 3): cancelled
Water Up Late (March 20–21): cancelled
So Pop 2020 (April 24): cancelled
Spanish Film Festival (April–May): postponed until August, with new dates TBC
Westpac OpenAir (April 5–26): postponed — new date TBC
World Science Festival Brisbane (March 25–29): cancelled
The Village Markets Stones Corner (March 27): cancelled for March, with a decision about future markets due by March 27
Young Henrys Rock N Roll Circus (March 19): postponed — new date TBC
To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Top image: Vivid
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