NATIONWIDE – San Diego Comic-Con International will not take place this year.
- San Diego Comic-Con canceled for 2020
- The decision was due to coronavirus-related restrictions on large gatherings
- The event, organizers said, will return in 2021
The popular pop-culture convention has been canceled due to coronavirus-related restrictions on large gatherings pandemic, organizers announced Friday.
“Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year,” a statement on the Comic-Con website said.
Comic-Con, which was initially set for July 23-26, will now take place at the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25, 2021.
This is the first time in the event’s 50-year history that it has been canceled.
“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision,” Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer said in a statement. “We eagerly look forward to the time we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy.”
Earlier in the week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that chances were low for mass gatherings events taking place in the state this summer.
Comic-Con joins other major events that have canceled because of the pandemic, including Austin’s SXSW.