It was only a matter of time before one of the most significant yearly events in pop culture fell to the on-going global health crisis. The 2020 San Diego Comic-Con, the largest fan convention in North America, is now cancelled.
The event that sees more than 130,000 participants each year was scheduled to be held from July 23rd to 26th. The decision follows the recent announcement from California governor Gavin Newsom, where Newsom notes that “large-scale events that bring in hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of strangers” are “not in the cards” for the foreseeable future.
The current organizers for SDCC point to Gov. Newsom’s remarks as a central reason to cancel Comic-Con for 2020:
“Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood, [organizers] had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer,” Comic-Con International says in their statement.
They continue, “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.”
The cancelation marks the first in San Diego Comic-Con history, but the organizers say the event will return from July 22nd to 25th, 2021. They also note that attendees who had purchased badges for the 2020 convention will receive an email within a week containing information on how to refund or transfer badges to the 2021 event.
