Electric Picnic 2020 falls victim to coronavirus pandemic

Refunds now available but ticket holders advised they can be retained for use in 2021

Electric Picnic 2019. This year almost 70,000 people were expected to attend. File photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times
Electric Picnic 2019. This year almost 70,000 people were expected to attend. File photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times

This year's Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois, has been cancelled by its organisers due to the coronavirus pandemic. A statement posted on the festival website on Monday afternoon stated that "sadly, Electric Picnic 2020 will no longer be taking place".

The statement went on to say that the decision had “become unavoidable” and that “whilst the entire Electric Picnic team are terribly disappointed, we have a responsibility to all our fans, artists, crews, suppliers, sponsors, partners and our entire Electric Picnic family including the wonderful people of Stradbally who have welcomed us into their community each year”.

Electric Picnic, which was scheduled to take place from September 4th to 6th, is Ireland's largest music festival. This year almost 70,000 people were expected to attend and be entertained by acts including Rage Against the Machine, Snow Patrol, Lewis Capaldi and The Chemical Brothers. It is one of the last of the summer's major events to be officially cancelled due to the pandemic, following similar announcements from the Galway International Arts Festival, The National Ploughing Championships and many others.

Ticket holders have been advised that refunds will be available from Ticketmaster or any other original point of purchase them over the next 30 days, although they can also be retained for use next year.

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“We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2021 for lots more fun, music, extravagance and magical moments,” said the organisers.

Hugh Linehan

Hugh Linehan

Hugh Linehan is an Irish Times writer and Duty Editor. He also presents the weekly Inside Politics podcast