SXSW Cancellation: What You Need To Know

With the rising COVID-19 crisis has come the cancellation of SXSW, forcing Austin to come to terms with the loss of this unique event and the depth of the impact it will have. The mayor called the cancellation: “A local disaster.”

With local economy hanging in the balance, the Austin community reflects on the event’s importance as an annual staple of local life.

The Cancellation

The keynote speech was to be delivered by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, but was cancelled due to public health concerns related to the pandemic. At the time, few safety measures had been put into place. Following Dorsey’s lead, many other high-end companies slated for the event began to cancel their appearances as well. This included representatives of additional tech giants such as Facebook, TikTok and Netflix.

The decision to cancel the event in its entirety came from Mayor Steve Adler and Judge Sarah Eckhardt, who declared a local state of emergency.

“Ultimately, the risk was just too great for public health and the community,” Adler said.

Refunds

At this point, the policy stands that those who hold badges will not receive a refund for payments that have already been made. However, it’s possible to transfer passes for 2020’s canceled event to a future year. This policy covers the festivals set to take place in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Obviously, no one knows how the pandemic will play out in the future, and current policy guidelines are subject to change.

Economical Impact

The effects span far beyond the disappointment of festival attendees. SXSW is a massive event which the local economy depends on for much of its annual revenue. The impact will be difficult to swallow, as SXSW is one of Austin’s largest events, known to draw many affluent customers to the city.

Taking into account the previous earnings and growth of SXSW, the impact may be above $355 million in lost revenue for the city of Austin.

Economic Assistance

Local government calls on Austin’s residents to help those affected simply by supporting local bars and local businesses when safe to do so.

A fund has been established for the purpose of helping those most directly affected by the cancellation. Launched by the Austin Community Foundation, it is known as the Stand With Austin Fund. Its goal is to bring aid and financial relief to the businesses and individuals affected.

Additional Safety Measures

Local industry may see additional losses due to public health measures put in place to stop the spread. It was recently announced that all Travis County bars and restaurant dining rooms were required to close, and gatherings of ten or more people are currently prohibited to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Future

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Swenson said there are plans to host another SXSW in 2021, “But how we’re going to do that I’m not entirely sure.” Until then, Austinites are trying to adapt to their new reality one day at the time.

SXSW plays a major role in the tech and media world, and will make a triumphant return. Things will return to normal, but for now it’s rather difficult to say exactly when that will be.