Star Wars Celebration is the latest big entertainment event to be upended by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The convention organized ReedPop in partnership with Lucasfilm, has been cancelled ahead of its late summer schedule. It’s the first time the event has been cancelled in Celebration history.
The event was scheduled to run from Aug. 27 through 30 in the Anaheim Convention Center.
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"At Star Wars Celebration, the health and safety of our fans, attendees, exhibitors, guests and staff is always our number one priority," organizers said in a statement Monday. "Due to the global impact of the COVID-19 virus and in speaking with local and state authorities on the latest public health guidelines related to indoor conventions, we have made the decision to cancel Star Wars celebration for 2020."
Fans who purchased tickets can receive a refund or have their tickets transferred to the next Star Wars Celebration, which is set to take place in Anaheim Aug. 18-21, 2022. The refund date opens June 22 and must be completed by Aug. 26. Hotels booked through Star Wars Celebration's portal will automatically be canceled.
Since its 1999 inception, Celebration has relocated with almost each successive event, with shows in the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Germany. Recent Celebrations have offered early looks at films such Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and seen appearances from actors past and present.
This year’s event was to be the second time Celebration has been held in the Californian city, and its third Californian event altogether. (There was an earlier Anaheim Celebration in 2015, and a Los Angeles event in 2007.)
The coronavirus pandemic has already seen July's San Diego Comic-Con canceled.
