Coachella and Stagecoach 2020 Canceled Over Concerns Coronavirus Pandemic Could 'Worsen in the Fall'

The popular Southern California festivals had previously been rescheduled from April to October

2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Festival-goers holding out hope to attend the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival this year will have to wait until 2021.

Both festivals, which are put on by the company Goldenvoice, have been officially canceled due to concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Riverside County officials announced Wednesday.

The county's public health officer Cameron Kaiser signed the order to cancel the popular festivals on Wednesday, citing concerns of a possible spike in COVID-19 cases later in the year.

"I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall," Kaiser said in a press release. "In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter."

2015 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

In California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan for reopening, events like concerts are not allowed to take place until Phase 4, which will mark the end of the state's stay-at-home order.

"Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward," Kaiser added. "These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. My first priority is the health of the community."

Riverside County's press release stated that officials had been in contact with Goldenvoice and that Kaiser "praised the company for its efforts to protect the health of concert goers."

The decision to cancel the festivals comes after they were rescheduled from April to October. Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean, were among the headliners for Coachella this year, while Stagecoach's lineup was going to feature Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Goldenvoice said that it has "every intention" of bring both festivals back in 2021.

"Under the continuing health guidance of the County of Riverside, Coachella and Stagecoach 2020 will not take place this October as previously rescheduled," the statement said. "This is not the future that any of us hoped to confront, but our main focus remains the well-being of our fans, staff, artists, desert partners and everyone involved in the festival."

2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

"A year without Coachella and Stagecoach is hard for us to comprehend, but we have every intention of returning in 2021," the statement said, revealing anticipated dates for the two festivals.

"As of now, Coachella weekend one will take place April 9 – 11, 2021 and weekend two will be April 16 – 18, 2021. Stagecoach is set for April 23 – 25, 2021. We look forward to sharing our new lineups and more information. We can’t wait to be together in the desert again when it is safe."

The statement concluded by saying that "all 2020 passes will be honored in 2021," and that "current pass holders will be sent an email by the end of the day on Monday, June 15 with further instructions to request a refund or to roll over to next year."

As of Wednesday, there have been 9,911 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Riverside County, with 372 deaths related to the virus. 5,563 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the county, while 227 individuals are currently in the hospital with the virus, according to county data.

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