By Tribune Staff
NASHVILLE, TN — While some big festivals such as Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo have either already been held or moved back to adjust for COVID-19, the virus has claimed one big event for a second straight year. There will not be a New Orleans Jazz Fest again in 2021. The official announcement was made Sunday, with the cancellation linked to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant.
Jazz Fest had previously planned an October move, but said in the announcement that they would now look forward to the spring 2022 dates of April 29 – May 8. This announcement was made both in print and on social media.
“As a result of the current exponential growth of new COVID cases in New Orleans and the region and the ongoing public health emergency, we must sadly announce that the 2021 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, scheduled to take place October 8 –17, 2021, will not occur as planned,” organizers wrote in the press release. “We now look forward to next spring, when we will present the Festival during its traditional timeframe. Next year’s dates are April 29 – May 8, 2022.”
Festival organizers noted that ticket holders for both weekends, including those who rolled over their tickets from the canceled 2020 edition of the festival, would receive an email this week with more information. However, all tickets for the Oct. 13 date will be refunded, when the Rolling Stones were recently scheduled to perform.
“In the meantime, we urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials, so that we can all soon experience together the joy that is Jazz Fest,” the statement concluded. The 2021 edition of the festival was rescheduled in January to October, from its tentative spring dates of April 22 – May 2. The fest’s lineup included Dead & Company, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Buffett, Lizzo, Demi Lovato and more. It was not noted in the release whether this year’s announced lineup will roll over to 2022.
