Shambhala Music Festival cancelled for 2020, tickets valid for future dates

The organizers of Shambhala Music Festival have officially called off the event for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we must announce the 23rd Annual Shambhala Music Festival, originally scheduled for July 2020, will be postponed to July 2021," said Shambhala in a statement.

"We are truly sorry for any inconvenience our postponement may have caused."

Ticket holders will be able to redeem all 2020 tickets and lodging packages for a future date across the following three years 2021, 2022 or 2023.

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the 23rd Annual Shambhala Music Festival, originally scheduled for 2020, will be postponed to July 2021. It will be held at the same location it has called home since 1998: the Salmo River Ranch. Read more: https://t.co/jXXefpkugf pic.twitter.com/3ZaWzmglfM

— Shambhala Music Festival (@shambhala_mf) April 21, 2020

"Our Customer Service team will be reaching out to our guests over the coming weeks to transfer your tickets and/or lodging to a future year," added organizers.

In mid-April, organizers maintained they were cautiously continuing to plan for this year's event with hopes that COVID-19 health restrictions could be lifted in the coming months.

However, on Monday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said there will be no large events such as concerts this summer.

First started in 1998, Shambhala draws roughly 17,000 attendees to the 500-acre privately owned farm located in the Kootenay town of Salmo.

The decision follows the cancellation of fellow iconic festivals such as Burning Man and Coachella.