California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the world’s biggest music festivals, has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to concerns around Covid-19, while a handful of other major US festivals have been postponed until later this year.

Riverside County officials issued a public health order announcing that the 126,000-capacity Coachella festival in Indio, and sister country music event the Stagecoach Festival at the same sight, will not take place as planned this year.

Coachella was due to take place on 9-11 April and 16-18 April, while Stagecoach was scheduled for 23-25 April.

In March last year, the 2020 edition of Coachella was postponed until October but in June it was called off. Reportedly, event organiser Goldenvoice is considering rescheduling this year’s festival to October.

In the order, issued on 29 January, Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaisers said, “This order is intended to reduce the likelihood of exposure to Covid-19, thereby slowing the spread of COVID-19 in communities worldwide. If Covid-19 were detected at these festivals, the scope and number of attendees and the nature of the venue would make it infeasible, if not impossible, to track those who may be placed at risk.”

Meanwhile, Goldenvoice owner AEG has postponed its eight-day New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to 8-17 October. The event, which is co-produced by AEG Presents and Festival Production Inc, traditionally takes place in late April.

Live Nation has also postponed its Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee from June to 2-5 September, Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival from July to 10-12 September and New York festival Governors Ball from June to 24-26 September.