Isle of Wight and Download cancel 2020 festivals due to coronavirus pandemic

This year's Isle of Wight festival was supposed to take place from 11-14 June with performances from Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Chemical Brothers, Duran Duran, Primal Scream, and more.

Download was due to take place across the same weekend at Donington Park, and was expecting to host sets from KISS, Iron Maiden, System of a Down, Funeral For A Friend, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and many others.

Both festivals have decided to completely cancel their 2020 events rather than postponing them for later in the year, but will allow ticketholders to use their 2020 tickets for next year's events.

Isle of Wight assure fans in their statement that they'll "be back stronger than ever in 2021", while Download states "please rest assured we will be back next year." Read both statements below.

Isle of Wight Festival 2020 Statement pic.twitter.com/sn8lTj5NHp

— Isle of Wight Fest (@IsleOfWightFest) March 26, 2020

Download 2020 will not be going ahead, read the full statement here. pic.twitter.com/zyMSk91iMu

— Download Festival (@DownloadFest) March 26, 2020