Coachella & Stagecoach in Talks to Move to October Due to Coronavirus

Postponing the massive festival series until October is a huge endeavor involving hundreds of artists and their representatives, as well as hundreds of contractors and vendors and tens of thousands of employees. Artists are frequenting touring during the fall months and while organizers aren't likely to get all the performers to agree to move, sources say that if enough of the big headline acts -- this year's Coachella headliners include Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott -- then the festival can be moved. Stagecoach is being headlined by Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church.

Organizers hope to know within the next 48 hours if the move is possible. If not, the 2020 versions of Coachella and Stagecoach will likely be canceled.

Coachella is one of the largest music festivals in the world, with north of a half-million people descending on the desert each year. It was originally set to take place over two weekends next month, starting April 10 and wrapping up April 19.

The news follows an announcement Friday that Austin’s annual South by Southwest will be canceled this year. The Winter Music Conference and Ultra Music Festival, both in Miami, have also been canceled. Globally, high-profile events including Tomorrowland Winter in France and Ultra Abu Dhabi have been shut down as well.