Manchester-based Parklife festival and Warehouse Project co-founder Sacha Lord has said that the introduction of COVID-19 passports in England will “kill the spontaneity” of going out, according to reports. COVID-19 passes were introduced in England in December, meaning that attendees to events and venues had to provide proof of vaccination against coronavirus. Speaking to the …
Belgian court wins battle for theatres
Theatres and cultural venues in Belgium have won an initial legal victory to reopen after the Belgian Government imposed COVID-19 restrictions, forcing them to shut. Belgium’s supreme administrative court, The Council of State, suspended the forced closures announced by the Government to curb an increase in Omicron cases. The victory has not outlined what is …
Scotland cancels large events amid Omicron concerns
The Scottish Government has moved to cancel some large-scale events and significantly limit attendance numbers at others as part of an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 variant Omicron. Effective from December 26, all indoor venues such as theatres and concert halls will have a capacity limit of 200 for events that are seated …
Chancellor announces £1bn support package for COVID-hit businesses
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new support package worth £1bn (€1.2bn/$1.3bn) to help businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Companies across the hospitality and leisure sectors have been hit by a decline in footfall in recent weeks due to consumers’ concerns about the variant, while many have also reported widespread …
Denmark and Sweden continue compensation for cancelled live events
The Governments of Sweden and Denmark have announced they will continue to offer financial compensation to organisers and businesses that have suffered due to the cancellation of live events thanks to COVID-19. During a press conference, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced that further cancellation compensation would be available to event organisers, if it is …
Refunds for New Zealand festival over vaccine pass rules
Organisers of a New Zealand festival have had to refund around 500 early-bird ticket holders who are unwilling to show a Covid-19 vaccine pass in order to gain entry to the event. Early-bird tickets had gone on sale in August for Womad Festival in New Plymouth, prior to details of New Zealand’s traffic light system …
Capacity limits for Ireland’s indoor events, but outdoor venues unaffected by updates
The Irish Government has updated the rules surrounding live events and venues due to the new wave of the Omicron variant. Indoor live events are limited to a capacity of 50% of the venue’s total capacity. Attendees must also be fully seated at indoor events and must also wear a face mask, unless consuming food …
Events face restrictions, some nightclubs to close in Germany
Germany has banned unvaccinated attendees from live events as the country attempts to curb the latest wave of coronavirus. Nightclubs have also been ordered to close in areas where 350 cases per 100,000 people have been recorded in the past week. As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 poses a threat across Europe, Germany has introduced …
Doubled-jabbed fans to enjoy Lanka Premier League cricket
Sri Lanka’s cricket fans will be able to return to stadiums for the second edition of the country’s Lanka Premier League, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) allowing a 50% capacity. The tournament started yesterday (Sunday) with Galle Gladiators taking on Jaffna Kings at the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Five teams are participating in …
Revamped entry for festival due to Covid-19 regulations
New Zealand festival Rhythm and Alps, held just south of Wanaka, has had to revamp its entrance layout, as well as employ new technology, to accommodate Covid-19 safety checks and protocols. The festival takes place over three days from 29 December, and it is estimated that 10,000 people will attend. Festival director Alex Turnbull told …