One of Europe’s Biggest Festivals Scrapped on Hungary Virus Ban

(Bloomberg) --

Sziget, one of Europe’s biggest summer music festivals, became the latest victim of the coronavirus crisis after Hungary said its ban on large gatherings would extend at least until the middle of August.

The week-long event, held in early August on an island on the Danube in Budapest, is the country’s single biggest tourism draw, attracting hundreds of thousands of revelers every year since 1993. The government in Budapest on Thursday extended a ban on events with more than 500 people until August 15.

“Due to this official prohibition, we are heartbroken to let you know that Sziget Festival cannot take place this year,” organizers said on their website. The ban also extends to some of the other marquee festivals of Sziget Kft., including the electronic music event Balaton Sound, which takes place in July on the shores of Hungary’s largest lake.

Hungary has 2,775 registered coronavirus cases, with 312 deaths as of Thursday.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.