Cancellation of the 66th Cork International Choral Festival

15th March 2020

It is with considerable regret that the Board of the Cork International Choral Festival announces the cancellation of this year’s Festival. The Festival’s Board took this difficult decision based on the present situation at national and European level in relation to the Covid-19 virus.
The Board specifically considered all available government guidelines on the matter and their consequent and overall implications for the attendees at Festival in arriving at its decision.

The Board is very conscious that this decision will impact more than 5,000 choir members, who would have been participating in the Festival, 800 of whom were travelling from abroad. These choirs have been involved in a year long process of planning and preparation with the Festival and we are particularly conscious of the large financial implications for the foreign choristers who were travelling to the Festival from Canada, Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden & USA.

The Board is particularly aware of the major effect this cancellation will have on the cultural, economic and social life of the city.

The Board wishes to acknowledge the huge commitment given by its professional administrative and voluntary support teams who have worked so diligently since last year to ensure that this year’s event would have been a Festival of memorable quality.

Finally, the Board wishes to thank all those groups who have financially supported the planning of this year’s event.

Further information to follow shortly.