The PAX Aus team have confirmed that PAX Australia 2020 will not take place as scheduled in the wake of the continuing coronavirus crisis. The expo – the largest of its type in Australia – was set to take place from October 9 to 11, 2020 in Melbourne, Victoria.
“It is with a heavy heart that today we announce the postponement of PAX Australia 2020, due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in Australia and globally,” said a statement published today on the PAX website. “We have been working hard with our partners and exhibitors to explore all viable options but with our desire to bring you the best PAX Aus ever, the next edition of PAX Aus will now take place in 2021.”
— PAX Australia (@PAXAus) June 16, 2020
Australia’s borders are currently closed. Only Australian citizens, residents, and immediate family members can travel to Australia at this time. There are also varying levels of restrictions on domestic travel.
“While we can’t move forward with PAX Aus 2020 in the way that we normally would, we are finding new and exciting ways to connect you and the PAX community with your favourite content and creators,” continued the statement. “Stay tuned to our social media channels in the coming days as we start to announce more information.”
PAX Aus was the first PAX event hosted outside the US and has been held in Melbourne annually since its inception in 2013.
No new announcement has been made concerning PAX West. In April ReedPop announced that the expo would go forward as planned from September 4 to September 7 at the Seattle Convention Center, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Luke is Games Editor at IGN’s Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter sporadically @MrLukeReilly.
Source: IGN.com PAX Australia 2020 Cancelled Due to Ongoing COVID-19 Concerns