Probably the two biggest music festivals in the Alps, Tomorrowland Winter 2020 in Alpe d’Huez, which attracts around 30,000 people from about 100 countries worldwide and Rock The Pistes in the Portes du Soleil region which says 28,000 people attend, have been cancelled.
A statement issued by Alpe d’Huez, where the festival was due to have been staged for its second, year reads,
“Today, it is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that the French Government has decided to cancel this year’s edition of the Tommorrowland Winter Festival (March 14 -21). Since Saturday we were in close contact with the French Government about the impact of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) and we finally received their official decision. The French Government is taking drastic measures regarding the COVID-19 virus in France. Therefore they are enforcing the cancellation of large events, bringing together people from different nationalities on closed festival grounds and event locations.”
The region goes on to stress that ski area of Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski (Alpe d’Huez, Oz en Oisans, Vaujany, Auris and Villard Reculas) will remain open for all visitors, including all normal activities (ski lifts, slopes, bars, restaurants…), just like all other ski-resorts in France.
“All our visitors will be contacted personally later today, by e-mail and within the Tomorrowland Account, regarding the next steps,” the statement concludes.
