Archive, April 2020: This cancellation applied to the 2020 festival. See the festival organiser for current events.

The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival announced that its 2020 programme was cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The festival had been due to take place in Buxton and Harrogate in what would have been its 27th year. The organisers said in 2020, “we are devastated and disappointed, but the well-being of our audience, the theatre staff, our volunteers and all the artists involved is our primary concern.  We cannot risk putting anyone in danger and we have no idea what the coming months will bring.”
“It is particularly poignant that the first G&S Festival following Ian Smith’s passing last year will be the first to be cancelled in our history. We were determined to make Ian’s final programme the very best Festival ever, dedicated to his memory!”

Determined to continue into 2021

In 2020, the organisers launched a fundraising campaign and said they intended the festival to continue in 2021.

2020 ticket arrangements

In 2020, ticket holders were offered options including donating their ticket payments or taking vouchers.

What happened next

The festival returned in 2021. Its charity’s 2021 report describes a smaller festival with socially distanced seating. In 2023 the entire festival returned to Buxton, according to Visit Buxton.