The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and are making event organizers for gaming, comics, and pop culture expos very antsy about hosting events in the latter half of the year. The next casualty? This year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

According to a recent press release, San Diego Comic-Con 2020 is cancelled for the first time in its half-century history due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown orders in the US state of California. The show will, however, make its return on 22nd to 25th July.

Initially, the organizers at Comic-Con International were hoping that worldwide events would relax in the summer months; that wasn’t the case if you’ve been keeping up with the news.

Here’s the official statement. In the meantime, the organizers will be undergoing an extensive process of refunding tickets and hotel bookings.

“Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood, they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer.

Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year.”