“This has been an extraordinarily difficult decision. Over the past few months, we have worked together with the Health Authorities and representatives of the sector, on measures that could allow the return of the summer festivals in safety. However, the rules for holding major events are not yet known, nor the response to the contingency plan that we have drawn up in collaboration with the Portuguese Red Cross, and being only a month away from the scheduled dates, and given the time needed for the preparation and editing, it is impossible to carry out the Festival this year”, said the promoter Música no Coração.

The festival organisers said they had waited “for as long as possible”, being aware of the impact of the delay on “the lives of the artists and professionals involved”, of “sponsors and partners, of the local economy” and of the public.

Postponed from 2020 to 2021, the Sudoeste festival was scheduled for between August 3rd and 7th this year, with the opening of the campsite on July 31st. The line-up included, among others, Bad Bunny, Major Lazer and Melim.

Festival tickets purchased for 2020 or 2021 remain valid for the 2022 edition, with no need to exchange or issue new tickets.

In the case of a refund, it is possible to request it, under the terms provided by law, within 14 working days following the scheduled date of the festival in 2021.

"After two years without being able to organise MEO Sudoeste, whoever keeps their ticket to enjoy the Festival in 2022 will be making an invaluable contribution to a sector that is going through a very difficult time", stressed the organisation.

Due to restrictions to limit the spread of covid-19, the pandemic situation in other countries, the different rates of vaccination and the lack of clarification of the rules for holding this type of events, this year several music festivals have been postponed, including ID No Limits and CoolJazz (both in Cascais), Alive (Oeiras), Rock in Rio Lisboa, SBSR (Sesimbra), Bons Sons (Tomar), Primavera Sound (Porto), Boom Festival ( Idanha-a-Nova), Barroselas Metalfest, Músicas do Mundo de Sines, Gouveia Art Rock, Rolling Loud (Portimão), Summer Fest (Ericeira, Mafra), Amplifest (Porto), Lisb-ON ( Lisbon), Vilar de Mouros (Caminha) and Neopop (Viana do Castelo).

Between April and May, four pilot events were held in Braga, Coimbra and Lisbon, with the audience sitting and standing, and with the prior performance of diagnostic tests, free of charge, to spectators, in collaboration with the Portuguese Red Cross.

The objective of these events was to define, according to the Government, “new technical guidelines and the carrying out of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests for performances and festivals”, but the results of these initiatives are not yet known.