When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in March 2020, many places shut down; while events were postponed and even cancelled.  Last summer the country began to open up once again with concerts and award shows.  But a new variant of the virus has arisen and the numbers are rising once again.

As a result, bands are postponing tours and events are going from live to virtual.

On January 5, 2022, the Recording Academy announced that the 64th annual Grammy Awards scheduled for January 31 has been postponed due to, “too many risks”.  The Academy stated, “after careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners.”

The Academy had originally scheduled an awards presentation on pre-pandemic plans with live performances and a live audience.

A new date has not yet been announced.  The Academy must work around two professional basketball teams, a hockey team, the Sundance Film Festival, the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and other awards shows.


In other changes due to the continued pandemic, the Sundance Film Festival announced that the annual festival et to begin in Park City, Utah on January 20 will now be a virtual event.

The Festival will still begin on January 20, but will have no live events, only online again this year.

Festival organizer stated, “with case numbers forecasted to peak in our host community the week of the festival we cannot knowingly put our staff and community at risk. The undue stress to Summit County’s health services and our more than 1,500 staff and volunteers would be irresponsible in this climate.”  The Festival noted that they waited as long as possible before making the decision.

The organizers added, “we do not believe it is safe nor feasible to gather thousands of artists, audiences, employees, volunteers, and partners from around the world for an 11-day festival while overwhelmed communities are already struggling to provide essential services.”

The 2022 Sunday Film Festival runs from January 20 to 30 and has 82 feature films scheduled.