For the first time in its 50 year run, massive fan and entertainment event San Diego Comic Con has been forced to cancel this year’s event.

SDCC is the annual place to be for fans of comics, television, and film, with high-profile guests and projects being promoted by connecting the fans to the makers themselves. Attendance is usually over 135,000, with guests coming from all over the world. Of course, with world travel being highly restricted, preventing both industry professionals and badge holders from making their way to San Diego, the event has been cancelled for the year.

The convention is notorious for being tightly packed with fans camping in tents for days and crowds extending past the convention center and throughout downtown San Diego. With such close quarters, it has been deemed unsafe to continue. The news may not come as a surprise to California natives, many of whom have heard Governor Gavin Newson’s statement that any mass gatherings into the summer may not be permitted for safety and health purposes.

ComicCon spokesperson David Glanzer said on the matter:

“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision. We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy.”

San Diego Comic Con’s sister convention WonderCon in Anaheim has also been cancelled for 2020. Many other conventions may also be following suit around the world as circumstances remain unpredictable for the time being.

Photo credit: Raymond Flotat