Gaming and technology events have fallen like targets in a shooting gallery as COVID-19 rampaged across the globe, causing them to be canceled. Now, as signs of hope begin to emerge with a possible end in sight, PAX has announced its 2021 dates on its website and Twitter.
With optimism and safety in mind, we’re announcing our #PAX 2021 Dates. Read the full statement below: pic.twitter.com/dDMhsJwd7t
— PAX (@pax) December 4, 2020
From the Website
Hello PAX Universe,
We’d like to take this opportunity to announce our prospective show dates for the 2021 calendar, and before we do, we want to be completely clear about why we’re announcing them now, and how the global COVID-19 situation impacts our plans in the coming year.
We’re announcing our dates now to help partners plan for the upcoming year on how they might attend as well as provide a chance to start conversations about how to bring attendees, panelists, exhibitors, and our broader community together with these events that are 7 months away. Safety is always our highest priority, and we want to put these shows on for you and in a way that still feels like a PAX, but these things require a runway. Our rationale: with things being this complicated, why not tell everyone all at once?Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: if COVID-19 remains a major barrier to safely gathering at one of our shows, we won’t do it or we will take it virtual. As much as we miss, even crave, the togetherness and magic of a PAX, we will not put attendees, exhibitors, or our guests at risk for the sake of an event if things aren’t on the up and up.
Now, on to the good news! If things progress positively then there’s a good chance that we would be able to put on live events in the summer and later half of the year.
In that optimistic scenario our new event calendar for 2021 will be:
PAX East will take place June 3 – 6, 2021
PAX West will take place September 3 – 6, 2021
PAX Aus will have more info coming soon
PAX Unplugged will take place December 10 – 12, 2021
Unfortunately, because of what would have been the prospective timeline in early next year we won’t be able to put together a PAX South in 2021, but we look forward to bringing it back for you in 2022. We are also working with our team in Australia and the Australian government and will have more updates on PAX Aus’s 2021 show date in the next few weeks.
Expect badges, panel announcements, exhibitor updates, and the like to arrive in the new year, generally closer to the respective shows – and you can always follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more regular updates.
Whatever form PAX East, West, and Unplugged take in 2021, please know that we are dedicated to bringing you all the community, content, and competition we’ve become known for, while continuing to create space for new, up-and-coming, and marginalized voices in gaming. “Welcome Home” isn’t just a slogan to us; we make our home every year in Boston, Seattle, Melbourne, San Antonio, and Philly – and it’s our job to make sure that we make that home safe.
It is too early to know for sure if this will actually happen, but it could be something to hope for should things improve in the coming months. Stay tuned, as we’re sure to hear more from other possible event promoters as the new year approaches.