The ACT government has cancelled its plans to resurrect the Multicultural Festival at the end of the year, but has locked in a three-day event for the start of 2022.
ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs Tara Cheyne announced the decision on Wednesday morning, confirming the festival would take place on February 18-20 next year.
The government had hoped to revive the popular food and arts festival in the second half of this year. Last year's was held in February before the epidemic took hold.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout will start next week and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr expected all Canberrans to have access to the jab by the end of the year.
But the future of big events is still unclear, and Ms Cheyne said the change was necessary.
"While we had hoped that we might have been able hold the festival at some time in the second half of 2021, developments regarding the pandemic over the last few months mean that a February 2022 National Multicultural Festival is the most practical and achievable," the minister said.
"A February 2022 National Multicultural Festival allows us to best work to keep the celebration true to the atmosphere and its key components. We are also hopeful that this will be a time when there is health advice that supports, together with strong community confidence about, larger events.
"I look forward to working closely with Canberra's vibrant multicultural communities and organisations in shaping a memorable festival."
