The Google I/O conference was set to take place between 12th and 14th May this year but the event has been cancelled.

The reason for the event cancellation is, as you might expect, due to fears relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities, we have decided to cancel the physical Google I/O event at Shoreline Amphitheatre,” Google wrote in a statement.

Attendees who have purchased tickets should be refunded by 13th March.

The cancellation of I/O is a big deal as Google often uses the event to announce improvements coming to Android, app updates and even updates to Google’s hardware.

Whether Google will host a livestream is unclear but the firm said it would “explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with our developer community” in the coming weeks.

Google is not the first to cancel its own event due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Last week Facebook canned the in-person portion of its F8 Developers Conference and the Game Developers Conference was postponed.

Earlier this week Facebook and Twitter cancelled appearances at SXSW.

COVID-19 has forced many events to be cancelled and if the virus keeps spreading at the rate it is, we suspect there will be many more events cancelled before the year is up.