Creative Arts Emmys 2020 Will Go Virtual, Primetime Emmys Still a Question Mark

The Television Academy has revealed some major updates to the events leading up to the 2020 Emmy Awards this year amid safety concerns due to the Coronavirus (aka COVID-19).

The Creative Arts Emmys, which were supposed to air this year on September 12 and 13, will now be virtual events. The creative arts awards focus on aspects of production like art direction, casting, cinematography, costume, editing, makeup, sound mixing, technical direction, camerawork, music, and more.

In addition, the annual Governors Ball dinners, which take place after the Creative Arts Emmys and Primetime Emmys, have been cancelled and that decision was made “as a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of Emmy winners, nominees and guests during the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Variety reports.

“This has been an incredibly challenging time for our industry; and though we are now making plans to get back to work, we know there are many still suffering from the work stoppage caused by the coronavirus,” Television Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma added. “As we strive to do the right thing for our community with these changes to our annual events, the Television Academy is also pleased to support those still in need with a $1 million donation to The Actors Fund COVID-19 Relief Fund.”

The actual Emmys are still set for the September 20 air date on ABC, however, it’s unclear if that show will go on as planned or if it will be in a virtual format.

The Academy is dedicated to delivering a show that “honors television’s unparalleled role throughout 2020 in bringing people together during a worldwide pandemic as well as acknowledge and support the unprecedented national and global demand for social justice and equality.”

Find out what we last heard about the Emmys and the plan.