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Cancelled performances and restrictions dampen performing arts revenues in 2020.

In 2020, the performing arts industry was directly affected by federal and provincial government measures put in place to control the spread of COVID-19. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada in March 2020, government restrictions led to the cancellation or postponement of shows across all provinces, greatly limiting most business operations.

Even with growing digital sales and government grants and subsidies aimed at helping businesses through the pandemic, industry revenues declined by a record $783.8 million from 2018 to $1.8 billion in 2020, falling to their lowest level since comparable data became available in 2014. With losses in operating revenues outpacing those of operating expenses (-$635.4 million), the operating profit margin for the industry fell 2.6 percentage points to 10.4% in 2020.

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