ABSTRACT

As the world grapples with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on almost every news website, across social media, and also in its (many) absences, leisure has taken on new significance in both managing and negotiating a global crisis. Amidst the disruption, inconvenience, illness, fear, uncertainty, tragedy and loss from this disease, there are also opportunities for leisure scholars to generate discussions and to learn, to engage with wider debates about the crucial role of leisure in people’s lives—during this pandemic, and beyond. This introduction lays out the foundations and scope of this special issue on leisure in the time of coronavirus.