Is a Product Owner entitled to postpone the start of a new Sprint after the conclusion of a previous Sprint?

In Scrum, a new Sprint is required to start immediately following the conclusion of the previous Sprint. This continuity maintains the rhythm and momentum essential to an effective Scrum process. The Scrum framework defines a Sprint as a time-boxed effort in which a potentially releasable product increment is created. This emphasis on immediacy helps ensure that the team continuously delivers value and engages in consistent inspection and adaptation.

Delaying the start of a new Sprint would disrupt the cadence of the Scrum process and could potentially lead to negative impacts such as loss of focus, increased uncertainty, and erosion of discipline within the team. Therefore, while there may be situations that warrant consideration, the structure of Scrum stipulates that the commencement of a new Sprint should not be postponed, thereby reinforcing the principle of time-boxing and continuous delivery.