diff --git a/ceilometer/dispatcher/__init__.py b/ceilometer/dispatcher/__init__.py
index 9a390ba817..a994df9017 100644
--- a/ceilometer/dispatcher/__init__.py
+++ b/ceilometer/dispatcher/__init__.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ OPTS = [
                     default=['database'],
                     help='Dispatchers to process metering data.'),
     cfg.MultiStrOpt('event_dispatchers',
-                    default=['database'],
+                    default=[],
                     deprecated_name='dispatcher',
                     help='Dispatchers to process event data.'),
 ]
diff --git a/ceilometer/dispatcher/database.py b/ceilometer/dispatcher/database.py
index eb381265bd..9ee881b549 100644
--- a/ceilometer/dispatcher/database.py
+++ b/ceilometer/dispatcher/database.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+from debtcollector import removals
 from oslo_log import log
 from oslo_utils import timeutils
 
@@ -79,6 +80,9 @@ class MeterDatabaseDispatcher(dispatcher.MeterDispatcherBase,
             raise
 
 
+@removals.removed_class("EventDatabaseDispatcher",
+                        message="Use panko instead",
+                        removal_version="8.0.0")
 class EventDatabaseDispatcher(dispatcher.EventDispatcherBase,
                               DatabaseDispatcher):
     CONNECTION_TYPE = 'event'
diff --git a/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_collector.py b/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_collector.py
index c57c797373..9781d280c1 100644
--- a/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_collector.py
+++ b/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_collector.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class TestEventDispatcherVerifier(base.BaseTestCase):
         self.conf.import_opt('telemetry_secret',
                              'ceilometer.publisher.utils',
                              'publisher')
+        self.conf.set_override("event_dispatchers", ['database'])
         self.useFixture(mockpatch.Patch(
             'ceilometer.dispatcher.database.EventDatabaseDispatcher',
             new=FakeDispatcher))
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/deprecated_database_event_dispatcher_panko-607d558c86a90f17.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/deprecated_database_event_dispatcher_panko-607d558c86a90f17.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..939d55c1fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/deprecated_database_event_dispatcher_panko-607d558c86a90f17.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - The event database dispatcher is now deprecated. It has been moved to a new
+    project, alongside the Ceilometer API for /v2/events, called Panko.