Wireless Festival has announced that its 2026 event will be cancelled after headliner Kanye West was denied entry into the country.
The American rapper was set to perform at the three-night north London event in July, however the Home Office stopped him on the grounds that his presence in the UK would “not be conducive to the public good”.
West made a series of antisemitic statements last year, released a song called “Heil Hitler” and made T-shirts featuring a swastika available for sale on his website.
While he issued an apology in January over the comments, West being announced in March as the headliner for the festival resulted in widespread backlash – and now that the rapper’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been withdrawn, the event has been scrapped this year altogether.
A spokesperson from the festival said in a statement on Tuesday: “The Home Office has withdrawn YE's ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom. As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.”
Prime minister Keir Starmer condemned the decision for the rapper to headline the festival and vowed to “always take the action necessary to protect the public”.
Key Points
- Wireless Festival cancelled after US rapper Kanye West blocked from entering UK
- Statement from Wireless organisers in full
- Rapper's repeated antisemitic behaviour included releasing song called Heil Hitler
- West has apologised for comments and said he has bipolar disorder and is 'not a Nazi'
- Starmer condemns Wireless festival's decision to invite West to headline
- Group protecting British Jews from antisemitism describes government's decision as 'sensible'
Campaign Against Antisemitism says government 'clearly made right decision'
16:15 , Tara CobhamThe Campaign Against Antisemitism has said the government “has clearly made the right decision” after blocking Kanye West from entering the UK following controversy over his planned headline sets at this summer’s Wireless Festival in London.
A spokesperson from the CAA said: “The Government has clearly made the right decision here. For once, when it said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action.
“Someone who has boasted of making tens of millions of dollars from selling swastika t-shirts and who released a song called ‘Heil Hitler’ just months ago clearly would not be conducive to the public good in the UK.
“Wireless Festival, in its desperate quest for profit, defended the invitation until the end. That is shameful, and its sponsors should continue to stay away.”
West has apologised for comments and said he has bipolar disorder and is 'not a Nazi'
16:00 , Tara CobhamKanye West apologised for his comments earlier this year and said he has bipolar disorder and is “not a Nazi or an antisemite”.
In January, the rapper took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”
In his letter, he said his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.
Holocaust Educational Trust chief warns antisemitism has become 'normalised'
15:45 , Tara CobhamThe chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust has said the debate around Kanye West’s planned set at Wireless Festival shows antisemitism has been “normalised”.
Responding to the Government’s decision to block the US rapper from travelling to the UK, Karen Pollock said: “This is the right decision, but it’s a sorry state of affairs when the Government has to intervene because Wireless doubled down on their decision to knowingly book a racist.
“Kanye West sold merchandise with swastikas, had a song called Heil Hitler and called for ‘death con 3′ of Jews. He might have apologised but that does not give him the automatic right to headline a major festival.
“In an age when Jewish communities are facing regular acts of violence, this whole debate sadly shows how normalised antisemitism has become.
“No other community would be told to ‘forgive’ or ‘talk’ – the disgusting racism would be recognised for what it is.
“Our focus now must be on stamping out anti-Jewish hatred once and for all.”
Watch: Wireless Festival cancelled as UK government deny Kanye West entry
15:41 , Tara CobhamKanye West had offered to meet British Jewish community before now-cancelled show
15:28 , Tara CobhamKanye West had offered to meet the British Jewish community before the show that has now been cancelled.
He said in a statement before the government’s decision: “I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly.
“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music.
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen.
“I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions.
“If you’re open, I’m here.”
Group protecting British Jews from antisemitism describes government's decision as 'sensible'
15:25 , Tara CobhamThe Community Security Trust (CST), which aims to protect British Jews from antisemitism, described the government’s decision as “a sensible outcome to what has been yet another bruising episode for British Jews”.
Its statement added: “Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring that is the case.
“People who show genuine and meaningful remorse for previous antisemitic behaviour will always receive a sympathetic hearing from the Jewish community, but that process must come before this kind of public rehabilitation.”
Rapper's repeated antisemitic behaviour included releasing song called Heil Hitler
15:23 , Tara CobhamThe Wireless headline sets provoked calls for Kanye West to be banned from the UK over repeated antisemitic behaviour.
This included releasing a song called Heil Hitler and advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
Starmer condemns Wireless festival's decision to invite Kanye West to headline
15:19 , Tara CobhamSir Keir Starmer said Kanye West “should never have been invited” to headline the Wireless festival and “we will always take the action necessary to protect the public” after the US rapper was blocked from entering the UK.
The prime minister said: “Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.
“This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.
“We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”
Statement from Wireless organisers in full
15:19 , Tara CobhamA statement from organiser Festival Republic read: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA (electronic travel authorisation), denying him entry into the United Kingdom.
“As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.
“As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.
“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had.
“As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”
Wireless Festival cancelled after US rapper Kanye West blocked from entering UK
15:18 , Tara CobhamWireless Festival has been cancelled after US rapper Kanye West was blocked from entering the UK.
Music fans who have purchased tickets for the three performances by West, now known as Ye, scheduled for July in London’s Finsbury Park, will now be refunded.
