Wireless Festival has been cancelled after Home Office denies Kanye West entry to the UK

Wireless Festival has been officially cancelled for 2026. After the Home Office confirmed reports it had banned headliner Kanye West from entering the country. All ticket holders will receive refunds.

The decision brings to an end weeks of controversy surrounding the rapper's planned appearance at the London event. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had been booked to headline all three days of the festival in Finsbury Park. According to the BBC, the Home Office determined that "his presence would not be conducive to the public good". Australia has previously barred Ye from entering the country.

Corporate sponsors had already begun distancing themselves from the event before the cancellation. Pepsi ended its partnership over the weekend, with Diageo and PayPal also pulling their support. Political figures weighed in too, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing the booking as "deeply concerning" and London's Mayor stating that Ye's past remarks were "not reflective of London's values". The backlash stemmed from Ye's history of antisemitic statements, including the release of a track titled 'Heil Hitler'.

Organisers stated: "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."

Through Festival Republic, the Live Nation subsidiary behind the event, Ye had previously issued a statement titled 'To Those I've Hurt', writing: "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."

He added: "I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the U.K. 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."

While the Board of Deputies of British Jews indicated willingness to meet Ye, they stipulated that he must not perform at the festival this year as a precondition.

Managing director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn had spoken in defence of the booking prior to its cancellation, stating that Ye "is intended to come in and perform" and that they are "not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions".

Benn added: "Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do."