UK bars Kanye West, forcing Wireless Festival cancellation

The Wireless Festival in London, where rapper Kanye West was scheduled to perform in July, has been canceled, organizers announced, shortly after the American artist was banned from entering the United Kingdom due to his antisemitic statements in recent years, according to international news agencies, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

“Following the Home Office’s decision to ban Kanye West from entering the United Kingdom, organizers were forced to cancel the Wireless Festival,” they said in a message shared on Instagram.

The American star was set to headline the event and perform across all three nights of the rap and hip-hop festival, from July 10–12, in Finsbury Park.

Fans who purchased tickets for the three concerts will receive full refunds.

Festival Republic, the event organizer, stated: “The Home Office has revoked Ye’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), banning him from entering the United Kingdom. As a result, the Wireless Festival is canceled, and all ticket holders will be refunded.”

Kanye West’s headliner status had already sparked backlash and calls for him to be denied entry into the UK due to his past behavior. In 2023, he said he “loves Nazis,” and in 2025 he released a song titled Heil Hitler. He also promoted a swastika T-shirt on his website.

Melvin Benn, CEO of Festival Republic, issued a public apology, calling Ye’s comments “abominable” and stating that he would not be given “a platform to promote his views.”

On Tuesday, Kanye West offered to meet with the Jewish community in the UK in response to the backlash. He said he had followed the discussions around his planned performances at the festival.

“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music,” he said.

“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet personally with members of the Jewish community in the UK, to listen to them. Words are not enough, I know that; I will need to demonstrate change through my actions. If you are open, I am here,” the American artist added.

Kanye West, 48, has not performed in the UK since 2015, when he headlined the Glastonbury Festival.

This year, he has performed in the United States and Mexico but was banned from entering Australia last year after releasing “Heil Hitler,” a song promoting Nazism.

Despite the controversies, Kanye West continues to generate strong audience interest. He is scheduled to perform on June 6 at Gelredome in Arnhem (Netherlands), on March 29 in New Delhi at Nehru Stadium, and on June 11 in Marseille, France — where his appearance has also sparked criticism.