Ever since London’s Wireless Festival announced that Kanye West would be headlining all three days of their 2026 edition in Finsbury Park (July 10-12) there has been very vocal backlash and uproar — most of it regarding Ye’s previous antisemitic statements. Among those were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who said it was “deeply concerning” that Ye had been booked for the festival “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of nazism.” Today it was announced that Ye has been banned from entering the UK, and now this year’s Wireless Festival has been canceled.
“As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” the festival’s statement reads. “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.”
The festival added that “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”
Ye took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal in January apologizing for his antisemetic statements and behavior, and he released a statement on Tuesday, saying he had been “following the conversation around Wireless,” and that he “would be grateful” to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK, adding (via BBC), “I know words aren’t enough. I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
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