Wireless Festival CANCELLED after Kanye West banned from entering UK

Alex Davies
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:23:42 +0000

Wireless Festival organisers have announced they have cancelled this year's event following the Home Office's decision to block Kanye West from entering the country.

The Through the Wire hitmaker was billed to headline all three nights at the festival in July.

However, the Home Office decided against granting him entry on the grounds that his "presence would not be conducive to public good".

The festival has said refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders following the decision to cancel the entire event.

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Referring to Mr West by his preferred stage name, Ye, organiser Festival Republic said in a statement: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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.

"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 a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel.

All ticket holders will recieve an automatic full refund. pic.twitter.com/nNCqUXNU6t
— Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) April 7, 2026

"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."

Presale tickets for Wireless Festival were released at 12pm on Tuesday and are believed to have sold out

General sale was set to open at 12pm on Wednesday.

Mr West had previously addressed the furore surrounding his proposed performances at Wireless, issuing a statement on his own on Tuesday morning.

The Gold Digger singer said: "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."

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However, after the Home Office decided against granting him a Electronic Travel Authorisation, the Campaign Against Antisemitism applauded the outcome.

A spokesperson for the group 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."

The controversy surrounding Mr West's headline stint stemmed from his antisemitic displays in years gone by.

Last year, he released a song called Heil Hitler and even advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.

Mr West has also been banned from X on numerous occasions for publishing series after series of antisemitic posts.

Just when you thought you could not hate this authoritarian government any more:

🚨 #Kanye West travel to UK for @WirelessFest blocked. 🚨

Tune into @GBNEWS tonight from 6pm where I will be covering for Dewbs and asking "WHO does this government think it is?!"

A private…
— Bev Turner (@beverleyturner) April 7, 2026

After Wireless confirmed the decision to axe the festival on its X page, it's safe to say the feedback was rather mixed.

Some applauded the decision, calling it "great news" and an "all-time stupid business decision" to book Mr West in the first place.

However, others criticised the banning of Mr West and subsequent festival cancellation, with one X user calling it "embarrassing" and another calling the UK a "clown country".

GB News' very own Bev Turner was among those opposed to the Home Office's decision to block Mr West entry, taking to X to share a no-holds-barred verdict on the outcome.