Wireless Festival 2026 cancelled as Kanye West banned from entering the UK

Wireless Festival 2026 has been cancelled following a decision by the UK Home Office to deny headliner Kanye West entry into the country.

Promoters Festival Republic say refunds will be issued to ticket holders, providing the following 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“The Home Office has withdrawn YE’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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 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.”

According to The Guardian, Kanye West’s online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) was granted, but was later blocked following a review, with officials concluding his presence would “not be conducive to public good”.

West’s booking as the headliner of Wireless Festival 2026 has drawn widespread criticism, following a string of antisemitic remarks and actions made by him in recent years.

Last year, West – who now goes by Ye – released a song titled Heil Hitler, and listed a T-shirt for sale on his website bearing a swastika.

In January this year, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his prior behaviour, writing: “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

Among those critical of West’s headline booking was British prime minister Keir Starmer, who expressed “deep concern” at the booking “despite [Ye’s] antisemitic remarks”. Festival sponsors Pepsi and Diageo also withdrew.

Prior to Wireless Festival’s cancellation, West also offered to “meet and listen” to members of the UK’s Jewish community.

While the UK government deliberated on granting Kanye West entry into the country, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: 

“We’ve been clear that his permission to enter the UK is under review as we speak. All available options remain on the table.”

He went on: “Decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis in line with the law and the evidence available, but where individuals pose a threat to public safety or seek to spread extremism, the government has not hesitated to act, and that includes cancelling permission to enter this country for extremist preachers and far-right figures.”

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, revealed the group would be willing to meet with Ye if he pulled out of Wireless Festival, saying: “It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism.”

Wireless Festival ticket holders will receive an “automatic full refund”, per the official website.

Sam is the Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Thoroughly immersed in music culture for the majority of his life, Sam has played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production at university, and also written for the likes of MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer.