Wireless Festival Cancelled After UK Bars Ye

The Wireless Festival, a major London music event scheduled for July 10 to 12, 2026, at Finsbury Park, has been cancelled after the UK Home Office barred rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from entering the country. The 48-year-old artist was set to headline all three nights, drawing an expected crowd of 150,000, but the decision followed intense backlash over his history of antisemitic statements.

Organizers from Festival Republic announced the cancellation on April 7, 2026, stating that Ye's Electronic Travel Authorisation had been withdrawn because his presence would not be conducive to the public good. All ticket holders will receive full refunds. In a statement, the organizers noted that multiple stakeholders had been consulted before booking Ye, with no concerns raised at the time. They added that antisemitism in all forms is abhorrent and acknowledged the personal impact of the controversy.

The booking, announced the previous week, quickly drew widespread criticism from politicians, Jewish community groups, and the public. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer posted on X that Ye "should never have been invited to headline Wireless." He emphasized that the government...