Wireless Festival 2026 has been cancelled after the Home Office withdrew Ye’s Electronic Travel Authorisation, effectively banning the rapper from entering the United Kingdom and ending his planned three-night headline at Finsbury Park in July.
The festival’s organisers, Festival Republic, confirmed the cancellation in a statement issued at 2:15pm on Tuesday, approximately one hour after the announcement from Downing Street. Refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.
In a statement, Festival Republic said: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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.”
The decision brings a turbulent chapter in the festival’s history to an abrupt close. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was announced as headline act for all three nights of Wireless on 29 March, marking what would have been his first UK performance in 11 years. The booking immediately drew widespread condemnation, with sponsors including Pepsi, Diageo, Rockstar Energy and PayPal all withdrawing from the event in the days that followed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had described the booking as “deeply concerning”, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had been reported to be reviewing West’s entry permissions since last week. The Liberal Democrats and several Conservative MPs had called publicly for an outright ban.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which had accused Wireless of “profiteering from racism”, issued a statement on Monday saying Festival Republic chief Melvin Benn’s personal defence of the booking “will not reassure many within the Jewish or other communities” and calling on the festival to “rescind an invitation they never should have offered.”
Earlier on Tuesday morning, Ye updated his open letter “To Those I’ve Hurt”, first published as a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal in January, to address the Wireless controversy directly. In the updated letter, he offered to meet members of the UK Jewish community in person, writing: “I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.” That appeal was not enough to reverse the government’s position.
Wireless Festival has taken place at Finsbury Park since 2012 and is one of the UK’s most prominent urban music events, having previously hosted Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Travis Scott and Cardi B.
Ticket holders are advised to await confirmation of the refund process from their point of purchase.
Image credits:
In this article: Wireless Festival, Festival Republic, Kanye West, Home Office, Finsbury Park, London, Keir Starmer, Shabana Mahmood, Board of Deputies of British Jews, PepsiCo, Diageo, Rockstar, PayPal, The Wall Street Journal, Liberal Democrats, United Kingdom, Prime Minister’s Office. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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