London’s Wireless Festival has been cancelled after the UK government blocked Kanye West from travelling to Britain to headline three nights at the event.
Festival organisers, Festival Republic, confirmed in a statement that the rapper’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) had been withdrawn by the Home Office, which cited concerns that his presence “would not be conducive to the public good.” As a result, the festival will not go ahead, and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.
The organisers noted that multiple stakeholders were consulted before West, now known as Ye, was booked, and no concerns were raised at the time. They also condemned antisemitism, stating: “Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had.” Festival Republic added that Ye has acknowledged that “words alone are not enough” and hopes to open a dialogue with the Jewish community in the UK.
West’s planned performances had sparked widespread controversy, with calls for him to be banned from the UK. This followed incidents including the release of a song titled Heil Hitler and the sale of a swastika-adorned T-shirt on his website. Major sponsors, including Pepsi and Diageo, withdrew their support for the festival after West was announced as the headline act.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented on the decision, saying: “Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless. This Government stands firmly with the Jewish community and will continue to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism. We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”
Prior to the government’s ruling, West had expressed a desire to engage with the British Jewish community. In a statement, he said he wanted to “present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music” and offered to meet members of the community in person. He acknowledged that “words aren’t enough” and that he would need to show change through his actions.
Tickets for the festival had gone on pre-sale at 12pm on Tuesday and were believed to have sold out, with general sales scheduled for the following day. With the cancellation, all ticket-holders will be refunded.
