Wireless Festival 2026 has been cancelled following the Home Office's decision to deny Kanye West permission to travel to the UK.
The festival, the presale for which began today (7 April), confirmed the news on social media, writing: "As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel."
The Home Office confirmed to BBC News that the rapper had made an application to travel to the UK via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), but it was refused on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.
Kanye West, whose legal name was changed to Ye in 2021, was scheduled to perform across three nights in London this summer, but his signing sparked outrage due to his previous antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments.
Following the controversy of his signing and before news his application was refused, Ye released a statement that read: "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 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've have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here. With Love."
President of the board of deputies of British Jews Phil Rosenberg responded to the statement, and said the body was "willing" to meet the rapper, but only if he agreed not to play at Wireless Festival.
"It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism," Rosenberg said.
"He also made a number of deeply offensive comments about the Black community, saying that the 400-year experience of slavery was 'like a choice'.
"Even while claiming remorse today, his latest album includes a track first released last year with the abhorrent title Gas Chamber. The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival.
"As such, we are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless Festival this year."
In January, Ye published a statement in the Wall Street Journal, apologising for his antisemitic behaviour, attributing his actions to his bipolar-1 disorder.
"One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behaviour that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience," he wrote.
"I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though."
The rapper's ETA block came after Festival Republic's managing director Melvin Benn defended the decision to have Ye headline the festival, noting that he would only be performing and not given a platform to voice any opinions.
He said in a statement: "What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community.
"Ye's music is played on commercial radio stations in this country. It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country.
"He is intended to come in and perform. We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions."
Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Hence then, the article about wireless festival 2026 cancelled after uk government blocks kanye west travel to country was published today ( ) and is available on Radio Times ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Wireless Festival 2026 cancelled after UK government blocks Kanye West travel to country )
Also on site :
- JP Morgan Chase head warns of unexpected interest rate shocks as a result of Iran war
- Thousands of Americans Face New IRS Deadline to Avoid Penalties
- Trump’s Threatening War Crimes. Will Anyone Stop Him?