Wireless Festival has been cancelled after the UK government blocked rapper Kanye West now known as Ye from entering the country.
The Home Office refused West’s application for travel authorisation following widespread backlash over his planned headline performance at the London event. In recent years, the artist has faced intense criticism for a series of antisemitic, racist, and pro-Nazi remarks.
In a statement, festival organisers confirmed the decision: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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.”
They added that multiple stakeholders had been consulted before booking the artist and that no concerns were raised at the time. However, the organisers acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that “antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent” and recognising the impact of the controversy.
The festival had already seen strong demand, with presale tickets reportedly selling out shortly after release. General ticket sales were due to begin the following day.
Earlier, the Home Office confirmed that West had applied for entry via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), but officials determined that allowing him into the UK would not be “conducive to the public good.”
The decision was welcomed by groups such as the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which said the government had made the “right decision.” The group also criticised festival organisers, questioning how concerns about West were not identified earlier.
West responded to the backlash by expressing a willingness to engage with the Jewish community in the UK. In a statement, he said he would be “grateful” for the opportunity to meet and listen, acknowledging that “words aren’t enough” and that he would need to demonstrate change through actions.
Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, said attempts had been made to reach out to Jewish organisations in recent days. However, representatives from the Board of Deputies of British Jews disputed claims that they had refused dialogue, stating they had responded positively to meeting requests while maintaining that West’s invitation should be withdrawn.
The controversy also drew strong political reactions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said West should never have been invited to headline the festival, reaffirming the government’s commitment to tackling antisemitism. Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised the rapper’s apology as insincere, while other political figures echoed calls for firm action.
The Community Security Trust described the government’s move as a “sensible outcome” after what it called a difficult episode for British Jews, emphasising that meaningful accountability must come before public rehabilitation.
With its headline act unable to perform and mounting pressure from sponsors and advocacy groups, the cancellation of Wireless Festival marks a dramatic end to what had been one of the summer’s most anticipated music events.
