Wireless Festival has announced that it has cancelled its 2026 edition and refunds will be issued to ticket holders.
The decision comes after multiple sponsors withdrew from the festival and the Home Office withdrew the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) of Ye (FKA Kanye West), denying him entry to the UK.
The full statement from Festival Republic reads: “The Home Office has withdrawn YE’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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 to cancel Wireless 2026 comes after intense pressure from politicians and public figures. UK Prime Minister called the decision to book Ye “deeply concerning.” Phil Rosenberg, the president of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, said they were open to meeting the rapper but only his performances at Wireless were cancelled. “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,” Phil added.
In response, Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, released a statement on Monday (6 April) regarding the booking, stating that Wireless will not give Ye 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.“
Ye followed with a further explanation by saying via Festival Republic that “my only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through my music.“
We will continue to report on this news as it happens.
