The United Kingdom has barred rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from entering the country, forcing the cancellation of the 2026 Wireless Festival where he had been scheduled to headline.
The UK government blocked Ye’s electronic travel authorization on Tuesday, ruling that his presence would not be “conducive to the public good” following widespread criticism over his history of antisemitic remarks.
Festival organizers subsequently cancelled the three-day music event, which was set to take place from July 10 to July 12 at London’s Finsbury Park. Organizers confirmed that ticket holders would receive full refunds.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government acted to protect public values and support Jewish communities.
“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless,” Starmer said in a statement. “This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”
Ye, who legally changed his name in 2021, had been scheduled to perform his first UK shows in more than a decade, with crowds of up to 150,000 expected across the three-night festival.
However, the event faced mounting pressure from politicians, sponsors and advocacy groups after the rapper’s controversial statements resurfaced.
Last year, Ye released a track titled “Heil Hitler” and promoted a swastika-themed T-shirt on his website, prompting widespread condemnation. Several brands, including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo, withdrew their sponsorship from the Wireless Festival after he was announced as the headline act.
Authorities in Australia had previously cancelled the artist’s visa following the release of the same song.
Earlier this year, Ye issued a public apology in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, attributing his past behavior to a severe manic episode linked to bipolar disorder.
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” he wrote, adding that the episode caused “psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour” that he said had damaged his life.
Before the UK decision was announced, the rapper said he was open to meeting with members of the Jewish community in Britain.
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen,” he said in a statement. “I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it would be open to discussions with the musician if he first withdrew from the festival lineup.
“The Jewish community will want to see genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage,” said the organization’s president, Phil Rosenberg.
Festival organizer Festival Republic had previously defended the decision to book Ye, arguing that he had been invited to perform music rather than promote political views.
Managing director Melvin Benn urged audiences to offer the artist “forgiveness and hope,” but acknowledged that the controversy had escalated significantly.
In announcing the festival’s cancellation, Festival Republic said multiple stakeholders had initially been consulted before booking Ye and that no major concerns had been raised at the time.
“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have had,” the company said in a statement.
The Community Security Trust, which helps protect Jewish communities in the UK, welcomed the government’s decision.
“Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society,” the group said, adding that cultural figures have a responsibility to ensure such views are not normalized.
As of Tuesday evening, a representative for Ye had not responded to requests for additional comment.
UK Government Reviewing Kanye West Visa Ahead of Wireless Festival Over Antisemitism Controversy