Wireless Festival Cancelled After UK Rejects Kanye West's Visa

Wireless Festival is no more.

The English festival announced its cancellation, following controversial headliner Kanye West being denied a visa.

“As a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” a message on the festival's social media read. “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”

As per the BBC, the UK government ultimately decided that a visit from Kanye, who has made several antisemitic statements in the past, would not benefit the public good.

Wireless Festival 2026 was due to be held between July 10th-12th, bringing Kanye to the UK for his first performance in 11 years. The iconic hip-hop artist was set to headline all three nights of the festival.

Backlash quickly followed after Wireless first confirmed Kanye, who now goes by Ye, as a headliner.

After Pepsi backed out of sponsoring the London-based festival, two more partners, Diageo and Rockstar Energy, followed suit by also dropping out.

“We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival,” the company behind Guinness and more shared in a statement to The Independent.

Several English politicians discussed the festival and Kanye publicly.

“It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears,” he continued. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Rolling Stone, “We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values. This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”

Kanye has been on the comeback trail this year.

He released new album Bully, followed by major concerts featuring guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, North West, CeeLo Green, André Troutman, Zion Marley, and YG Marley.

Kanye had been laying low since publishing an open letter in The Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitism over the past few years and past controversial statements.