Wireless Festival cancelled as Kanye West banned from entering UK

Wireless Festival cancelled as Kanye West banned from entering UKWireless Festival 2026 has been cancelled after Kanye West was blocked from entering the UK todayComments3amTom Bryant Associate Editor (Showbiz) and Lucy Needham Deputy Head of Showbiz14:19, 07 Apr 2026Updated 14:45, 07 Apr 2026View 3 Images(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Wireless Festival has been cancelled after Kanye West was banned from entering the UK today.‌The Government blocked West over backlash to his planned headline sets at this summer’s Wireless Festival in London after a series of antisemitic remarks. After West - the only act confirmed on the line-up - was denied entry, the long-running event has been pulled with refunds going to all ticket-holders.‌A statement from organisers said: "The Home Office has withdrawn YE's ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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."In recent years, West has released a song called Heil Hitler and sold swastika T-shirts on his website last year. He has since apologised and attributed his actions to manic episodes caused by bipolar disorder. He stated that during these episodes, he "lost touch with reality."View 3 ImagesKanye West performs on stage at Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park in 2014(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)‌The US rapper made an application to travel to the UK yesterday via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), it is understood. But the Home Office turned down the 48-year-old’s...