Wireless festival will not return this summer.
Last week, organisers revealed that Ye, aka Kanye West (pictured), was set to headline all three nights of the 2026 edition, which was once again due to take over London's Finbury Park in July.
However, since news of the booking broke, a number of the festival's big sponsors, including Pepsi and Rockstar Energy, withdrew. There was also backlash from fans, as well as the UK government and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In the initial announcement, the performances were described as "a three-night journey through Ye's most iconic records", with the events set to mark the controversial American rapper's first UK performance in 11 years and his first time headlining in London since he topped the bill at Wireless in 2014. The announcement followed the recent release of his long-delayed album 'Bully'.
Following the initial outcry about the headliner, Managing Director at Festival Republic Melvin Benn doubled down on the booking, issuing the below statement at 8.30pm on April 6:
"I am a deeply committed anti-fascist and have been all my adult life. I lived on a kibbutz for many months in the 1970’s that was attacked on October 7th, am pro Jew and the Jewish state, while being equally committed to a Palestinian state.
"Having had a person in my life for the last 15 years who suffers from mental illness, I have witnessed many episodes of despicable behaviour that I have had to forgive and move on from. If I wasn’t before, I have become a person of forgiveness and hope in all aspects of my life, including work.
"What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and - taking him at his word - to Ye now also.
"Ye’s music is played on commercial radio stations in this country. It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country. He is intended to come in and perform. We are not giving him 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.
"Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do."
However, as of 2.15pm today (April 7), the Festival Republic Press Office has issued the following cancellation statement on behalf of Wireless Festival:
"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."
Last year, the 20th edition of Wireless featured Drake headlining all three nights with different sets, alongside performances from Burna Boy, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Summer Walker, Vybz Kartel and more.
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