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Monday, 13 April 2026
United Kingdom·Protests·Disinformation

Wireless Festival Cancelled After Kanye West Booking Sparks Sponsor Exodus and Government Intervention

Sunday, 12 April 2026 · 1 min read
Based on: The Guardian

London's Wireless Festival (a major annual urban music event held in Finsbury Park, north London) has been cancelled after organisers faced swift and severe backlash over their decision to book rapper Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — as a 2026 headliner, prompting major sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo to withdraw and UK Jewish groups to threaten protests over his widely condemned antisemitic statements and a song titled 'Heil Hitler'. The UK government dealt the final blow by refusing Ye entry into the country, rendering the July event both politically and financially unviable for organiser Festival Republic, part of concert giant Live Nation. Industry insiders say the collapse will likely reshape how festival promoters assess controversial bookings going forward, with insurers also expected to add new conditions — such as visa-related exclusions — to policies covering polarising performers.

Sources
The Guardian‘A house of cards’: how did Wireless festival get it so wrong on Kanye West?
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