London Mayor Sadiq Khan has publicly denounced the decision to have Kanye West headline the upcoming 2026 Wireless Festival. The controversial rapper, now officially known as Ye, was recently booked to close out all three nights of the massive Finsbury Park music event.
In a statement released on April 1, Khan made it clear that the city does not support the festival's choice of talent. Distancing his administration from the booking, the Mayor emphasized that City Hall played no part in the decision-making process.
"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," Khan stated. "This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in."
The Mayor's remarks follow fierce backlash from several advocacy groups, including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism. Both organizations have heavily criticized the festival's organizers, with the Jewish Leadership Council labeling the decision to platform West as "deeply irresponsible."
The 2026 Wireless booking is slated to be West's first performance in the United Kingdom in over a decade. His last major UK festival appearance was on the Wireless stage in 2014, which was followed by a surprise guest set at London's Koko in 2015.
However, the artist's public image has since been permanently scarred by a string of high-profile anti-Semitic outbursts that began in 2022. Those heavily condemned remarks resulted in widespread suspensions across his social media platforms and prompted his talent agency, legal representation, and record label to completely sever ties with the musician.