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US rapper Kanye West has been confirmed as the headline act for all three evenings of this year’s Wireless Festival in London. This will mark his first UK performance in over ten years, having last taken the main stage at Glastonbury in 2015. His upcoming Wireless appearance comes after a period marked by widespread controversy surrounding antisemitic remarks, for which he has since issued public apologies.
The festival, scheduled from 10 to 12 July at Finsbury Park, will feature West performing a selection of songs from his extensive career. Attendees can expect tracks spanning his early work, such as 2004’s *The College Dropout*, through to albums like 2007’s *Graduation* and 2016’s *The Life of Pablo*. Organisers described the event as a “remarkable chapter in Wireless’s story,” emphasizing the significance of his return to the UK music scene. No other performers have been announced for the 2026 lineup so far.
West, who now goes by Ye, has faced significant backlash due to his antisemitic statements over recent years. In 2025, he was banned from entering Australia following the release of a song glorifying Adolf Hitler. Earlier that year, he publicly identified as a Nazi and withdrew a previous apology. In response to these controversies, Adidas ended their partnership with him in 2022. However, last November Ye met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto and reportedly apologised for his past comments. Additionally, in January, he ran a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal revealing his bipolar type-1 diagnosis and explaining how the illness contributed to some of his harmful actions and statements. In this letter, titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” he denied being a Nazi or an antisemite despite his previous behaviour.
The decision to book Ye as the headline act has met with criticism from members of the Jewish community and organisations. Benjamin Haim-Isaac, a Jewish singer and actor, expressed dismay at the platform Ye has been given following his offensive remarks, questioning the festival organisers’ stance toward the Jewish community. He stated, “I think it’s really worrying when someone with that big of a platform says things like that.” Similarly, Campaign Against Antisemitism described the impact of West’s comments as “huge” and labelled it disappointing that he was invited back so soon after his most recent apology. The Community Security Trust went further, calling his headline slot “completely unacceptable” and warning it risks normalising antisemitism within the music industry.
In recent years, Ye has gradually returned to major live performances, including headlining the 2024 Rolling Loud festival in California alongside Ty Dolla $ign, as well as performing in China, South Korea, and Mexico. Last year, Canadian rapper Drake headlined Wireless, drawing mixed reactions for a comparatively short final-day set and for the lineup’s limited inclusion of UK artists. Approximately 50,000 fans typically attend Wireless daily, enjoying rap, R&B, and hip-hop acts. BBC Newsbeat has reached out to the festival’s organisers regarding the criticism following Kanye West’s announcement as headliner
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