Diageo, Rockstar Energy Exit Wireless Festival Over Kanye West Booking

Wireless Festival is down at least two more partners as Diageo and Rockstar Energy join Pepsi in backing out of sponsoring the London event following the announcement of Kanye West as a headliner for the 2026 iteration.

“We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival,” the company behind Guinness, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Ketel One, and more said in a statement to The Independent. Diageo did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.

The festival’s website still lists the event as “Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless,” though all previously-named sponsors and partners have been removed from the site. The section originally listed PayPal, Beatbox, Budweiser, and more. The three brands did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s requests for comment, though ITV reports that PayPal will no longer be partnering with the festival.

While West has not been directly named in any statements regarding the departure of sponsors from Wireless Festival 2026, the timing aligns with a cutting statement from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” Starmer said.

West recently released the album Bully and ramped up his comeback tour with nostalgic concert performances featuring appearances from Lauryn Hill, North West, CeeLo Green, André Troutman, Zion Marley, and YG Marley. It marks his first full-fledged mainstream push since publishing an open letter in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for his antisemitism over the past few years and past controversial statements.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears,” Starmer continued in his statement. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, also commenting, told Rolling Stone, “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. This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”